Honeywell 将UniSim合而为一

作者：全球MRO综合服务商    仪器仪表行业新闻来源：全球MRO仪器仪表交易网    点击数：    更新时间：2007/5/23

Honeywell 将UniSim合而为一

By Tom Fiske, ARC Advisory Group

Honeywell recently updated ARC on their UniSim solution suite. Honeywell acquired AspenTech抯 Operator Training Simulator (OTS) business and its HYSYS product line a little more than a year ago, and it has made significance progress toward commercializing numerous products based on this technology, under the trade name UniSim. Much of the work has focused on incorporating new features and functionality and more tightly integrating it with Honeywell抯 other offerings, including the Experion Process Knowledge System, while maintaining compatibility with existing versions of the technology.

In some respects, UniSim fills a void in Honeywell抯 advanced solution offerings; while in others, it augments and bolsters Honeywell抯 current position. Historically strong in the OTS space, Honeywell lacked a design simulation offering and its own rigorous online optimization solution. With UniSim, Honeywell acquired the technology to allow companies to create and use models throughout the entire lifecycle of its plant. Honeywell categorizes UniSim into three distinct product suites:
UniSim Design
 UniSim Operate
UniSim Optimize

UniSim Design consists of a suite of simulation products that include the base steady-state application and a dynamic option along with several other module options that increase its functionality. Honeywell has immediate plans to increase its differentiation from AspenTech offering by including additional third-party options along with several new products and enhancements.

UniSim Operate is an integrated suite of dynamic process and control simulators, learning management system, tools, and system interfaces used to develop OTS, verify control strategy, develop operator procedures, and monitor equipment. Honeywell has three different dynamic simulation engines: Shadow Plant (including gPROMS), OTISS, and UniSim Design (HYSYS). The release of Operations Suite R200 at the end of last year represents the initial convergence of software architectures and the ability to develop process models in the UniSim environment to leverage models throughout the plant lifecycle.

UniSim Optimize is an advanced application for online control, optimization, and planning and scheduling. Honeywell has integrated UniSim models into their layered optimization solution through on-line gain updating of advanced control and optimization applications via Profit Bridge and steady state optimization via ProfitMAX real-time optimization system. It also integrates UniSim models through yield vector and constraint updating of planning and scheduling models.

The general consensus is that the technology acquired by Honeywell is sound, but it is only as good as the people behind it. Over the past year, Honeywell has demonstrated strong commitment to its advanced simulation solutions. Honeywell has hired about 20 developers and support staff well versed in the HYSYS technology to go along with its team of over 150 people focused on simulation at Honeywell. This group has support from top management within Honeywell, which views UniSim as strategically important to the company抯 future direction. Honeywell抯 main challenge is to get the UniSim message out and develop sales channels for UniSim Design. Honeywell also needs to integrate UniSim Design with other front-end engineering tools. Honeywell understands this need and already has plans and alliances in place to achieve this objective