A virtual plant modeller (VPMOD) for batch-chemical processes

This paper presents a virtual plant modeller (VPMOD), which formally charac terizes and integrates chemical product designs, batch-chemical equipment ( plants), the real-time scheduling of chemical batches, and the control of c hemical transport through the plant. These models provide a framework for a gile batch-chemical manufacturing that has the ability to reroute and contr ol chemical product flow automatically in a flexible plant subject to unexp ected events, such as changes in demand patterns and equipment failure. A f ormal logic model is generated to control the actual system events, which a re non-deterministic. A simulation environment in VPMOD is used to validate schedules and control logic based on plant models supplied by industry. Th e formal models have been implemented in an object-oriented language.