MIRROR PLANT for Innovating Plant Operation

Using plant models throughout the plant lifecycle is proposed for improving plant operation. MIRROR PLANT, a virtual plant simulator, can perfectly simulate the dynamic behavior of plants. MIRROR PLANT has finished verification testing at a Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. commercial plant, and is being prepared for its release. Throughout the plant lifecycle, MIRROR PLANT focuses especially on the plants operations phase. MIRROR PLANT not only supports plant operators but also helps technical staff to change plant operation conditions for their optimal operation. This paper compares features and applications of MIRROR PLANT and other plant model products. Unlike conventional Yokogawa products, MIRROR PLANT provides high-level plant service related to users' production processes. . The MIRROR PLANT, a plant simulator jointly developed by Yokogawa and Omega Simulation Co., Ltd, works concurrently with a real plant. The MIRROR PLANT, built in a computer, can follow temporal changes in the process and precisely simulate behaviors of the real plant by identifying model parameters online. The MIRROR PLANT in virtual space enables plant safety operation based on future predictions, which would be impossible with conventional plant operations. It also achieves optimal operations even in processes with temporal changes, such as heat transfer changes of heat exchangers and deterioration of catalysts.