The sector of the US processing industry employing batch/semicontinuous (B/SC) operations is assuming growing importance because of the trend towards production of high technology chemical and biochemical products. Because of the complexity as well as labor and energy intensiveness of this mode of operation, there is an exceptional opportunity for the application of advanced computer-aided methodology to enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of US producers. However, in contrast to steady state processing, in the B/SC case there exist no generally available computer-aided systems for process simulation, modeling, and design. CAE, Inc., proposes to develop an integrated computeraided process engineering system for B/SC plant application which will consist of a combined simulation executive, a data base management system, an interactive graphics user interface, a physical properties interface, and an equipment module library. The core of the system is the BOSS simulation executive developed at Purdue University as an NSF-IUC activity. Phase I activities will include formulation of detailed functional specifications for the components of the system, identification of the key methodological problems to be resolved, preliminary testing of potential approaches to these problems, and definition of the major software subtasks. This work will be perfomed in cooperation with specialists at Purdue University and in consultation with industrial experts. On the basis of Phase I research, a complete system design will be developed in Phase 11 and implemented under private funding in Phase Ill.The potential commercial application as described by the awardee: The integrated computer-aided B/SC process engineering system will be the first of its kind and will have wide applicability in the food, polymer, pharmaceuticals, specialty chemicals, and biochemicals industries. It will be offered to these industries by CAE, Inc., directly or in partnership with one of the existing chemical industry software firms. Computer-Aided Engineering, Inc. is a software engineering firm specializing in simulation of batch and semicontinuous chemical engineering processes.
