PASCE Software Used to Design and Engineer World's Largest Single Train Olefin Plant
ALAMEDA, CALIF. (Feb. 8) BUSINESS WIRE -Feb. 8, 1999--
Engineering Constructor ABB Lummus Global Uses 'Data-centric' Software Suite For 3D Modeling And Collaborative Engineering
AEA Technology Engineering Software today announced that its PASCE(r) software suite, developed by EA Systems Inc., is being used as the principal computer-aided modeling environment for the design of the world's largest single train olefin plant. ABB Lummus Global, design/build contractor for the plant, selected PASCE because it supports three-dimensional (3D) modeling and collaborative engineering, and provides strong links to drawing generation software.
The $1 billion liquids steam cracker, now under construction in Port Arthur, Texas, is a joint venture of the BASF Fina Petrochemicals Limited Partnership. When completed, by the end of 2000, the plant will have a nameplate capacity of 1.83 billion pounds (830,000 metric tons) of ethylene and 1.9 billion pounds (860,000 metric tons) of propylene.
ABB Lummus Global began developing a 3D model of the plant design shortly after being awarded a turnkey engineering, procurement and construction services contract in mid-1998. The company is using PASCE to design the new plant because it enables remote collaboration and speeds the production of the thousands of engineering drawings required.
"A project of this scope presents significant challenges, including the production of thousands of drawings and the need to work from multiple offices," said Adolfo Celis, manager of 3D CADD at ABB Lummus Global. "As active PASCE users for many years, we would not consider a project of this magnitude without a 3D model, which functions as a central data repository for all engineering and design activity."
'Intelligent' Models
PASCE, an acronym for Plant Applications and Solutions for Concurrent Engineering, is considered to be one of the most functionally powerful products available for plant design and engineering. Its data-centric, object-based architecture means that plant models and schematics are "intelligent," that is, integrated with all of the data related to functionality, specifications and the dynamic relationships between the objects that comprise the plant as a whole.
ABB Lummus Global is using PlantVIEW(tm), the PASCE 3D physical modeling application, to develop a plant model that serves as the master source of information for the project. The model provides a common database for a variety of computer applications, ensuring a high-level of data integrity and consistency throughout the conceptual, design, engineering, and construction phases of the steam cracker project. For example, the 3D model data is used to generate drawings and reports, such as early bulk material takeoffs, as the project evolves.
Throughout the entire design/build process the 3D model is updated and refined as detail is added by the various engineering disciplines and vendors. Upon completion, the PlantVIEW database will be delivered to BASF Corporation, which will operate the plant on behalf of the joint venture.
ABB Lummus Global is using PlantCAD(tm), which provides links to AutoCAD to generate drawings directly from the 3D model. The model also provides data to PlantWALK(tm), the PASCE tool for 3D visualization. The engineering team uses this tool to present animated "walk-throughs" of the model for design reviews with engineering groups, construction contractors, and the plant owner. Additional links to ISOGEN software produce fully annotated and dimensioned fabrication drawings. ABB Lummus Global expects to create more than 16,000 individual isometric drawings for the project.
Plant and Company Information
The olefin manufacturing plant is a liquids steam cracker that will convert naptha and light hydrocarbons into ethylene and propylene, which are key raw materials in the manufacture of plastic, fibers, solvents, paints and surfactants. The new cracker will deliver, by direct pipeline, a dependable supply of propylene and ethylene for processing at BASF plants in Freeport, Texas and Geismar, Louisiana. The plant is being built adjacent to an existing FINA refinery in Port Arthur in order to optimize refinery and cracker feedstocks as well as byproduct streams.
With sales in excess of $32 billion, the BASF Group of affiliated companies is one of the world's leading manufacturers of chemical and related products. Headquartered in Mount Olive, N.J., BASF Corporation and its affiliates in Canada and Mexico are the NAFTA region representatives of the BASF Group.
FINA, Inc., headquartered in Plano, Texas, produces more than three billion pounds of high quality plastics and petrochemicals annually at production facilities in the southern United States. FINA is a division of PetroFina, an international integrated oil and petrochemical group founded in 1920, which employs approximately 13,500 people in 44 countries.
ABB Lummus Global is an international engineering and construction company providing a wide range of technologies and services to the chemical, petrochemical, petroleum refining, oil and gas, and power industries. ABB Lummus Global is part of ABB's worldwide oil, gas and petrochemical business activities, which employs approximately 10,000 people.
PASCE Software was developed by EA Systems Inc., a member of the AEA Technology Engineering Software group of companies. Its other companies include Hyprotech, CFX, and nCode. The group is a division of AEA Technology plc, a 4,500 employee international science and engineering company that supplies innovative technical, safety and environmental solutions to a broad range of industries worldwide.
For more information, visit the EA Systems web site at http://www.easystems.com, and the AEA Technology Engineering Software web site at http://www.software.aeat.com, or contact Marie Telepneff at 510-748-4855 or Wendy Lewis or Matthew Schmidt, FS Communications at 650-691-1488. Photographs of the PASCE model in use for design review are available on request.
(r), (tm) PASCE is a registered trademark of EA Systems Inc. PlantVIEW, PlantWALK and PlantCAD are trademarks of EA Systems Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks herein are the property of their respective owners.
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CONTACT: AEA Technology
Engineering Software
Marie Telepneff, 510/748-4855
or
FS Communications
Wendy Lewis or Matthew Schmidt, 650/691-1488
wendy@fscomm.com
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