IRB Review Process: Submitting a Digital Health Research ...
A Digital Process
2
A ccording to Peter van der Weijde, Executive Director for Intergraph CADWorx and Analysis Europe, most of the current projects in the Process Plant industry are being carried out on 'brownfield' rather then 'greenfield' sites, i.e. they involve the modification, expansion or upgrading of existing plant rather than the construction of new facilities - a factor, possibly, of reduced investment. For process plant, we must include a wide range of industries - from oil/gas exploration and processing, to chemical, power, food and beverage, semi- conductors and shipbuilding (for what is a ship but a large lump of plant surrounded by a steel skin), and others. The chief characteristics of such industries are supporting steel frameworks and ducting systems for a mass of pipes with associated valves and junctions, storage and pressure vessels, heat exchangers and exhaust systems, each with its own particular reaction or performance to variable conditions such as stress, heat, erosion, vibration - and, as we have seen recently in Japan - earthquakes and tsunamis (which CADWorx caters for). Vibration in pipes is an interesting phenomenon. Moving pipe supports in a length of pipe can change the pipes 'harmonics', modifying its vibration frequency, which often results in 'water hammer' - something you may have at home in a domestic central heating system. Intergraph, developers of AutoCAD based CADWorx Plant Design software and CAESAR II, a pipe stress application that analyses the effects of pumping liquids at high pressures and heat through series of pipes, have introduced a number of other vital modules in CADWorx 2013 for the industry, including enhancements to those that assist in the creation of 'as built' 3D digital models of existing plant, a new module, fieldPipe 2013, PV Elite for advanced design of pressure vessels and indications of an imminent launch of CADWorx E&I for Plant Electrical and Instrumental component design. CREATING 'AS BUILT' MODELS Designing process plant can be effectively achieved using CADWorx, converting 2D P&ID schematics and drawings directly into 3D models, a bi-directional facility that allows subsequent modification of P&IDs directly from changes to the 3D model. This is fine for new builds, but with emphasis, as we have seen, on the modernisation of existing plant, the ability to rapidly create 3D models of existing structures is paramount. Traditionally done by hand, with all of the inefficiencies and inaccuracies that implies, 'as built' models of existing plant can now be achieved at relatively low cost by even small plant construction companies. In fact, time saving alone in measuring and drawing would probably outweigh the cost of outsourcing moderate surveys. Such surveys can be done using two distinct technologies - both available in CADWorx, and both using Leica Total Station or 3D scanning technology (Leica being a sister company with Intergraph within the auspices of Swedish company, Hexagon). The two technologies are laser surveying and laser scanning, the former achieving accurate measuring and placement of components using a minimum of points, and the latter using multiple 3D placements of laser scanners to create large clouds of points describing the surface of an object - and which need intelligent software to convert the points to 3D solid objects. Laser surveying, improved through the provision of a new Total Station interface, can determine the diameter of a pipe with just three measurements, using a special algorithm to average out the distances and deduce the diameter and pipe centre - essential for locating flanges and other pipe fittings. Measurements can also fix pipe lengths and their orientation, so that, using CADWorx, intermediate sections such as bends and elbows can be correctly assessed and inserted. Laser scanning, on the other hand, creates a large point cloud, using Leica SOFTWARE review March/April 2013 22 The latest versions of Intergraph's CADWorx and CAESAR II offer upgraded design and analysis tools for the process plant industry, and introduces some interesting new features A Digital Process
Transcript of A Digital Process
According to Peter van der Weijde,Executive Director for IntergraphCADWorx and Analysis Europe,
most of the current projects in the ProcessPlant industry are being carried out on'brownfield' rather then 'greenfield' sites, i.e.they involve the modification, expansion orupgrading of existing plant rather than theconstruction of new facilities - a factor,possibly, of reduced investment.For process plant, we must include a wide
range of industries - from oil/gasexploration and processing, to chemical,power, food and beverage, semi-conductors and shipbuilding (for what is aship but a large lump of plant surroundedby a steel skin), and others. The chief characteristics of such industries
are supporting steel frameworks andducting systems for a mass of pipes withassociated valves and junctions, storageand pressure vessels, heat exchangers andexhaust systems, each with its ownparticular reaction or performance tovariable conditions such as stress, heat,erosion, vibration - and, as we have seenrecently in Japan - earthquakes andtsunamis (which CADWorx caters for).
Vibration in pipes is an interestingphenomenon. Moving pipe supports in alength of pipe can change the pipes'harmonics', modifying its vibrationfrequency, which often results in 'waterhammer' - something you may have athome in a domestic central heating system.Intergraph, developers of AutoCAD based
CADWorx Plant Design software andCAESAR II, a pipe stress application thatanalyses the effects of pumping liquids athigh pressures and heat through series ofpipes, have introduced a number of othervital modules in CADWorx 2013 for theindustry, including enhancements to thosethat assist in the creation of 'as built' 3Ddigital models of existing plant, a newmodule, fieldPipe 2013, PV Elite foradvanced design of pressure vessels andindications of an imminent launch ofCADWorx E&I for Plant Electrical andInstrumental component design.
CREATING ''AS BBUILT' MMODELSDesigning process plant can be effectivelyachieved using CADWorx, converting 2DP&ID schematics and drawings directly into3D models, a bi-directional facility that
allows subsequent modification of P&IDsdirectly from changes to the 3D model. Thisis fine for new builds, but with emphasis, aswe have seen, on the modernisation ofexisting plant, the ability to rapidly create3D models of existing structures isparamount. Traditionally done by hand, withall of the inefficiencies and inaccuraciesthat implies, 'as built' models of existingplant can now be achieved at relatively lowcost by even small plant constructioncompanies. In fact, time saving alone inmeasuring and drawing would probablyoutweigh the cost of outsourcing moderatesurveys. Such surveys can be done using two
distinct technologies - both available inCADWorx, and both using Leica TotalStation or 3D scanning technology (Leicabeing a sister company with Intergraphwithin the auspices of Swedish company,Hexagon). The two technologies are lasersurveying and laser scanning, the formerachieving accurate measuring andplacement of components using aminimum of points, and the latter usingmultiple 3D placements of laser scannersto create large clouds of points describingthe surface of an object - and which needintelligent software to convert the points to3D solid objects.Laser surveying, improved through the
provision of a new Total Station interface,can determine the diameter of a pipe withjust three measurements, using a specialalgorithm to average out the distances anddeduce the diameter and pipe centre -essential for locating flanges and other pipefittings. Measurements can also fix pipelengths and their orientation, so that, usingCADWorx, intermediate sections such asbends and elbows can be correctlyassessed and inserted.Laser scanning, on the other hand,
creates a large point cloud, using Leica
SOFTWARE review
March/April 201322
The latest versions of Intergraph's CADWorx and CAESAR II offer upgraded design and analysistools for the process plant industry, and introduces some interesting new features
A Digital Process
CloudWorx Pro, which is integrated withinCADWorx 2013, interpretation of the cloudbeing most effectively achieved by, first ofall, 'cleaning up' the cloud. Often greaterthan a gigabyte in size, sections of thecloud are progressively 'hidden' with thecloud in low density, until the workingsection is isolated. The point cloud is then returned to full
density, giving the conversion software -CADWorx fieldPipe - a better chance ofidentifying patterns of points, indicated byclicking on a single point within the pattern,and replacing the pattern with a 3D solid -e.g. a section of pipe.CADWorx fieldPipe requires a CADWorx
license, but the Leica Cyclone Navigatorused to navigate through the point cloud isa free utility.
The surveying and scanning equipmentobviously needs precise calibration inrelation to the model; in the case ofsurveying to enable the Total Station to bemoved to measure pipework obscured byearlier scans, and for laser scanning tocreate scans from a number of separateangles that can be merged to provide amore complete 3D point cloud. The 3D models created by either method
are capable of further editing and designwithin CADWorx, such as the insertion ofobjects designed with CADWorx or insertedfrom standard object libraries, and assistedby simple tools that establishing faces andcentre lines of flanges, valves, etc, that canbe aligned with the centre lines of pipes -already established.The automatic creation of 3D models from
surveys and scans has numerous benefits,in addition to speeding up the designprocess. The 3D model data is enteredonce and re-used throughout allsubsequent stages of its development,minimising the introduction of transcriptionerrors and available for the creation ofisometric and other drawings, the extractionof component tables and BOMs, and, mostimportantly, the ability to export it directlyinto CAESAR II for analysis, and thesubsequent re-import into CADWorx withthe pipework annotated with pressurevalues throughout its length.
PV EELITE AAND SSTEELIt's not all about pipework though. Acommon sight in process plant is theprofusion of large steel tanks that may oftencontain a mass of pipes under pressure,supported in steel gantries with ladders,stairs and gangways giving engineersaccess to the equipment.CADWorx provides design utilities for
building multi-bay steel structures withsimple tools for adding ladders (withprotective cages), stairs and handrails.Pressure vessels and other similarcomponents need rather more particulardesign features, however.
PV EELITEThis is provided by the new PV Elite modulethat offers a number of functions. To securethe vessel in place on the gantry, a series oflugs and other fixing devices are availablein a component library, customised on thespot, and attached to the vessels.
Additionally, connecting pipes, valves, tapsand other pressure vessel ancillaries canbe inserted. Being called pressure vesselsis a hint that analysis needs to be carriedout to determine whether the thickness ofthe vessel walls is sufficient to withstandboth internal and external pressures,something that PV Elite is capable ofperforming.
CADWORX EE&IBriefly mentioned beforehand, CADWorxhas been developed from a Siemensproduct to handle complex electronics andinstrumentation within a large installation,often running into thousands ofinstruments. Stored as data within P&IDs inCADWorx’s large, but very simply designedand accessible, database, schematics willbe able to be imported into CADWorx E&I,where such things cable routing andlengths etc., can be established to producefabrication drawings for switchboards, fusepanels and similar. A cheaper version of the solution offers
more limited scope - up to 200 loops orcircuits, or 300 documents - for smallerinstallations, making it affordable forsmaller engineering companies.CADWorx and CAESAR II and their
various utilities offer a complete packagefor the design and analysis of processplant, and the creation of BOMs, ISOGENand fabrication drawings. They achieve thismore efficiently as well, as the latestrelease, CADWorx 2013, is now a full blown64-bit application. www.intergraph.com
March/April 2013 23
SOFTWARE review
