AXSYS.Process Features

Simulation Interfaces

Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs)

Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs)

Microsoft Excel Datasheets and Reports

Costing Interfaces

Heat Exchanger Interfaces

Equipment Sizing

Project Control

Revision Management

AXSYS®.Process Configuration

Simulation Interfaces

General

Unlimited number of simulation cases
Unlimited number of simulation topologies
Load multiple different simulation topologies into the same project
Load multiple case studies per simulation topology into the same product
Each simulation can have a different number of simulation cases
Handle multiple different fluid packages in the same simulation
Manually create new streams and new cases
Copy data from existing streams and cases
Delete an existing simulation case
Delete an existing simulation
Manually add case data
Modify simulation data once loaded into the database
Automatic creation of “implied” equipment from the simulation via user-defined rules.
Tracks simulation file information such as simulation file location, user who loaded, when, etc

HYSYS

Supports HYSYS version 2.4.2 and above
Support for sub-flowsheets within HYSYS
Loads steady-state properties for streams, unit operations
Loads topology information from the simulation – stream/unit operation connectivity
Stores fluid package information
Stores sub-flowsheet topologies
Loads Heating and Cooling curve information where appropriate
Loads stage and section properties where appropriate

Aspen Plus

Supports Aspen Plus 10.1 and above
Loads stream and block related information
Loads stage and section properties where appropriate
Loads Heating and Cooling curve information where appropriate
Loads topology information from the simulation – stream/block connectivity
Optionally load Aspen Plus Block Diagram as a drawing within AXSYS®
Graphical query of simulation results from the block diagram

UniSim Design

Supports UniSim Design version R 350.1 and above
Support for sub-flowsheets within UniSim
Loads steady-state properties for streams, unit operations
Loads topology information from the simulation – stream/unit operation connectivity
Stores fluid package information
Stores sub-flowsheet topologies
Loads Heating and Cooling curve information where appropriate
Loads stage and section properties where appropriate

Pro/II

Supports Pro/II versions 5.11, 5.5, 5.6, 5.61, 6.0, 6.01, 7.0
Loads stream and Unit Operations related information
Loads stage and section properties where appropriate
Loads Heating and Cooling curve information where appropriate
Loads topology information from the simulation – stream/block connectivity

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Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs)

Automatic generation of PFDs - based on information loaded from the simulation and user-configurable rules
Tracking of what simulation was used as the basis for generating the PFD. Also keeps track of who created the PFD and when
Manual overwriting of rules after PFD has been created
Manual selection of required symbols during automatic generation of PFD
System re-routing of individual or all streams after PFD has been created
Full CAD functionality to select, move, copy, delete, edit, add, etc.
Full functionality to manually create PFD by graphical selection and placement of symbols onto a PFD drawing
Automatic creation of streams and case structure for all manually created streams on a PFD
Use manual modifications on automatically Generated PFD to arrive at final PFD document
Full set of PFD symbols already pre-defined as part of the symbol library
Add and customize symbology
Create new symbology from any DXF file
Graphically copy stream and case data through graphical selection
Highlight streams based on creation status – from simulation, user copied, user manually created
Intelligently annotate PFD based on information stored in the database
Automatically update annotations when underlying data is modified
Automatic generation of Heat and Mass Balance Table
Heat and Mass balance table generated based on all streams, or only those that are tagged to be displayed
Heat and Mass Balance table wizard to guide user through Heat and Mass table creation
User-configurable Heat and Mass balance format
Set different units of measurement and number of decimal places for display purposes on PFD
Export PFD's to DXF, Visio or SmartSketch

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Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs)

Automatic generation of P&IDs based on PFD diagram and user-configurable rules
Tracking of what PFD was used to create the P&ID. Also tracks who created the P&ID and when
Manual overwriting of rules after P&ID has been created
Manual selection of required symbols during automatic generation of P&ID
System re-routing of individual or all pipes after P&ID has been created
Full CAD functionality to select, move, copy, delete, edit, add, etc.
Full functionality to also manually create P&ID by graphical selection and placement of symbols onto a P&ID drawing
Intelligent connectors automatically adjust when connected objects are moved
Comprehensive symbol library of standard equipment, instrument, piping component, valves, etc. (consistent with any intelligent P&ID package)
Add and customize all symbology
Create new symbology from any DXF file
Combine multiple objects to create intelligent groups that can be used as standard configurations
Full piping connectivity established through graphical connections
Concept of pipe flow and order of components in a pipe line are automatically established and maintained
Automatic cascading of pipe size from the pipe to all in-line pipe components
Intelligent handling of reducers for changes in pipe sizes
Full object relationship model for all items. For example; Instrument Loops and Instrument, Equipment and Nozzles, Pipes and Valves
Intelligently annotate P&ID based on information stored in the database
Automatically update annotations when underlying data is modified
Reference stream data directly from pipe components on the P&ID
Manually assign stream references from pipes to streams
Insert piping specification breaks etc.
Highlight all piping with stream references
"Cut and paste" sections of the P&ID from one P&ID to another, with automatic handling of Offpage Connectors
Intelligent off-page connectors
Automatic tracking of all objects on drawings. (System keeps an updated reference of what objects appear on which drawings.)
Export P&IDs to DXF, Visio or SmartSketch
Export fully intelligent P&IDs to Bentley AutoPLANT P&ID
Export fully intelligent P&IDs to Bentley PlantSpace P&ID
Export fully intelligent P&ID's to SmartPlant P&ID

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Microsoft Excel Datasheets and Reports

Full read/write capabilities into the AXSYS® database
Fully configurable data sheet definition and report definition
Fully compatible with your existing Excel formats
Works based on a template basis – each of your existing formats can become templates into the database
Supports the use of Excel controls such as combo boxes
Ability to specify different measurement units than those used inside the database
Ability to batch print and batch export datasheets and reports
Ability to import/export template formats
Create and manage multiple revisions of your datasheets & reports
Compare and highlight changes between revisions
Allow off-line editing of datasheet content
Comparison and syncronization between off-line edits and the AXSYS® database
Provides database search and select mechanism
Works in conjunction with active AXSYS® session to display selected objects
Wizard to create new excel datasheet templates
Interactive database mapping tool to help define new templates or modify existing templates
Auto-detects interactive AXSYS® session or connects to AXSYS®.Server
Ability to add password protection for security in the template definitions

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Costing Interfaces

ICARUS2000

User can select any one of the 250+ different equipment cost definitions available within ICARUS2000
Define and modify the equipment cost type on any equipment in the database
Extract equipment only data, or equipment data and all associated bulk component date based on actual P&IDs, and send to ICARUS2000 for costing
Same pull-down selections defining the costing basis as are used within ICARUS2000
Add and modify these selections to suit your own business requirements
Load cost results from ICARUS2000 into the database
Display all Equipment cost calculation data from ICARUS2000
Capture and merge all changes made by the cost engineer within the ICARUS2000 back into the database. (This allows the user to then re-send data to ICARUS2000 with all changes merged together)
Support for different measurement units being used by ICARUS2000 than those used for the project
Highlight all equipments identified within the ICARUS2000 system either on the PFD or P&ID diagrams within AXSYS®
Highlight all piping and instrument bulk information on the AXSYS® P&ID that is sent to ICARUS2000 for costing
Highlight piping and instrument bulks on an equipment by equipment basis

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Heat Exchanger Interfaces

Create input file for heat exchanger design program
Define basic mechanical configuration information
Set customized defaults for mechanical configuration
Track what files have been created, for each program, by which user and when
Define standard Utility streams for export to heat exchanger program
User-set measurement units to be used with the heat exchanger file
Store any number of heat exchanger results for each heat exchanger based on which design package was used
Select any given heat exchanger result set as the basis for a design case
Define which properties are to be loaded from the exchanger program – or store all result data
Graphically select the heat exchanger for review and editing of calculated values
Supports design and Rating modes in XIST from HTRI
Supports design, simulation, rating and thermosyphon modes in TASC from HTFS

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Equipment Sizing

Create unlimited number of sizing cases
Different number of sizing cases per object
Size based on simulation input information
Search for items to size based on simulation, drawing, unsized items, sized items, selected items, user specified item tag
Size based on different connection information from simulation or from drawing connection
Size pipes based on PFD or based on P&ID
Define a selected sizing design cases as default case
Size pipes for single and multi-phase flow based on PFD or based on P&ID
Each item type has different sizing parameters that can be utilized, each parameter with default values
Sizing for horizontal and vertical separators and include 2 phase and 3 phase separation calculation methods
Vessel sizing can be minimized based on; weight, volume, length or diameter
Trayed towers can be based on; sieve, valve or bubble cap
Trayed towers with valve type trays can select between Glitsch, Kock or Nutter
Large library of packing matierals for the sizing of packed columns
Heat Exchanger sizing can be based on Design or Rating modes
Heat Exchangers can be automatically sized using XIST or TASC (if a license is available and has been installed on the same machine as AXSYS®)

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Project Control

AXSYS® has an extensive set of facilities to control which users have access what level or privileges. Some of the main features include:

Ability to restrict database access
Ability to define Object level access. This can be set as Full Access, Create only, Modify Only, Review Only, No Access or Assign. Assign is specifically used to allow drafting personnel to create graphical representations only for items that are already defined in the database
Ability to control access to properties. This can be set to Read/Write Read Only or No Access.

In addition to the above privileges, AXSYS® also keeps track of who makes what modifications including:

Complete list of changes each user makes on an object by object, and property by property.
Multiple user changes will be automatically merged back into the overall project – conflict are flagged to the user
Ability to define different approval rights
Ability to assign “sign off” users who must check the user’s work before they can go forward to approval.
The System automatically adds a Revision Number to each object when it has been modified. The system also has a Registry that gives a history of when changes were done and by whom.

In addition to the above capabilities, a Compare utility is also provided that allows the user to do the following:

Compare any object in any given project with any other object in any other project
Compare one user's workspace changes against another user's changes
Automatically generate a “difference” file in an Excel compatible format
Generate a “difference” file that can be used to automatically update the AXSYS® database

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Revision Management

With the ability to manage changes to the AXSYS® databases also comes the ability to define and store multiple revisions within the project. Features include:

Ability to define and manage an unlimited number of database revisions
Tools to review the revision history of any item in the project, providing details as to who, when and what was modified
Tools to compare between revisions of any item giving a summary of differences between revisions
Stores and manages each incremental differences between major revisions
Highlighting of changed items in any drawing
Highlighting of changes within Excel datasheets or reports
Mark-up tools to capture comments and annotation related to the revision

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AXSYS®.Process Configuration

Almost all aspects of AXSYS® can be easily configured to suit your specific corporate and project standards without programming. Most of the configurable components listed below are defined within the AXSYS® database itself.

Object Naming templates. Implement you custom naming template. We support any number of different custom naming templates which can vary from project to project as required
Data Forms. We provide multiple standard data forms that are used to display selected data on an object by object basis. Each one of these can be modified to suit your own requirements
Automation Rules. Rules used as part of PFD and P&ID automation can all be customized on a project to project basis
Other Rules. All rules are implemented within a rule structure in the database. These can be modified without any programming skills
Symbols. All graphical symbols can be modified and appended to as required. There are multiple levels of symbols, a symbol can be define as system wide, project wide or specific to a particular user. This allows the user to establish corporate standards and a then sub-sets that are customized on a project by project basis.
Import of existing AutoCAD symbols. Take existing symbols and convert them into intelligent symbols via rules which can be based on color, layer, or any AutoCAD block information.
Import and conversion of AutoCAD drawings. Convert existing AutoCAD documents into intelligent PFDs and P&IDs based on conversion rules.
Drawing Conventions. Your own standard color and layer mechanisms can be defined
Heat and Mass Balance Table. Define what properties you want to display on your Heat and Mass Balance Tables
Nozzle, Tee conventions. You can select different ways to represent Nozzles and Tees in your project that will automatically be created based on simply connecting objects
Labels. All your own standard labeling conventions can be defined.
Excel Formats. You can define any number of your own Excel formats that will be connected to the database automatically
User Interface. The entire user interface can be customized
Project setup and User Definitions. The entire project definition and user definition can be customized to suit your requirements

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