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Frequently Asked Questions

question mark Where can I get information on CAPE-OPEN interface standards specifications?
question mark What are some kinds of tools using CAPE models?
question mark What are some examples of Process Modeling Components (PMCs) that are currently used?
question mark What are some examples of Process Modeling Environments (PMEs) that are currently used?
question mark What is a Process Modeling Component (PMC)?
question mark What is a Process Modeling Environment (PME)?
question mark What is the difference between a PME and a COSE (Process Modeling Environment and CAPE-OPEN Simulation Environment)?
question mark What is middleware?
question mark What are COM and CORBA?
question mark When and where can I get some training on how to bring my models to the CAPE-OPEN standard?
question mark What does CO not cover?
question mark Does CO cover CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics)?
question mark What does "CO-compliant" mean?
question mark When and where can we join the club?
question mark What is the CO-LaN?
question mark How is the CO-LaN funded?
question mark How will users know which Software Components are CO compliant?
question mark How much effort will be required to make a Software Component CO compliant?
question mark How will CO compliant Software Components be distributed?
question mark What is IMS?
question mark What is the relationship between CO and STEP?
question mark What is the relationship between CO and OPC?
question mark What is the relationship between CO and Open-Spirit?
question mark Who is developing CO-compliant component?
question mark How does CO address which criteria to choose for process optimization?
question mark What is the incentive for different companies to share models?
question mark Won't having to pay for the use of many components be a nightmare?
question mark What is the role for universities and research institutes in the CO marketplace?
question mark How will organizations find the resources to migrate to CO compliance and still meet their original goals of delivering the capability of the Software Components? And, what will prevent organizations that are good at wrapping for CO compliance (but not so good at modeling) from dominating the market?

question mark Where can I get information on CAPE-OPEN interface standards specifications?
answer mark www.colan.org (you already there!)
question mark What are some kinds of tools using CAPE models?
answer mark
  • Steady-state and dynamic simulation for process design
  • Training simulators for operators
  • Data acquisition and reconciliation
  • Advanced control, monitoring and diagnostic
  • Optimization of processes
  • Equipment design tools (heat exchanger, reactor, pipe network, pressure relief, distillation, etc.)
  • Process design tools (process simulators, process network designers, etc.)
question mark What are some examples of Process Modeling Components (PMCs) that are currently used?
answer mark
  • HTRI and HTFS for heat exchanger design
  • The Multiflash Thermo package from Infochem
  • Pump models
  • Distillation model from Prof. Dudukovic at Washington University (St. Louis, Missouri)
  • Cracker furnace models
  • Mixer/agitator calculators
  • Distillation packing design tools
  • Safety relief design calculators
  • Fluid flow network calculators (e.g. FLOWMASTER)
  • Non conventional unit operations
question mark What are some examples of Process Modeling Environments (PMEs) that are currently used?
answer mark The most obvious examples are the current process simulators from AspenTech (Aspen Plus and Aspen Hysys), Honeywell Process Solutions (UniSim Design), Process Systems Enterprise (gPROMS), COCO (AmsterChem), ProSimPlus (ProSim SA) and SimSci-ESSCOR (PRO/II). However, in a more general sense it could be said that any software that "stands by itself" and calls on or uses another Software Component is itself a PME. In practice, the distinction between a PME and a PMC is not always clear, as a PMC may call on another PMC to complete its task, and therefore seems to behave as a PME. Such a clear distinction is not necessary to understand and use the concept.
question mark What is a Process Modeling Component (PMC)
answer mark A Software Component which is intended to carry out a narrow, well-defined function such as the computation of physical properties, the simulation of a particular unit operation, or the numerical solution of certain types of mathematical problems arising in process simulation or optimization. This is a process element such as a unit operation, a numerical solver, a thermodynamic server, a physical property data base, etc. Examples are heat exchanger design models, pump models, distillation models (including packing, distributor, or tray models), hydrocarbon cracker furnace models, mixer/agitator calculators, safety relief design calculators, fluid flow network calculators, non conventional unit operation models.
question mark What is a Process Modeling Environment (PME)?
answer mark A PME is essentially a software environment that supports the construction of a process model either from first-principles or from libraries of existing models, or both. They then allow the user to perform a variety of different tasks, such as process simulation or optimization, using this single model of the process. To achieve their latter function, this category of process tools incorporates or makes use of several Process Modeling Components.
question mark What is the difference between a PME and a COSE (Process Modeling Environment and CAPE-OPEN Simulation Environment)?
answer mark A COSE, pronounced "co-zee", is a CO compliant PME. A COSE is described as having one or more CO "sockets" into which a CO compliant Process Modeling Component can be "plugged".
question mark What is middleware?
answer mark A software layer that allows inter-working of heterogeneous applications in heterogeneous distributed environments. It is "in the middle" between the Process Modeling Component (PMC) and the Process Modeling Environment (PME) or between PMCs or PMEs such that information can be exchanged between the Software Components.
question mark What are COM and CORBA ?
answer mark
  • COM (Component Object Model interface definition language) is Microsoft middle ware, the heart of Windows. COM is used in Windows environments.
  • CORBA is the Object Management Group (OMG) middle ware. OMG has 800+ members: software and hardware manufacturers, and industrial users. http://cgi.omg.org. CORBA is used in UNIX environments.
question mark When and where can I get some training on how to bring my models to the CAPE-OPEN standard?
answer mark One University course at E.N.S.I.A.C.E.T. (Toulouse, France) has addressed this need during one semester. Tutorials on various CAPE-OPEN subjects are often organized next to the US and European CAPE-OPEN Conferences (Nov 12, 2006; March 7, 2007; November 4, 2007; April 2, 2008; April 3, 2009). ProSim SA (www.prosim.net) has also a commercial offer of tutorials on CAPE-OPEN.
question mark What does CO not cover?
answer mark
  • File formats
  • Model content
  • Internal software structure and implementation
  • Accuracy of models and data
  • GUIs
  • Units conversions
  • Process synthesis software
question mark Does CO cover CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics)?
answer mark Not explicitly, although the "distributed parameters interface" will be of interest to CFD vendors. There is already interest from CFD vendors in wrapping their products to make them CO-compliant. This is an evolving area and as more information becomes available, we will post it on the CO-LaN web site.
question mark What does "CO-compliant" mean?
answer mark A Software Component is said to be CO-compliant if it correctly implements CAPE-OPEN interfaces, allowing it to interoperate with other CO-compliant software. Not every component will implement every interface as not all are needed by each component.
question mark When and where can we join the club?
answer mark Joining the CO-LaN is a simple process. Fill a membership application form and submit it to the CO-LaN Management Board.
question mark What is the CO-LaN?
answer mark CO-LaN stands for CAPE-OPEN Laboratories Network. This is the organization that carries forward the work of CAPE-OPEN initiated in the European funded projects CAPE-OPEN, Global CAPE-OPEN and GCO Support. CO-LaN activities include promoting CAPE-OPEN, developing and improving CAPE-OPEN standards, and generally insuring the success of the CAPE-OPEN concept and principles.
When significant projects are required (e.g. for the creation or updating of an interface standard specification), task forces of interested organizations are created for the task rather than staffing the CO-LaN to be able to handle such major efforts. CO-LaN was incorporated as a non-for-profit Society in January 2001.
question mark How is the CO-LaN funded?
answer mark Funding comes from membership dues. Membership is organized in two groups: Full Members and Associate Members. Full Members are end-users of CAPE software. Associate Membershers are providers of CAPE software, either commercial or academic. Only Full Members are paying fees, defined every year by the CO-LaN Board of Directors, and ratified during the Annual General Meeting of members, so as to meet the needs of the Society and its members.
question mark How users know which Software Components are CO compliant?
answer mark The CO-LaN maintains a list of CO-compliant Software Components.
question mark How much effort will be required to make a Software Component CO compliant?
answer mark Like any other software development effort, it will depend on the complexity of the product. And the software engineer will need to understands the applicable CO standards and the wrapping methods. It will also depend on the number of interface standard specifications with which the Software Component needs to comply. Software developers are just beginning the work of wrapping components - when more experience is accumulated, we will be able to at least offer some rules of thumb or general guidelines. For smaller components which already have a modular structure or are otherwise well organized, an investment of days or a week or two is realistic.
question mark How will CO compliant Software Components be distributed?
answer mark Like any other software component, although the future of software distribution will likely continue to move toward the web.
question mark What is IMS?
answer mark The Intelligent Manufacturing Systems (IMS) initiative, is an industry-led, international research and development program established in 1995 to foster development the next generation of manufacturing and processing technologies. For more information, see www.ims.org.
question mark What is the relationship between CO and STEP?
answer mark STEP (Standard for the Exchange of Product model data) is focused on digital product data - things such as geometry, topology, tolerances, relationships, attributes, assemblies, configuration, etc.. CO is focused on the interoperability of process models and the data to support those models. STEP and CO are complementary and do not overlap in either goals or implementation.
question mark What is the relationship between CO and OPC?
answer mark OPC (OLE for Process Control. OLE = Object Linking Embedding) is an industry standard for interoperability of process control software, using Microsoft COM as middleware. The OPC members are mainly automation companies i.e. Fisher Rosemount etc. OPC addresses a different and complementary subject. CO makes use of OPC interfaces for accessing the process control data. OPC does not address interoperability of process models - this is where CAPE-OPEN interfaces are used.
question mark What is the relationship between CO and Open-Spirit?
answer mark Open Spirit Inc. is a company providing interoperability solutions for the oil and gass industries in the form of interface definitions for services and of software implementing them. Some partners in the former Open Spirit Alliance, which led to the creation of Open Spirit Inc., have been partners in the Global CAPE-OPEN project. Some Open Spirit contributors have been involved in the CO-LaN Master Plan and in the Method and Tools group of GCO.
question mark Who is providing CO-compliant environments and/or components?
answer mark
  • Vendors:
    • AspenTech - Aspen Properties, Aspen Plus, Aspen Hysys
    • SimSci-ESSCOR, PRO/II
    • AmsterCHEM - COCO
    • HTRI - Xchanger Suite
    • DECHEMA - Thermo plug & PPDB plug
    • PSE - gProms thermo socket and unit plug
    • ProSim - SIMULIS thermo plug and socket and ProSimPlus
    • Belsim - Vali Thermo socket
    • Infochem - Multiflash Thermo plug
    • VMG - Thermo socket
    • RSI - INDISS
    • Honeywell Process Solutions - UniSim Design, eThermo
    • DIPPR - PPDB (Physical Property Data Base) plug
    • SolidSim Engineering GmbH - SolidSim
    • Cosmologic GmbH - Cosmotherm
    • CiT - PREDICI
    • TUV NEL Ltd - PPDS
  • Universities:
    • DTU/CALSEP - Unit plugs (Technical University of Denmark)
    • DTU/IVC-SEP - Thermo system
    • Ruht Universität Bochum - Property Package
    • INPT - Solver plug (Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse)
    • RWTH - Solver plugs (Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen)
  • Operating Companies:
    • TOTAL, IFP, BASF, BP, Linde Engineering
question mark How does CO address which criteria to choose for process optimization?
answer mark CO provides interface specifications that enable the use and definition of any criteria one may think of. This means providing a sufficient flexibility in the handling of variables and so on. How to conduct the optimization and what tools to use are choices the user must make, and are not an issue for CO standards.
question mark What is the incentive for different companies to share models?
answer mark The point is not to share models but to define and use interfaces that will make the use of proprietary models completely transparent whatever the PME (Process Modeling Environment) one is using. Models are incorporating so much process knowledge that they will be kept confidential and CO interfaces will help, since it won't be necessary to exchange information with vendors in order to use such models within a specific PME. Using CO interfaces is a good means to enforce the proprietary nature of a model. In the case of companies selling process technology, they would likely want to provide a CO compliant process model to aid their customers in CAPE implementation of the technology. CO compliance will also make it much easier for Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to enter the market place with specialized Software Components.
question mark Won't having to pay for the use of many components be a nightmare?
answer mark It is expected that such widely used specifications could well lead to freeware or shareware or different licensing arrangements. A component will be marketed, sold, and purchased only if the developer and users think it is beneficial, so it will be driven by market forces. If multiple vendor sources becomes a barrier to use, it will be up to those vendors to structure their product licenses to minimize that barrier.
question mark What is the role for universities and research institutes in the CO marketplace?
answer mark Universities and other non-profit CAPE organizations can list their CO assets in terms of models developed. Models that have the highest market value, either in terms of monetary return or recognition, will determine which components to migrate first. The source code developed for example in Fortran 90, even in Fortran 77, should be able to remain relatively intact through migration. The migration should be technically a low level task where only the CO compliant wrapper needs to be written. Senior students with an adequate background in Visual Basic or Visual Fortran should be able to do the job. The CO-LaN will be ready to advise such institutions on the possibility of migrating a piece of software. It seems likely that in the near future, companies would require that any software developed in partnership with universities, etc. be CO compliant.
question mark How will organizations find the resources to migrate to CO compliance and still meet their original goals of delivering the capability of the Software Components? And, what will prevent organizations that are good at wrapping for CO compliance (but not so good at modeling) from dominating the market?
answer mark Migrating software to CO compliance will not keep people from pursuing their work. In fact it could well increase their prominence in the CAPE community. It will be their component that is marketed, their name will be put on it, and it will traceable to them much easier than is sometimes the case today. Bringing a component to CAPE-OPEN standards would result in the recognition of the work done by a researcher, without a great deal of effort going into this migration. Further, there will be significantly less work involved in making components operate in multiple simulation environments, so the total work load should not increase and may even go down.

(c) CO-LaN, 2001-2010. All rights are reserved unless specifically stated otherwise.
 Latest update: February 14, 2010
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