CAPE-OPEN Interface Standard

Last updated

The CAPE-OPEN Interface Standard consists of a series of specifications to expand the range of application of process simulation technologies. The CAPE-OPEN specifications define a set of software interfaces that allow plug and play inter-operability between a given Process Modelling Environment and a third-party Process Modelling Component.

Contents

Origins

The CAPE-OPEN, European Union funded, project was established in 1997. [1] The project involved participants from a number of companies from the process industries (Bayer, BASF, BP, DuPont, French Institute of Petroleum (IFP), Elf Aquitaine, and Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI)) together with 15 partners including software vendors (Aspen Technology, Hyprotech Ltd, QuantiSci and SimSci]) and academics (Imperial College London, National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse (INPT), and RWTH Aachen University). The objective of the project was to demonstrate the feasibility of a set of specification interfaces to allow plug and play interoperability between modelling environments and third party modelling components.

Following the completion of the CAPE-OPEN project in 2001, and the successful proof-of-concept of plug and play interoperability, a second project, Global CAPE-OPEN, was formed to turn the interface specifications into products that could be widely used by Industry. This project had a number of key elements including:

Purpose

Operating companies in the process industries typically make a significant financial investment in commercial simulation technologies. However, all simulation tools have strengths and weaknesses. Typically, these reflect a focus on the particular process industry for which the simulation package was originally developed. For example, simulation packages developed for the oil industry may have a weakness for the modelling of certain speciality chemical systems; modelling environments focussed on gas and oil systems may not have the capabilities to handle multiple liquid phases and/or solids formation. Although, over time, simulation vendors improve and enhance the capabilities of their modelling technologies generally capability gaps remain. An operating company can address these capability gaps by replacing the relevant components in their tool of choice with improved components from elsewhere. Often these improved components originate from within the operating company itself and contain significant intellectual property relating to a specific process which is not readily available to the commercial modelling vendors. Alternatively, the improved components may come from a company specialising in niche areas of modelling, for example the rigorous modelling of heat exchangers or for thermodynamics and physical properties.

Historically the integration of third-party components into a commercial simulation environment involved the writing of proprietary software interfaces that “wrapped” around the new components and allowed them to communicate with the host modelling environment. The degree of difficulty in developing such interfaces varied significantly depending on how “open” the host modelling environment was and how well documented were the associated communication protocols. Inevitably bespoke component interfaces were difficult to maintain as new versions of the modelling environment were adopted. Additionally, a component wrapper for one environment would not work with an alternative environment from a different simulation vendor. User added subroutines, for both unit operations and thermodynamic models, is an alternative approach to component integration but one that suffers from similar difficulties in moving the subroutines from one simulator to another.

The development of a standardised plug and play capability hence had the potential to deliver a number of significant business benefits: [3]

Concepts

A number of commercial simulation programmes are available to support process modelling. Generally one or more of these commercial tools will be used by a given operating company to underpin its modelling activity. In addition, many operating companies also maintain their own in-house software to allow for the modelling of niche applications not fully addressed by the commercial tools. Each simulation programme provides an environment which allows a process flow-sheet to be constructed and the process fluid thermodynamics to be incorporated. The CAPE-OPEN project formally identified such a modelling programme as a Process Modelling Environment (PME) with the requirement that users of a PME should be able to easily connect the PME with other modelling tools without the need to develop bespoke interfaces. To do this a PME would be provided with a CAPE-OPEN “plug” that would allow any CAPE-OPEN component to be added to the modelling environment. [4]

All PMEs come with a library of unit operations (vapor–liquid separators, valves, heat exchangers, distillation columns etc.) and a range of thermodynamic methods (equation of state, activity coefficient models, etc.). These library components are normally restricted to usage within the native PME. However, users of a given PME, often require to substitute a third party unit operation or thermodynamic model for the one provided by the native environment. The CAPE-OPEN project formally identified a unit operation or a thermodynamic engine as a Process Modelling Component (PMC) with the requirement that a PMC could be “wrapped” with standard interfaces that would allow it to be placed in a CAPE-OPEN compliant PME without the need for additional interfacing software to be developed – no programming would be required either for the modelling environment or for the core of the modelling component. In order to organise its work programmes the CAPE-OPEN project classified the main elements of a simulation system namely:

Any modelling environment with a CAPE-OPEN interface, for a unit operation or a thermodynamics package, would be able to communicate with any CAPE-OPEN modelling component without the need for additional interfacing software to be written.

The CAPE-OPEN specifications define software interfaces for process simulation environments in terms of both the Microsoft standard COM/DCOM and the Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA). Hence both COM and CORBA based simulators are supported by the CAPE-OPEN specifications. The specifications follow an Object Oriented approach and are developed and specified using the Unified Modelling Language (UML). Formal Use Cases are developed to define end-user requirements. The Use Cases summarise the activities and interactions involved with the installation and application of a CAPE-OPEN component within a CAPE-OPEN modelling environment. Once developed, the Use Cases provide an effective procedure for testing new CAPE-OPEN components and environments.

Support

The Global CAPE-OPEN project ended in 2002 and delivered interface specifications for unit operations (in steady-state) and thermodynamic components. A non-profit organisation, CO-LaN, [2] was subsequently established to maintain and support the existing specifications and to continue the development of additional CAPE-OPEN interface specifications.

CAPE-OPEN specifications

Currently three main CAPE-OPEN specifications have found wide use within the process industries [5]

The development and support of new CAPE-OPEN components has been actively encouraged and supported by CO-LaN [6] [7] and attention has focussed on new unit operations, not readily available in commercial simulators [8] [9] and the interfacing of proprietary thermodynamic and physical property models to commercial simulation environments while protecting the inherent intellectual property. [10] Currently all of the major commercial process modelling environments are CAPE-OPEN compliant and there are many CAPE-OPEN process modelling components available. A full list of the available PMEs and PMCs is available on the CO-LaN website.

Software tools

There is no licensing required from CO-LaN or another organization in order to make use of the CAPE-OPEN specifications. However, CO-LaN has developed a number of tools to assist with the implementation of CAPE-OPEN interfaces:

More information on the CO-LaN software tools together with available downloads can be found on the CO-LaN website.

In addition, CAPE-OPEN is implemented in freeware such as COCO simulator, in openware such as DWSIM, and in many of the leading commercial simulation tools.

Future developments

Specifications under development by the CO-LaN include:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interoperability</span> Ability of systems to work with each other

Interoperability is a characteristic of a product or system to work with other products or systems. While the term was initially defined for information technology or systems engineering services to allow for information exchange, a broader definition takes into account social, political, and organizational factors that impact system-to-system performance.

Message-oriented middleware (MOM) is software or hardware infrastructure supporting sending and receiving messages between distributed systems. MOM allows application modules to be distributed over heterogeneous platforms and reduces the complexity of developing applications that span multiple operating systems and network protocols. The middleware creates a distributed communications layer that insulates the application developer from the details of the various operating systems and network interfaces. APIs that extend across diverse platforms and networks are typically provided by MOM.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ada Semantic Interface Specification</span> Interface

The Ada Semantic Interface Specification (ASIS) is a layered, open architecture providing vendor-independent access to the Ada Library Environment. It allows for the static analysis of Ada programs and libraries. It is an open, published interface library that consists of the Ada environment and their tools and applications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Computer-aided production engineering</span>

Computer-aided production engineering (CAPE) is a relatively new and significant branch of engineering. Global manufacturing has changed the environment in which goods are produced. Meanwhile, the rapid development of electronics and communication technologies has required design and manufacturing to keep pace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common Image Generator Interface</span>

The Common Image Generator Interface (CIGI), is an on-the-wire data protocol that allows communication between an Image Generator and its host simulation. The interface is designed to promote a standard way for a host device to communicate with an image generator (IG) within the industry.

The international standard IEC 61499, addressing the topic of function blocks for industrial process measurement and control systems, was initially published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in 2005. The specification of IEC 61499 defines a generic model for distributed control systems and is based on the IEC 61131 standard. The concepts of IEC 61499 are also explained by Lewis and Zoitl as well as Vyatkin.

SensorML is an approved Open Geospatial Consortium standard and an XML encoding for describing sensors and measurement processes. SensorML can be used to describe a wide range of sensors, including both dynamic and stationary platforms and both in-situ and remote sensors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green Building XML</span>

The Green Building XML schema (gbXML) is an open schema developed to facilitate transfer of building data stored in Building Information Models (BIMs) to engineering analysis tools. It enables interoperability between BIM and building performance simulation, which is relevant to sustainable building design and operation. gbXML is being integrated into a range of Computer-aided design (CAD) software and engineering tools, supported by leading 3D BIM vendors. The streamlined workflow can transfer building properties to and from engineering analysis tools, which eliminates the duplicate model generation and allows a bidirectional information update.

The COCO Simulator is a free-of-charge, non-commercial, graphical, modular and CAPE-OPEN compliant, steady-state, sequential simulation process modeling environment. It was originally intended as a test environment for CAPE-OPEN modeling tools but now provides free chemical process simulation for students. It is an open flowsheet modeling environment allowing anyone to add new unit operations or thermodynamics packages.

Knowledge Discovery Metamodel (KDM) is a publicly available specification from the Object Management Group (OMG). KDM is a common intermediate representation for existing software systems and their operating environments, that defines common metadata required for deep semantic integration of Application Lifecycle Management tools. KDM was designed as the OMG's foundation for software modernization, IT portfolio management and software assurance. KDM uses OMG's Meta-Object Facility to define an XMI interchange format between tools that work with existing software as well as an abstract interface (API) for the next-generation assurance and modernization tools. KDM standardizes existing approaches to knowledge discovery in software engineering artifacts, also known as software mining.

Model-based design (MBD) is a mathematical and visual method of addressing problems associated with designing complex control, signal processing and communication systems. It is used in many motion control, industrial equipment, aerospace, and automotive applications. Model-based design is a methodology applied in designing embedded software.

The Spacecraft Monitoring & Control (SM&C) Working Group of the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS), which sees the active participation of the main space agencies, is defining a service-oriented architecture consisting of a set of standard end-to-end services between functions resident on board a spacecraft or based on the ground, that are responsible for mission operations.

Live, Virtual, & Constructive (LVC) Simulation is a broadly used taxonomy for classifying Modeling and Simulation (M&S). However, categorizing a simulation as a live, virtual, or constructive environment is problematic since there is no clear division among these categories. The degree of human participation in a simulation is infinitely variable, as is the degree of equipment realism. The categorization of simulations also lacks a category for simulated people working real equipment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GIMIAS</span>

GIMIAS is a workflow-oriented environment focused on biomedical image computing and simulation. The open-source framework is extensible through plug-ins and is focused on building research and clinical software prototypes. Gimias has been used to develop clinical prototypes in the fields of cardiac imaging and simulation, angiography imaging and simulation, and neurology

The Functional Mock-up Interface defines a standardized interface to be used in computer simulations to develop complex cyber-physical systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DWSIM</span> Chemical process simulation software

DWSIM is an open-source CAPE-OPEN compliant chemical process simulator for Windows, Linux and macOS. DWSIM is built on top of the Microsoft .NET and Mono Platforms and features a Graphical User Interface (GUI), advanced thermodynamics calculations, reactions support and petroleum characterization / hypothetical component generation tools.

The Open Group Future Airborne Capability Environment was formed in 2010 to define an open avionics environment for all military airborne platform types. Today, it is a real-time software-focused professional group made up of industry suppliers, customers, academia, and users. The FACE approach is a government-industry software standard and business strategy for acquisition of affordable software systems that promotes innovation and rapid integration of portable capabilities across programs. The FACE Consortium provides a vendor-neutral forum for industry and government to work together to develop and consolidate the open standards, best practices, guidance documents, and business strategy necessary to result in:

dSPACE GmbH, located in Paderborn, Germany, is one of the world's leading providers of tools for developing electronic control units.

References

  1. ↑ M. Jarke, J. Köller, W. Marquardt, L. von Wedel, B. Braunschweig, 1999, “CAPE-OPEN: Experiences from a Standardization Effort in Chemical Industries”, Proceedings of 1st IEEE Conference on Standardisation and Innovation in Information Technology (SIIT 99), Aachen, Germany, pages 25-35, ISBN   0-7803-9935-8
  2. 1 2 CO-LaN
  3. ↑ Banks, P.S.; Irons, K.A.; Woodman, M.R. Woodman (2005). "Interoperability of Process Simulation Software" (PDF). Oil & Gas Science and Technology. 60: 607–616. doi: 10.2516/ogst:2005043 .
  4. ↑ JP. Belaud, M. Pons, 2002, "Open Software Architecture For Process Simulation: The Current Status of CAPE-OPEN Standard", Computer Aided Chemical Engineering., DOI:10.1016/S1570-7946(02)80169-9
  5. ↑ Michel Pons, 2009, "Making Use of CAPE-OPEN Technology in Process Simulation", Conference: 2009 AIChE Annual Meeting, ISBN   9781615679133
  6. ↑ Michel Pons, 2010, "How to make use of CAPE-OPEN?", 2010 AIChE Annual Meeting, ISBN   9780816910656
  7. ↑ Jasper Van Baten, Michel Pons, 2014, “CAPE‐OPEN: Interoperability in Industrial Flowsheet Simulation Software”, Chemie Ingenieur Technik, Volume 86, Issue 7, Pages 1052-1064, DOI: 10.1002/cite.201400009
  8. ↑ Jasper Van Baten, César G. Pernalete, Juan C. Urbina, José F. Arévalo, 2015, “A molecular reconstruction feed characterization and CAPE OPEN implementation strategy to develop a tool for modeling HDT reactors for light petroleum cuts”, Computer Aided Chemical Engineering, Volume 37, ISBN   978-0-444-63429-0 
  9. ↑ Jasper van Baten, Richard Szczepanski, 2011, "A thermodynamic equilibrium reactor model as a CAPE-OPEN unit operation", Computers & Chemical Engineering, Volume 35, Issue 7, Pages 1251-1256, DOI:10.1016/j.compchemeng.2010.07.016
  10. ↑ Gregor Tolksdorf, Erik Esche, Jasper van Baten, Gunter Wozny, 2016, Taylor-Made Modeling and Solution of Novel Process Units by Modular CAPE-OPEN-based Flowsheeting,Computer Aided Chemical Engineering. vol 38, ISBN   0444634444
  11. ↑ Michel Pons, Peter Banks, Bertrand Braunschweig, 2007, "A deliverable from CO-LaN to CAPE-OPEN developers and users: the CAPE-OPEN logging and testing tool (COLTT)", 17th European Symposium on Computed Aided Process Engineering, ISBN   0080546315 
  12. ↑ Michel Pons, 2003, "The CAPE-OPEN Interface Specification for Reactions Package", Computer-Aided Chemical Engineering, Volume 14, DOI:10.1016/S1570-7946(03)80225-0
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.