Integrated model-centric framework for support of manufacturing operations. Part I: The framework

Model-centric technologies must overcome a number of challenges limiting their ability to meet the needs of the Process Industries. First, a software component enabling the formulation of hybrid data-driven/model-based problems must be developed so that a number of realistic computer-aided process-engineering (CAPE) activities can be performed in an industrial environment. Second, these software components must be integrated into a single software platform so that the synergy between complementary model-based applications is unlocked and fully exploited by end-users. In this work we present a model-centric framework for integrated simulation, parameter estimation, data reconciliation and optimisation of industrial process systems. This framework is based on a new software architecture for CAPE that promotes the formulation of process-operations problems based on first-principles process models. This is achieved via the innovative Problem Definition Component (PDC) and the underlying mechanism of domain-specific data models, given in the form of templates (Data-Model Templates, or DMTs) and definitions (Data-Model Definitions, or DMDs). An industrial case-study is presented to illustrate the framework.