Geometric Process Control (GPC) and batch process.

Webinar: Multi-envelope models for batch, fed-batch, cyclic, grade-change and all types of continuous and dis-continuous processes

Most PPCL monthly webinars are in the category "Operating Envelopes 101 – part 1" because they are based on continuous processes where the continuous operation Mode can be described with a single Operating Envelope. 　

There will be four sessions to suit different time-Zones so choose the one closest to your time-zone and click on the appropriate link below to enrol. The webinars are listed by BST(British Summer Time) which is GMT+!.　 6 AM BST　Wednesday 29 June: UK (BST) 600, Dubai 900. Mumbai (IST) 1030, Perth 1300, Sydney/Brisbane 150 　 9 AM BST　Wednesday 29 June: UK (BST) 900, Europe (CEST) 1000, Doha (AST) 1100, Muscat (GST) 1200, Delhi (IST) 1330, Singapore (SGT) 1600 2 PM BST　Wednesday 29 June: UK (BST) 1400, Houston (CDT) 800, New York/Toronto (EDT) 900, Rio de Janeiro (BRT) 1000, Europe (CEST) 1500　 9 PM BST Thursday　29 June: UK (BST) 2100, Los Angeles (PDT) 1300, 　Denver/Calgary (MDT) 1400, Dallas (CDT) 1500, New Zealand (NZST) 800 1 July A Recording of one of the Sessions will be available after the webinar but it will not include the live Q&A Session.

"This is important because for many attendees our webinars are their first introduction to the sheer power of the Geometric Process Control (GPC) method based on parallel coordinates, n-dimensional geometry and multi-dimensional Operating Envelopes and Human Intelligence. And it is all available now so bring your process operations problems to us, whether you judge them be easy or hard, and we will show you how to solve them,"  said a spokesman for Process Plant Computing Limited (PPCL) the organisers.

Many real processes such as batch, fed-batch, cyclic, grade-change and all sorts of non-continuous processes require more than one Operating Envelope and that’s what this webinar will introduce. Envelopes can be made time-dependent by including time variables but even without a time variable it can be remarkable how models can cope with a changing relationship effectivel inferring time. Even continuous processes really have more than one operating Mode such as Start-Up and Shut-Down as well as Modes for Standby, different throughputs and Special Modes for, for instance, catalyst regeneration.　　 　

"You’ve probably seen batch processes controlled by trying to follow a defined trajectory on a very small number of variables such as reactor temperature or concentration. We will show you versions of models with and without time variables which may give you food for thought." 　

Operating Envelopes linked to form a chain allow control of the process into a multi-variable tube of hundreds of variables instead of just one or two and since the tube includes Result-variable range predictions find one or a chain of Operating Envelope better at recognising external disturbances and guiding the operation to achieve the desired end-points. 

"A Golden Batch every time is our ambition! Come and see how it is done by enrolling on this webinar," concluded the spokesman.

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Working with large datasets - Webinars.

A significantly improved user experience working with large datasets is among important new features introduced with the new version 2.8 of C Visual Explorer (CVE) from Process Plant Computing Limited (PPCL).

A series of global webinars on 24 October will give process and control engineers the opportunity to interrogate the new features and learn about benefits specific to their own applications.

CVE is a unique process visualization tool that allows engineers to display hundreds of thousands of measurements across hundreds of variables, allowing them to interrogate historical process and laboratory data. CVE allows users to easily explore operating windows and operating envelopes based on their domain knowledge and without the need for deep understanding of higher mathematics.

Predictive Analytics is a time-consuming method which requires a data scientist to interpret the results, and which provides generalized answers through simplifications which can destroy much of the richness of the data. By contrast, Geometric Process Control (GPC) – a technology developed at PPCL – avoids these pitfalls.

By providing engineers with graphical tools to work with datasets spanning their entire plant, it allows them to create low-cost predictive models, without equations, to develop new process understanding quickly and easily.

Times 24 October webinar registration is open now. Choose from four time slots which are suitable for users in all parts of the world: 06.00 (British time), 09.00, 14.00 or 21.00.

The 24 October webinars will explain how to approach big datasets and explore them visually, using operating envelopes and finding interactions between variables.

GPC allows engineers to fully explore their data and make discoveries that they can’t now. It covers the entire process from incoming analysis through processing conditions to final quality variables, KPIs and performance variables.

Engineers have been using the basic features of CVE for many years to work more efficiently with their plant data. It allows faster and easier management of key areas including alarm rationalization, process optimization and plant troubleshooting as well as building and evaluating real-time operating envelope models from C Process Modeller (CPM), PPCL’s online real-time process monitoring and event prediction product.

The new features introduced with CVE 2.8 represent advances in three key areas: improved user experience working with large datasets; across the board display improvements; and new options for alarm-based variables. These will be demonstrated in real time during the October webinars, starting with analysis of a process with 750 variables over a year at 10-minute intervals.

For improved working with large datasets, network versions now use a 64-bit executable, effectively allowing datasets limited only by the computer’s memory. Datasets in excess of 200 million values (product of variables and time points) have been routinely used on typical desktop machines during the development of version 2.8. To help users work with these large datasets, many common tasks have been simplified or automated, including bulk file join and append and bulk creation of function variables. Variable names can be colored, allowing classes of variables to be defined, for instance-controlled variables, valve positions, or even definition by unit.

Display improvements include normalization options on distribution plots, which allow much easier comparison of populations within the operation. More query colors are also now included, along with the ability to visually remove background data without using focus, as well as many new plot options, including cumulative distributions.

New options for alarm-based variables (alarm count and annunciation rate) now allow direct comparison of alarm performance across different modes of operation, in addition to the existing capability of comparing different alarm sets. For the user the benefit is much quicker evaluation of existing and proposed alarm limits across the range of plant operation. Summary statistics, such as total alarms and clean board rate, are always displayed.

A pre-processing filter has also been added to read the output from the online monitoring tool, C Process Modeller (CPM). This makes it much quicker and easier to analyze replay results and evaluate model performance.

New licencing options make CVE more easily affordable for geographically dispersed organizations.

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Learming about alarms.

Operator alarms are essential for running any process plant. They alert the operators early to developing situations, allowing the plant to keep running and minimizing downtime while producing sellable material efficiently despite disturbances, mechanical deterioration and unforeseen events.

In order to achieve this, alarms have to be properly positioned at the edges of normal operation, and many plants find themselves visiting the same limits again and again over years, performing repeated alarm rationalization exercises, but never getting real improvement for more than a few months.

One of the reasons for this is that, until now, alarm approaches haven’t taken a full account of process history and the natural richness of operation that a process can, and does, experience in response to differing external factors like feed and ambient temperature, changing demand and operations goals, as well as operation variability. The tedium of exploring years of process history for thousands of variables has made this impractical reasonably to explore.

This free webinar on Wednesday 17th and Thursday 18th August from Process Plant Computing Ltd (PPCL),  will demonstrate a new method that leverages the parallel plot to give easy access to historic data in the context of desired plant operation as well as alarm and process limits for hundreds of variables at once. Bringing process history into the process allows alarm limits to be evaluated immediately while taking less time, as well as allowing continuous alarm review, finally breaking the cycle of periodic alarm rationalization.

Some examples on real systems will be included, as well as discussion some of the successes the company's users have had.

Chose your geographic area to book a place:

Webinar Session Times • Wednesday 17th August 7am BST (Dubai 10am, Mumbai 11.30am, Singapore 2pm, Sydney 4pm) • Wednesday 17th August 9am BST (Europe 10am, Oman 12pm, Delhi 1.30pm, Perth 4pm) • Wednesday 17th August 2pm BST (Dallas 8am, New York 9am, Europe 3pm) • Thursday 18th August 9pm BST (Seattle 1pm, Calgary 2pm, Houston 3pm, Wellington 8am Fri 15th)

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Middle east expansion

Company seeks new partners to support demand for GPC

PPCL, formerly, Curvaceous Software Limited, the award-winning British company, is seeking new partners in the Middle East to support demand for its Geometric Process Control (GPC) technology product, CVE 2.5, and the no-maths model-building capabilities of its process modeller (CPM) and Response Surface Visualisation (CRSV) products.

Following the company’s expansion into North America and The Republic of China the Middle East is its next target. The company will have an active presence at two large events in the region later this year: the 2nd Annual World Refining Technology Summit & Exhibition (1st - 2nd November 2010 Abu Dhabi UAE); and the 15th Annual ERTC Meeting (29th November – 2nd December 2010 Istanbul TK).

Robin Brooks, Managing Director of PPCL says: “We’re seeing new markets for our unique product suite develop and are extending our focus into the Middle East. We are working to further extend our partner programme in 2010 and welcome approaches from experienced salespeople who can add to our offer, particularly in the petrochemical, oil, gas and batch chemicals markets.”

Rebranding to drive global expansion

Curvaceous Software Limited (Curvaceous), the award-winning British company, has today re-branded as PPCL to support its global expansion in both North America and Asia. The new PPCL brand and its livery replaces the Curvaceous brand in Europe and the C-Visual brand in the US.

Curvaceous and C-Visual are wholly owned subsidiaries of Process Plant Computing Limited and PPCL was selected as the name to best represent the company moving forward while reflecting its heritage. The company’s previous websites received hundreds of thousands of hits so the new website www.ppcl.com has been created to meet increasing user demands and educate markets new and old about the benefits and applications of Geometric Process Control Software.

PPCL’s new visual identity will be deployed across all key constituents of the business and the product suite will remain as CVE (Visual Explorer), CPM (Process Modeller) and CRSV (Response Surface Visualiser).

Robin Brooks, Managing Director of Curvaceous Software says: “Consolidating our worldwide activity under a single brand is the next step in our strategic growth plan to support our unique product suite throughout our markets. We believe a cohesive brand is central to our success and PPCL will better support our partners in their sales drive. We believe our new brand will be well received and understood by our customers who will continue to receive the same attention to detail and dedicated customer service that we have always been known for.”