Table of Contents
SmartPlant Instrumentation (SPI) is one of the leading instrumentation engineering tools developed by Intergraph. Earlier, this software was known as Intools. The software serves as a single and widely used instrumentation application that is used across Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) projects. Smart plant instrumentation helps in accessing and updating the equipment used for various functions in any plant.
Software is used to design and manage a variety of activities including:
- instrumentation management,
- Creation of instrumentation data sheets,
- control valve and orifice plate size,
- Generating Loop Diagrams
- Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) wiring,
- Drawing a connection,
- PLC-DCS I/O assignment, etc.
Most of the EPC firms use this instrumentation design tool. SmartPlant Instrumentation creates a single engineering design environment that creates and manages the data needed by instrumentation engineers. This software is an all-in-one solution for all instrumentation and process deliverables. The software package can seamlessly manage those data continuously throughout the design lifecycle.
What’s inside SPI and how does it work?
Project execution involves many tasks, with contributions from many disciplines. Executing these tasks systematically leads to better engineering deliverables that will support plant construction and operation.
SmartPlant Instrumentation is one such platform that is moving towards a module-oriented environment. This indicates that this interface is related to the current script, for example:
Process Module – Collect process data from SmartPlant P&ID. Edit the information and add data-sets where applicable based on the instrument design.
Instrument Index Module – Recall and expand the basis of rule base instrument design from P&ID to all physical instruments. This function serves as process – instrumentation synchronization.
Specification Module – Create specific interfaces as well as user experiences using the engineering data editor that can be configured to perform specific tasks – for example, to create equipment datasheets/specifications that include SmartPlant instrumentation data Which is related to data or coming from vendors specifications.
Wiring Module – Junction box, build engineering data editor for marshalling cabinet (including DCS and PLC), assign cable and wiring data scripts to auto-connect devices with junction box, junction box with cabinet. This task includes loop checking for complete connectivity. Here comes the instrumentation – electrical synchronization.
This expanded focus increased productivity and asset management quality.
How does Intergraph Data Sharing work over SPI?
SmartPlant instrumentation acts as an engine derived from a variety of data sources, including process groups, piping departments, and electrical and instrumentation teams. The result data then feeds into piping groups for equipment or inline equipment, interlocks for electrical, in addition to interfacing and interacting with vendor and third-party catalogs.
SmartPlant instrumentation also supports operational activities, not just generating new aggregated data. SPI also provides a seamless interface for calibration with Fluke and for maintenance scheduling interfaces with ERP providers such as SAP Platform.
Vendor data and catalog access is becoming increasingly important in driving productivity and engineering design quality. Instead of searching and re-typing in SPI, you can easily access vendor data, for example, I/O card details for DCS, equipment under vendor scope such as E+H, or from Rosemount/Emerson Valve. SmartPlant instrumentation makes it easy to get accurate data quickly.
How does SmartPlant Instrumentation (SPI) contribute to the plant life cycle?
SmartPlant instrumentation captures value for workflow related to the equipment during the life cycle of the plant. SPI contributes to engineering and design, procurement, construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance.
Engineering and Design
SmartPlant Instrumentation helps manage and create instrumentation data in discrete databases, which facilitates fast, synchronous engineering to reduce project manhours and costs. This software assures data accuracy, consistent deliverables, effective and optimized change management system. This software maintains data integrity by creating various engineering rules. Massive two-way integration with other software (such as AutoCAD, Microstation, etc.) as well as with vendors (such as Yokogawa, Emerson, etc.) to reduce manual entry and design time. Data quality increases.
Procurement
Design data can be easily transferred from SmartPlant instrumentation to Intergraph’s SmartPlant materials, which can shorten procurement cycles. Warehouses can easily maintain purchases and change record in SmartPlant material, which makes procurement hassle-free.
Creation
User can extract control panel drawing from database. The contractor can start the construction for the control room and modify the database as and when required.
Commissioning
SmartPlant instrumentation with SmartPlant Explorer allows users to access data and test loop continuity. SmartPlant Explorer Online is geared more towards mark-up capability via the web.
Operation and Maintenance
SmartPlant instrumentation with SmartPlant P&ID functions as a single data package. The operator can easily access P&ID and equipment data simultaneously while operating the plant. These data are consistent, accurate and current. Hence there is less chance of error, which makes maintenance easier.
Benefits of Smart Plant Instrumentation (SPI)
Plant engineers and operators use smart instrumentation tools for asset performance management, which translates into a variety of functions such as power management, process automation, maintenance systems, safety and asset optimization. Intools software centralizes and aligns sensor, electronics and process diagnostics data to tasks. This results in huge savings in man hours and cost along with better compliance and consistency in managing change.
The key benefits that the SMART instrumentation software package provides are:
- Reduced risk, downtime, and increased profits.
- Fully automated generation of engineering deliverables such as wiring diagrams, loop diagrams and specifications from centralized data.
- Better performance of the control system and related documents.
- Fast execution with custom designed rules
- Better work efficiency
- Lower cost due to data leverage and consistent design.
Source – https://whatispiping.com/smart-plant-instrumentation-spi-intools/
Read Also