Knowledge-based Design of PI Diagrams Exemplified for Pumps in Chemica
l Plant. To date, computer-aided design for flowsheets has focussed on
drawing procedures and reports extracted from these drawings. Today's
software technology offers important potential which has still not be
en fully exploited, e.g. for the design of PI diagrams as front-end ap
plication of CAD systems. PI diagrams for process units can be designe
d by means of knowledge-based systems. The input information which has
to be supplied by the process engineer comprises e.g. physico-chemica
l properties, process conditions and start-up and shut-down procedures
. The results are PI diagrams as well as the documentation of the desi
gn criteria and operating instructions if manual operations on site ar
e necessary. The potential of knowledge-based computer-aided design of
PI diagrams is demonstrated in the case of pumps in chemical plant.