Project
Qinghai Mining Group retained Zhengzhou Design and Research Institute of Coal Industry (Zhengzhou) to design a CNY 1 billion EPC coal preparation plant and corresponding unloading, storage, and transporting facilities and equipment within an industrial park in Qinghai, China. The project had a limited construction cycle of 24 months and involved complex coal processes that required linking various functional areas of the plant, making the general plant layout a priority. To meet these challenges and coordinate among more than 10 design disciplines, Zhengzhou needed integrated, collaborative modeling and analysis software for an efficient design approach.
Solution
Zhengzhou used a collaborative BIM methodology using ProjectWise as its common platform, along with a host of Bentley software, including MicroStation, Bentley Navigator, OpenPlant, and Bentley Raceway and Cable Management. Using Bentley’s integrated structural modeling and plant design software within a shared project management system facilitated design coordination and allowed the owners to visualize different plans from various angles, compare data, analyze simulations, and make informed decisions. The interoperability of Bentley software optimized design efficiency in this first deep-level BIM project in China’s coal industry.
Outcome
Using Bentley BIM methodologies to model and analyze the plant structures and equipment produced more accurate designs and precise calculation of material quantities, which reduced design changes by 30 percent and materials consumption by 10 percent. Working in a collaborative 3D environment using ProjectWise as the common platform streamlined coordination among the multiple design disciplines. This reduced resource hours by 15 percent and shortened design cycle time. Bentley’s integrated and interoperable software saved about 5 percent in project delivery costs and increased design quality to provide a good foundation for construction and operation of the plant, which is expected to save 3 to 5 percent in operational costs.
Software
Using OpenPlant for pipe design, clash detection, equipment modeling, and plant layout enabled Zhengzhou to meet pipe specifications and optimize configuration. OpenPlant’s ability to produce accurate models and identify collisions minimized installation errors and facilitated precise materials statistics. ProjectWise provided real-time data sharing among the team, allowing each discipline to make collaborative changes within the same model to improve design quality and efficiency. The interoperability of Bentley tools enabled Zhengzhou to successfully pioneer integrated 3D modeling in the Chinese coal industry.