Current application of simulators in the process industries and future trends

The application of dynamic simulators in industry is discussed, based on ABB Simcon´s experience of executing over 80 projects throughout the world. The bulk of this experience is based on developing operator training simulators though other simulators are considered. The author discusses the current application of these simulators in the process industries and identifies trends which may indicate the way this technology will be used in the future. The use of training simulators is quite widespread within certain process industry sectors such as refining, petrochemical and oil and gas. Due to advances in technology and a wider awareness of the benefits these simulators are increasingly used for engineering and operations purposes. In the future the distinction between training and engineering simulators can be expected to be less clear. It is thought that soon a single tool will be available to enable a simulator to be used from conceptual design through to operations support