Applying model-based information across the organisation
gPROMS® is much more than a single modelling environment. gPROMS process models developed within gPROMS ModelBuilder can be exported to a number of other popular engineering software packages, where they can be executed as though they were an integral part of the target software.
This allows knowledge captured within a gPROMS model to be used far beyond its original scope, providing multiple payback on modelling investment. It also means that knowledge gained by one department - for example, R&D - can be used and extended by others - for example, process engineering or control design.
The gPROMS Product Family provides a means to transfer model-based knowledge seamlessly across the organisation. This brings many benefits:
• corporate knowledge captured in one department can easily be transferred to others
• knowledge can be readily deployed
• the knowledge gained is extended with each deployment
• there is multiple payback from investment in modelling
• the design process is streamlined and efficient
• different departments use the same models, ensuring consistency
• rework is avoided, speeding up time-to-market and reducing cost
• models can easily be transferred to operations, purchasing and other "non-modelling" personnel for decision support.
What is the gPROMS Product Family?
The gPROMS Product family comprises the gPROMS ModelBuilder, for creating and executing models, and the gPROMS Objects. gPROMS Objects wrapper a gPROMS model, plus all the solvers and other gPROMS components required for its solution, in a form that can be embedded within another software environment. This advanced capability enables the model to run in environments as diverse as Aspen PlusTM or MATLAB® as though it were part of that software.
gPROMS ModelBuilder
gPROMS ModelBuilder is the gPROMS core user environment and solution engine. ModelBuilder contains comprehensive facilities for developing, validating and executing gPROMS models, by performing activities such as steady-state and dynamic simulation, optimisation and parameter estimation.
In addition to custom modelling, flowsheeting, results management and QA facilities, ModelBuilder contains facilities to export models for use in all gPROMS Objects.
The gPROMS Objects
The following gPROMS Objects are available. See the individual product brochures for more details.
gO:CAPE-OPEN
The gPROMS Unit Object for CAPE-OPEN allows gPROMS models developed in ModelBuilder to run within CAPE-OPEN compliant flowsheeting tools, such as Aspen Technology's ASPEN PLUSTM or SimSci's PRO/II®. This means that the full custom modelling power of gPROMS can be used to create and validate complex unit operation models which are then provided to process engineers for flowsheeting activities.
gO:MATLAB
The gPROMS Object for MATLAB® is used to embed a gPROMS model developed using the ModelBuilder as an M-function within the Mathworks MATLAB Environment, for use in control system design. This provides an easy mechanism to create M-functions that involve complex calculations, for example where implicit solution is required, and ensures consistency between equipment and control design.
gO:Simulink
The gPROMS Object for Simulink® allows a gPROMS model developed in ModelBuilder to be called as a block function by Mathworks' Simulink environment. gO:Simulink takes care of all of the mathematical transformations required to execute the model within Simulink's ODE solver. gO:Simulink allows control engineers to perform control system design and verification using the same detailed non-linear models used for equipment design, ensuring accuracy and consistency.
gO:CFD
The gPROMS Object for CFD packages a gPROMS model as a CFD "source" term for use within Fluent Inc.'s Fluent® CFD package or CD Adapco's STAR-CD®. Options include additional licences for parallelised execution of the CFD calculation. gO:CFD is ideal for embedding complex reaction models, or other calculations which are difficult to implement as user-defined functions, within CFD models.
gO:Run
gO:Run is a gPROMS "runtime engine" that allows a gPROMS simulation - and optionally, optimisation, parameter estimation and experiment design - of any size to be executed behind a Microsoft Excel or any other suitable interface. gO:Run is ideal for providing operations personnel, sales departments or other "non-modelling" users with detailed models for decision support, behind a customised, easy-to-understand user interface. Model encryption is used to prevent unauthorised changes and protect confidential information.
Licensing, supported platforms and pre-requisites
gPROMS Product Family components are available on common Windows and Linux platforms unless specific restrictions apply for a particular product. Licensing is on an annual, concurrent user basis, except for gO:Run, which is also available on a 20-year licence plus maintenance. Parallel execution licences are available for gO:CFD for Fluent. See the PSE web site for the latest information on supported systems and version pre-requisites for target software.