Aspen SmartStep Automated Tester
Automating best practices in process unit step testing
Aspen SmartStep Automated Tester allows users to simplify and streamline the task of collecting process data for model construction. It delivers model data with higher information content than manual testing while significantly reducing the overall engineering effort. Aspen SmartStep Automated Tester is a core element of AspenTech's aspenONE® Advanced Process Control applications.
Features
- Combines a step generation engine with an embedded Aspen DMCplus® like controller to enforce MV limits while keeping CVs within bounds
- Generates a constrained step test (e.g., valve limits and column qualities are honored)
- Supports larger steps
- Simple setup via configuration wizard in just a few minutes
- Enables operations to define and modify operating point for step testing
- Allows any MV to be paired with another MV
- MVs are stepped in a given ratio in order to obtain more informative test data
- Allows identification algorithms to determine gain ratios and RGA numbers of nearly co-linear sub-matrices with more accuracy
- Supports testing the process in the "weak direction"
- Specifies preferred first step direction for test moves
- Automatically scan the variables in an application and identify possible PID loops in the list of MVs and CVs
- Automatically slice bad data resulting from valve saturation, PID mode changes, process upset detection, and bad measurement readings
Benefits
- Produces a more accurate model vs. the model generated by a traditional step test
- Provides better shape of the model curves
- Delivers more accurate gains
- Improves the accuracy of identified gain ratios, particularly important for ill-conditioned processes
- Reduces overall engineering effort
- Supports new APC implementations or partial/full revamps
- Reduces or eliminates the need for night-time engineering supervision while still gathering information-rich data round-the-clock
- Creates an iterative process of test/analyze/commission that evaluates initial assumptions early to minimize risk to the project
- Integrated with Adaptive Modeling to provide an efficient and seamless workflow for APC sustained value