B1

Summary

This subproject aims at models, methods and tools to support the cooperative design of chemical processes at a direct and fine-grained level based on prior experience. Chemical process design is a highly complex and creative task and it is not possible to predefine the design process at a whole. Nevertheless, many typical subtasks exist. Therefore one major issue is capturing of design history into process traces and abstraction of good design practices from these process traces to identify well-understood and well-structured parts of the design processes, the so-called process fragments. The other major issue is then the direct support for these process fragments.

Achievements

The integration of process fragments into chemical process design was systematically classified. The PRIME-approach developed at our department was used as integration framework. A process integrated flowsheet editor based on a commercially available CAD-Tool was developed as an example. The added features allow an automatic detection of process fragments based on actual situation and user intention and give support and user-guidance through the process fragment by certain means, e.g. adaptation of menu bars.

Future Work

There are three main objectives. First, the range of supported tools will be extended by developing a more open and flexible process integration. Second, the implemented process integration will be further evaluated from the user-point-of-view in cooperation with the A- and C-subprojects. Third, the results of this subproject and of other B- and C-subprojects will become more integrated and combined.

Publications

2006

• Marcus Raddatz, Marcus Schlüter, Sebastian Brandt, Matthias Jarke, Tom Grimbach, Martin Weck

  Identification and Reuse of Experience Knowledge in Continuous Production Processes

  Published in 9th IFAC Symposium on Automated Systems Based on Human Skill and Knowledge, Nancy, May 22nd-24th, 2006.