Invensys: advanced process control

Tom Kinney, vice president for optimization at Invensys, introduced the company’s new advanced process control (APC) offering, SimSci APC 2014, that extends the capabilities of traditional APC tools. The software adds Director, a powerful calculation language that allows the control engineer to add and build custom controller support functions. Kinney made the Feb. 10 announcement at ARC 2014 Orlando Forum. See video.

By Mark T. Hoske February 12, 2014

Invensys introduced the company’s new advanced process control (APC) offering, SimSci APC 2014, at the ARC 2014 Orlando Forum. The software is said to extend the capabilities of traditional APC tools by adding Director, a powerful calculation language that allows the control engineer to add and build custom controller support functions. Kinney made the Feb. 10 announcement at the ARC Forum. See related video. Among key points:

  • SimSci APC moves the operating process closer to multiple constraints at the same time. It allows operations to be closer to operating limits by reducing variations. It also provides access to process operations, improves quality, increases profits, and often saves energy.
  • Ease of use and user experience were key goals for this new software.
  • The new product is tablet friendly, supports generic equations that can be reused with Director.
  • AutoDiscovery reduces project configuration times. Live radial plots show performance versus constraints. Full-case and scenario support enables users to drag and drop the best models. Earlier versions and models and competitor models can be migrated into the new environment.
  • Efficiency improves via fewer keystrokes and better workflows. It is highly scalable, and is touch-screen friendly.
  • Demo recording video shows highlighting of tags to generate trends, pan and zoom to help control engineers quickly find what’s needed.
  • Another demo video scrolls through cells showing trends. Information can be easily rearranged and collapsed to see more of what users need.
  • The Director shell increases service and extends operations by showing attributes needed based on plant performance.
  • A third demo shows how easily modeling scenarios can be added. Select buttons, apply, and see graphics showing scenarios.
  • “No matter how easy we make something, there’s no substitute for knowing what you’re doing,” Kinney said laughing. With a few days of training, together the new tools can reduce implementation and commissioning time by 50%, he said.

Return to the ARC product press conference summary.

Schneider Electric recently acquired Invensys

– Mark T. Hoske, content manager, Control Engineering, mhoske@cfemedia.com.

See other ARC Forum coverage.

See other Advanced Process Control developments.


Author Bio: Mark Hoske has been Control Engineering editor/content manager since 1994 and in a leadership role since 1999, covering all major areas: control systems, networking and information systems, control equipment and energy, and system integration, everything that comprises or facilitates the control loop. He has been writing about technology since 1987, writing professionally since 1982, and has a Bachelor of Science in Journalism degree from UW-Madison.