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CHEMPUTE SOFTWARE-CHEMICAL ENGINEERING-ENVIRO PRO DESIGNER®-Electronic BooksSuperPro DesignerWindows 95/98/NT/2000/ME/XPNew Features in Version 4.7 Version 4.7 is loaded with powerful features for modeling,
visualizing, and optimizing integrated batch processes. It represents a "Dream
Come True" for engineers and scientists in the pharmaceutical, biotech,
specialty chemical, and food industries. Please note that version 4.7 can handle
equally well continuous processes with multiple nested recycle loops. Interface Despite the many new features and capabilities in version 4.7, all members of the Pro-Designer family (BatchPro, BioPro, EnviroPro, and SuperPro) have maintained their intuitive and user friendly interface (see figure below). In this environment, developing a process flowsheet or modifying values is as easy as point– and–click. The interface is very similar to other MS Windows applications, making its features very intuitive.
New Features for Batch Processing Implementation of Unit Procedures. A Unit Procedure is a set of operations that take place sequentially in a piece of equipment. For instance, the P-1 vessel unit procedure (see figure above) includes the following operations: Charge Solvent, Charge Reactant A, Charge Reactant B, Transfer to PFF-101 (see figure below). The concept of unit procedures enables the user to model batch processes in great detail. A unit procedure is represented with a single equipment-looking icon on the screen. Multiple procedures can share the same equipment item as long as their cycle times do not overlap. A number of new operation models have been implemented in version 4.7 that function in the context of certain unit procedures. For instance, in the content of Vessel Procedures, the list of new operation models includes: Charge, Transfer In, Transfer Out, Heat, Cool, React (multiple options), Extract, Vaporize, Crystallize, Distill, Gas Sweep, Purge/Inert, Evacuate, Pressurize, Vent, Agitate, Hold, Clean In Place (CIP), and Sterilize In Place (SIP). Unit Procedures in Continuous Processes. If you deal with continuous processing steps in continuous flowsheets, then unit procedures become identical to the old unit operations. In such situations, all interface features that are reminiscent of unit procedures are hidden so that unit procedures can be truly perceived as unit operations by the user.
Detailed Scheduling. Two new Gantt charts (see figure below) are
available that display the scheduling and execution of batch operations in great
detail. The interface for the Gantt charts has been completely redesigned. It
now features a dual view, spreadsheet/chart view, similar to MS-Project's
interface for task planning. The chart is highly customizable. The user has the
option to expand or collapse the view of each unit procedure, cycle, section,
etc. The user may also change the colors of the chart bars, remove the labels by
the chart bars, and change the scale of the chart. Furthermore, the Gantt chart interface provides access to all simulation data for every operation in every procedure (that is included in the scheduling), thereby making it very easy to modify some operating condition and re-compute the execution plan. SuperPro Designer will resolve M&E balances, re-compute the scheduling periods for all operations and redraw the Gantt chart all in a click of a button. This is extremely important as it allows the user to visualize and refine a recipe on either the flowsheet (main) interface or the scheduling interface.
Equipment Utilization. The equipment utilization chart displays the utilization of the various equipment items as a function of time for a single or multiple batches (see figure below - three consecutive batches). White space represents idle time. The equipment with the least idle time between consecutive batches (R- 102 in this case) is the time (or scheduling) bottleneck that determines the maximum number of batches per year. A similar chart is available for clean-in-place (CIP) and sterilize-in-place (SIP) skid utilization. CIP and SIP skids are common time bottlenecks in the biotech and food industries. Version 4.7 now enables the user to visualize and eliminate such bottlenecks.
Resource Demand as a Function of Time. Version 4.7 generates graphs of resource demand as a function of time for heating and cooling utilities, power, labor, and raw materials. The figure below displays the demand for WFI (water for injection) for three consecutive batches of a biopharmaceutical process. The red lines represent instantaneous demand as a function of time whereas the green line represents cumulative demand and corresponds to the y-axis on the right. The blue line represents averaged demand over a one-day period (the averaging period can be adjusted by the user). Graphs such as this facilitate the sizing of batch utilities.
The figure below displays the labor requirement resource demand graph for four consecutive batches. Notice that for short periods of time there is a need for eight operators. If that need cannot be met, then certain operations will need to be delayed to accommodate that constraint. Oftentimes, such resource constraints become time bottlenecks that determine the maximum number of batches that can be processed over a period of time.
Throughput Analysis and Debottlenecking Graphs. Version 4.7 calculates and displays the Capacity (Size), Time, and Combined Utilization for each unit procedure of a flowsheet. It also identifies the current equipment bottleneck, which is the equipment with the highest combined utilization. The objective of Throughput Analysis and Debottlenecking is to enable the user to quickly and easily analyze the capacity and time utilization of each piece of equipment, and to identify opportunities for increasing throughput with the minimum possible capital investment.
New Features for Water Purification Processes A number of new unit procedure models have been implemented that are specific to water purification and ultrapure water production processes. The list includes the following: Ion Exchange, Activated Carbon Adsorption (specific to liquid streams), UV Radiation, and Degasification. Improvements have been made in the membrane and granular media filtration units having in mind the requirements for modeling water purification processes. Further, new component and stream properties have been implemented to calculate and track the hardness of water expressed in equivalent CaCO3.
Other Improvements Access to DIPPR: Version 4.7 is equipped with several new thermodynamic methods and provides access to the DIPPR database. VOC Emission Calculations: Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emission models have been added to batch operations such as Charge, Heat, Purge, Evacuate, Gas Sweep, React, Vaporize, etc. The models are accepted by the US EPA. A new emissions report is now available that provides information on VOC emissions as well as emissions of other regulated components (e.g., Asbestos, Biological compounds, Dioxin, LOC, HAP, Heavy Metals, Acid Gases, ETG, CO, NOx, SO2, etc.). Please note that Pro- Designer is also capable of calculating secondary emissions (from end-of-pipe treatment processes) from agitated and quiescent tanks as well as trickling filters and junction boxes. Improved Chromatography Models: The old chromatography unit operation models are now represented with procedures that include the following operations: Loading, Elution, Wash (optional), Regeneration (optional), SIP (optional), etc. Also, a model for an Expanded Bed Adsorption (EBA) chromatography procedure has been implemented in collaboration with Amersham-Pharmacia Biotech. More Flexibile Equipment Sharing: Version 4.7 allows you to share equipment among multiple procedures even in design mode (i.e., without knowing the size of the equipment being shared). Pro- Designer automatically reconciles the demands of each procedure being carried out in that equipment and selects a size that is appropriate for all. Back to SuperPro Online Purchase Page |
