SimSci-Esscor's integrated simulator packages are cast in the SIM4ME environment – irrespective of which solution is chosen. As a result of on-going development in the operator training, process modeling and control system business – not limited to Invensys products – SimSci-Esscor can now offer a vast range of training simulator solutions for the process, power, pulp & paper, milling & mining industries.
The integration of process models with control system representations results in a highly accurate Operator Training Simulator (OTS) that matches the performance of your process.

Operator Training Simulator (OTS)

To best understand how a simulator works, let's compare the "real world" to the "integrated simulator". Referring to the figure below, we see that the top half represents a typical operator interface (Human Machine Interface (HMI) with the plant or facility (i.e. power plant, pulp and paper mill, etc.), featured at bottom left and the bottom right represents the control system configuration.

To take a more detailed review, the control system and HMI can be broken down into three main areas: the field devices within the plant, the control system, and the operator consoles. The field devices are represented by the physical process, including such systems as boilers, turbines, steaming vessels, digesters, etc. Pressures, temperatures, flows, etc. are measurable results process. In order to control the process, a control system must be connected to the plant. The control system allows the operators in the control room to monitor and modify the process through the operator consoles.

Each of the components of the "real world" is represented in the integrated simulator. The process model, which is developed using the DYNSIM and/or DYNSIM-Power modeling environment, simulates the plant's physical process including pressures, temperatures, compositions and flows.

Just as the plant needs a control system to keep temperatures and pressures in line, the simulated process model needs the same sort of interaction. SimSci-Esscor has developed many ways to represent control systems. These include emulation, virtual, partial and full stimulation solutions, which are described in more detail in the Simulator Components section.

For Invensys OTS’, the operator consoles are identical to that of the plant, providing a realistic environment for the operator. This section also explains the eleven distinct steps in the simulator development process.