Modular production is transforming the process industry by enabling flexible and rapid deployment of standardized Process Equipment Assemblies (PEAs). Defined by the VDI 2776-1 standard, modular process plants offer significant advantages in terms of adaptability and time-to-market reduction. However, key challenges remain, including the availability of standardized, energy efficient hardware modules, comprehensive module documentation, and regulatory approval of modular plants.
In this poster, we present solutions for seamless data integration in modular plants. Process data is systematically recorded using electronic lab notebooks (ELNs), ensuring standardized and machine-readable documentation. The collected data can be utilized in simulations, with DEXPI offering a neutral data format for exchanging process information. Technical and process-relevant information is aggregated and semantically linked to its source in the Semantic PEA Datasheet (SPEAD), a submodel of the Asset Administration Shell (AAS) developed within project REUNION.
With energy efficiency playing a crucial role, energy data must also be collected and exchanged. The measurement data is systematically structured in ELNs and linked to the energy management systems (EnMS), where energy Key Performance Indicator (eKPIs) are calculated and aggregated. These eKPIs are orchestrated to the Process Orchestration Layer (POL) via a communication protocol. Additionally, equipment information from SPEAD is utilized for contextualizing the collected energy data.
A key objective of this work is to advance the approvability of modular plants by consolidating all relevant information within SPEAD. The poster will showcase how structured documentation and digitalization efforts contribute to overcoming regulatory challenges and create synergies with other modularization projects.