simple

< and everything in-between >

very complex with 100+ displays

When you cannot find what you need:

We provide simulations for your training needs.  The simulations look and act like your equipment.  For dcs/scada systems, displays look exactly the same, alarms work, and first-principle models drive the numbers.  For manual panels, dials move as they should based off the models; lights and switches work.  Both types come with robust support for the trainer.  The simulations use standard pc equipment.

Things we do	Special offers
1. Types of Processes	Hydroelectric
2. Legacy (older equipment and processes)
3. Multiple Windows / Displays
4. Manual Panels
5. PLC's
6. Distributed Control Systems (dcs)
7. 3D
8. Sounds
9. Versus the Competition
10. Training Options
10a. Saves, Loads, &Scenarios
10b. Faults, Failures, & Upsets
10c. Trainer's Computer
10d. Grading
10e. Built-in Documentation

1. Types of Processes

     Any and every is the concise answer.  We started with the pulp/paper industry which has enough processes for any three ordinary industries.  Processes we have done: boilers (bark, coal, recovery, gas, & oil), steam turbines & generators, steam processes (paper machines, steam headers, condensers, etc.), chemical reactions (ClO2 generation, methanol extraction, entire recovery process - smelt - slakers - lime kiln, etc.), bleaching, winders, conveyors, Kamyr & batch digesters, etc.  Every process has had its unique features and frequently insufficient documentation.  Whatever you have, we can handle it.

2. Legacy (older equipment and processes)

     There is some old stuff out there.  You may have some of it.  The equipment works.  You could replace it, but cost justifying new equipment that won't cost less to operate or increase quality?  Often hard to do.  The problem with legacy gear and processes is teaching new people how to run the equipment or process.  We can handle older plc's and very old manual panels. Frequently with older gear, there are process sounds that clue a knowledgeable operator to equipment and process conditions. We can take recordings of those sounds and incorporate them into the simulation for the appropriate conditions.  Mostly, though, older equipment deals with manual panels.  For more information on manual panels, Click here.

3. Multiple Windows / Displays

     With our package, a trainee may have as many monitors or computers as needed.  You may have two trainees working cooperatively or independently.  You may have a trainer monitor a trainee and have special options for causing upsets.  For large manual control panels, you can have two or more monitors side-by-side with the panel laid out on them.

4. Manual Panels      Many processes do not require digital control or work too well to justify the cost of going digital.  We can provide traing simulations for your situation.  No matter how large or complex your control panels, no matter how complex your process, we can provide you a simulation to fit your needs.  The synchroscope download will serve as an example.  It has dials, switches, and lights.  It runs real-time.  It is modelled on an actual process.  For large panels, a customer can use multiple monitors or a single monitor that the user can move around the panel.
5. PLC's      You may have a plc controlled process or even more likely a plc system combined with one or more manual panels.  We can provide a simulation for this situation.  The image shows part of a process control panel from a simulation, one driven by a plc.  The control panel also consists of many manual switchs and lights etc (not shown).  Your simulation would run real-time, the numbers would be accurate, and a trainee could learn without disturbing the actual system.
6. Distributed Control Systems (dcs)      Distributed control systems can get quite large.  Our simulations can handle them.  Alarms, trends, etc. are supported.  The displays and process look and act like your own.  We support multiple monitors.  If the operator has multiple workstaions with the actual system, he can have the same with the simulation.  We use complex first-principle models.
7. 3D      You may have need of 3D training.  We can incorporate our process models into 3D scenarios.  With most young people familiar with interactive 3D, it becomes a viable training method when you have to replace retiring experienced operators.

8. Sounds

     People notice sounds even when not paying attention.  When it comes to running processes or equipment, sounds play a large role.  Some control rooms are very isolated, but even for those, when a high pressure safety lifts its sound goes through the walls and gets the attention of the operators.  For everybody else, closer to the situation, sounds can frequently tell more about current conditions than displays or lights.  Older operator keep one ear attuned to the process sounds all the time.

     Our simulations can incorporate sounds for the proper conditions.  These included sounds have presence.  The more senses that come into play, the better the training. In addition to improving the training package, the use of sounds does a lot to make a trainee pay attention. Day to day we live in a sound-proof environment; when outside many people have earphones in their ears.  Unusual noises during training?  The trainee pays attention.  This is what you want.

9. Versus the Competion

     Our competition consists of companies that sell control equipment.  When setting up a new process or upgrading control systems, budgets often have the flexibility to squeeze in some extras.  The company supplying the control system cheerfully tries to sell a simulator.  Their arguments are that their simulation will be exactly the same as the actual system.  It will also make checkout go quicker.

     There are three main reasons for going with us.  The fact that the look and feel matches your system is not one of them. Rather, consider the simulation as a tool. The simulations we deliver and their software are a tool for training your operator.  That is for what they are made.  They do it very well.  They have displays, models, and a control system, all designed around the training goal.  The control system used for your process is designed precisely for that mission.  They get modified for training purposes, but that is not their reason for being and our products just do the job better.

     Our simulations are tougher over the long haul.  They are easier to modify for changing training conditions or changes to the process.

     There is no question, we are the better choice for situations not involving new control systems or upgrades.  We are cheaper and our product far more flexible.  We also can handle systems with different types of control sytems, older systems, and combinations of control systems and manual panels.

     Mark Twain did not live long enough to encounter simulations or he would have said there were four kinds of lies.  We put what we have on this website and try to keep it simple.  Sadly we do use the term "first-principle".  Everybody claims they use it.  It is just a buzzword and means little.  We consider that if a couple of your experienced operators consider the simulation accurate, then we have provided the product you need.  (If you want to upgrade portions of it to engineering grade, we can talk about that, too).

     We put what we have on this website.  If we were physically in your presence we could make a much stronger sales pitch.  Please keep that in mind when comparing us to a product pitched to you in person.  Does their website provide you as much information as ours?  No excuses allowed.

10. Training Options

     With the following features, your trainer gets complete flexibility for training.

10a. Saves, Loads, & Scenarios

     With our package you can create as many scenarios as desired.  Your trainer runs the simulation until it is in a particular state, for example 'down cold'.  She stops the simulation.  She schedules a fault to occur in 15 minutes.  She saves it and calls it Start-Up Scenario #1.  In the future a trainee can load and start that scenario, follow the normal start-up sequence, and 15 minutes into the session an equipment fault occurs.  How does the trainee handle it?

10b. Faults, Failures, & Upsets

     In normal training, a trainee who can do a complete start-up and a complete shutdown has mastered 80-90% of the job.  After that comes idiosyncracies of the process, procedures for special situations, recovering from process upsets, and dealing with problems before they upset the process.  Our simulations support device failure (won't start, stop, etc.), sensor failure (fails high, fails low, fails at current value, drifts, etc.), inventory quality problems, environmental conditions, mechanical failure (pipe ruptures, tank leaks, etc.), and others.

10c. Trainer's Computer

    The computer running the simulation may be the one the student uses or one set aside for the trainer.  In the latter case the trainer can watch the trainee's process and make comments or cause a problem immediately or a short time in the future.  The trainer can also act as a field helper for the trainee.

10d. Grading

    Our simulations support grading performance in two ways.  As with any process, the truth is told in the trends.  An instructor looking at the trends can see exactly what happened.  We can also include grading based on actions that do not appear in the trends.  When shutting down, for example, a tank may drop below a given level causing the level controller to close off.  Proper procedure for the shutdown may also include turning off the pump and putting the controller in manual with a zero output.  These latter actions would not show up in trends, but they are something that would determine whether the trainee had properly accomplished the shutdown.

10e. Built-In Documentation

     We can provide training documenation built into your simulation.  You can also change the text of the documentation without changing the entire package.