15 - Modeling Equipment in OpenPlant Modeler

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the process of modeling basic equipment using OpenPlant Modeler. You will learn how to place standard equipment from the equipment menu and create a user-defined piece of equipment. This knowledge is essential for anyone working in plant design and engineering.

Step 1: Create Component Templates

1. Open an existing OpenPlant Modeler model.
2. Select the equipment you want to define as a component template (e.g., a pump).
3. Right-click on the selected pump and choose the Modify Component option.
4. Define the dimensional properties as needed.
5. Click the Save icon.
6. When prompted, enter a name for the XML file to store the dimensions and click Save.
7. In the future, you can recall these saved dimensions for the pump by loading the XML file, which will update all dimensional properties.

Step 2: Start a New Model File

1. Create a new model file based on the previous training session.
2. Wait for the file to completely open before proceeding.

Step 3: Access the Equipment Menu

1. Navigate to the Equipment menu in the ribbon.
2. Browse the various equipment icons available for vessels, tanks, and pumps.
3. Select the appropriate icon for the equipment category you want to model.

Step 4: Attach Reference Model

1. Choose the Attach Tools option.
2. Select the References command when the dialog appears.
3. In the Reference dialog, go to the Tools menu and choose the Attach command.
4. Browse to the model you want to attach as a reference.
5. Accept all default reference attachment properties and click OK.
6. Use the Fit command in all views to adjust the graphics to fit properly.

Step 5: Place Equipment in the Model

1. Begin by placing a tank on the foundation:
   • Click on the Tanks icon in the ribbon.
   • Select a storage tank for your project.
   • When placing the tank, you can modify its tag, name, and dimensional properties.
   • If dimensions are unknown, refer to the provided diagram for assistance.
2. Click the Browse button to select existing component tags from the PID stored in PlantSight.
   • The Tag Browser will show available tags in a navigation tree.
   • Check related PID documents for selected tags.
   • Select Tank 60-T-600 and click OK to place the tank.
   • Left-click to accept the placement and right-click to exit the command.

Step 6: Place Additional Equipment

1. Place a pump using the following steps:
   • Click on the Pumps icon in the ribbon.
   • Choose a horizontal pump.
   • Load a previously created dimension template by clicking on the Load icon and selecting the template file.
   • Ensure units, service, and area are set correctly.
   • Click the Browse button to select the tag for the pump from PlantSight.
   • Use the AccuDraw and AccuSnap features to position and orient the pump correctly.
   • Left-click to accept the placement, and right-click to exit the command.

Step 7: Modify Equipment Placement

1. If you need to change the location of the equipment:
   • Right-click on the equipment and select the Move option.
   • Use the snapping feature to reposition the equipment as desired.
2. To modify component properties after placement:
   • Right-click and hold on the equipment.
   • Choose the Modify Component option to change associations, tags, dimensions, or other properties.
   • Click the Apply Changes icon to finalize your modifications.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, you learned how to create component templates, model basic equipment, and modify equipment properties in OpenPlant Modeler. Familiarizing yourself with these steps will enhance your efficiency in plant modeling projects. For your next steps, consider exploring advanced modeling techniques or integrating additional features in OpenPlant Modeler.