vPlant modular training

Just as pilots learn how to fly on flight simulators, your trainees can immerse themselves in a realistic operating environment without risking damage to your operation. We build plant control logic right into the simulation model and couple it with a user interface. Best of all, we offer a modular licensing scheme, providing you with a robust and easy-to-use simulator at an affordable price.

ANDRITZ AUTOMATION’s training package draws on the power of IDEAS, our proprietary dynamic simulator. It’s the leading simulator in several industries, including kraft pulp, mining, and oil sands. IDEAS process models  are based on first principles equations. These virtual plants accurately represent chemical reactions, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and material transport. In addition, the model responds realistically to operator inputs over the complete range of operational conditions.

The user interface includes a full set of execution control functions. Trainees can pause or resume the execution of the IDEAS simulator at the push of a button. They can also accelerate the time to observe the results of a decision without waiting for a slow process to respond. IDEAS also allows users to save and load snapshots to restore a process to a certain operating state, or to resume training from a previous session.

The virtual plant includes built-in tools to evaluate trainee performance against objective criteria. Each testing scenario is defined with a specific initial plant state and objectives that the operator must achieve. Equipment malfunctions can be added to increase scenario difficulty. Trainee results are saved to a database, which documents each user's training history and generates report cards.

By using vPlant Modular Training, you will end up with better trained operators - operators who will start up new processes faster, react  more wisely  to  plant  upsets, and improve plant output.

Each training package includes:

Application software

• IDEAS process model
• Ignition user interface

Software licenses

• IDEAS Dynamic Package (Runtime)
• IDEAS object libraries (industry-specific)
• IDEAS OPC client
• Inductive Automation Ignition
• OPC server
• Windows 7 Professional
• VMware Player Pro

Documentation and training

• Five predefined training scenarios per process area
• Operation manual

Optional extras

• Graphics customization to match the ‘look and feel’ of your control system
• Model customization to match process flows to a particular plant
• Business workstation personal computer, preinstalled with all necessary training system components