We can all agree that operator training simulators (OTS) promote knowledge and confidence in new and experienced operators and engineers — and can lead to faster planned start and shutdown, a reduction in safety incidents and increased overall productions. But what is the best way to go about deploying an OTS system?

One of the tendencies of owner-operators, as they go about procurement of new process facilities, is to bundle operator training in with the main automation contract (MAC) for a project. While this may present an attractive option for some projects, it may not always be the optimal solution.

With work done by organizations like the Inprocess Group, owner-operators are seeing the benefits of lifecycle dynamic modeling and the demand for this option is accelerating at an unexpected pace.

What is lifecycle dynamic modeling? What does it have to do with OTS?

From the conceptual and FEED stages of a project, dynamic models are used meticulously to ensure the design is optimal and the asset is easy to operate. Rather than rebuild those models with a different dynamic simulator, those initial models are leveraged for the development of the control philosophy, the creation of process trainers, DCS check-out and then OTS. With this centralized set of dynamic simulations, updates can be made with modifications of the asset, and those changes can easily be reflected in the training solutions. 

Why lifecycle dynamic modeling?

1. Train sooner: Rather than waiting for hardware to be chosen and installed, training can begin earlier with the development of process trainers. Additionally, the OTS can be developed with existing dynamic models.

2. Sustainable OTS and process optimization: OTS solutions are abandoned when they do not accurately predict plant behavior. More than 50 percent of OTS are seldom or never updated after startup. With a dynamic simulator that is already known and used within your organization, you can quickly update the dynamic simulations yourself. Moreover, with a dynamic simulator that is trusted for the rigor and reliability of its calculations, you can ensure the OTS is more accurate.

3. DCS-agnostic OTS: By decoupling the OTS, you can choose the hardware, software and services that are right for your project.

AspenTech just released Aspen Operator Training, built on Inprocess Group’s OTS framework software, to empower organizations to more effectively leverage lifecycle dynamic modeling.

Learn about the new Aspen Operator Training.