Yokogawa Releases Upgrade for OpreX Data Model Broker Plant Data Transformation Platform

Tokyo, Japan - September 22, 2023

Yokogawa Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6841) announces the release of Design Diagram Converter, a new OpreX^TM Data Model Broker component. OpreX Data Model Broker, a product in the OpreX Connected Intelligence lineup, is a data transformation platform that makes use of the ontology AI technique* to convert and verify data that is scattered across various systems. The new Design Diagram Converter component is able to read piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs) created with 2D CAD software and automatically generate intelligent P&IDs and instrument lists that can be processed by computers. With the automation of plant engineering work that previously had to be done manually, Yokogawa is supporting digital transformation in plant engineering.

Development Background

P&IDs play an essential role not only in design and construction, but also in the operation, maintenance, and modification of plants that process oil, chemicals, and other materials. P&IDs are created by process designers for use by the personnel tasked with implementing plant instrumentation, piping, and machinery. However, as these diagrams are intended primarily for ease of viewing, they are not optimized for computer processing, which is necessary for frequent information exchange. In such cases, it is necessary to have a specialist manually extract and process the data from these P&ID drawings, and this is time-consuming and presents quality issues.

To address these issues, Yokogawa has developed the Design Diagram Converter. With high accuracy, this software can read P&IDs created with 2D CAD software, convert them to P&IDs compliant with international standard file format, and automatically generate an instrumentation list. By automating a task that previously had to be done manually, the workload is significantly decreased, quality is assured through the reduction of human error, and the promotion of digitalizing plant engineering is achieved.

Main Features

1. Automatically generates an instrumentation list by analyzing P&ID information
   The original instrumentation list can be automatically generated by loading 2D CAD P&ID files into the Design Diagram Converter software. For the analysis of drawings, pattern-matching techniques are used to extract information and the patterns can be tuned using the target drawings. As detection accuracy can be easily adjusted, this makes it easier to start related tasks. Compared to the process in which information is manually extracted from diagrams and lists are created manually, this program is able to reduce total labor time by approximately 60%.

   
   Design Diagram Converter screenshots
   Left: Original P&ID diagram before pattern matching / Right: After pattern matching
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2. Automatically generates XML documents that are compliant with international P&ID standards
   With the Design Diagram Converter, information that is read can be exported in the XML document format, which complies with the ISO15926 international standard. The XML documents can be used on other systems and in applications that support the same format, making it easy to use design information from an existing plant asset.

* Ontology is one of the approaches in AI technology. It is a concept or mechanism for defining the meaning of information and aims to make computers mimic how humans understand the meaning of information.

Major Target Markets

Oil and gas upstream, midstream gas and liquid pipelines, petrochemicals, chemicals, renewable energy, power,
pulp and paper, pharmaceuticals, food, mining, iron and steel, water distribution, and wastewater treatment

Applications

Digital transformation of P&IDs and automatic generation of an instrumentation list in plants for oil, chemicals, and other materials

About OpreX

OpreX is the comprehensive brand for Yokogawa's industrial automation (IA) and control business. The OpreX name stands for excellence in the technologies and solutions that Yokogawa cultivates through the co-creation of value with its customers, and encompasses the entire range of Yokogawa's IA products, services, and solutions. This brand comprises the following five categories: OpreX Transformation, OpreX Control, OpreX Measurement, OpreX Execution, and OpreX Lifecycle. OpreX Data Model Broker is an OpreX Connected Intelligence family product in the OpreX Transformation category, which delivers operational excellence throughout an enterprise's activities, from production through to supply chain optimization and risk and business management.

 

About Yokogawa

Yokogawa provides advanced solutions in the areas of measurement, control, and information to customers across a broad range of industries, including energy, chemicals, materials, pharmaceuticals, and food. Yokogawa addresses customer issues regarding the optimization of production, assets, and the supply chain with the effective application of digital technologies, enabling the transition to autonomous operations.
Founded in Tokyo in 1915, Yokogawa continues to work toward a sustainable society through its 17,000+ employees in a global network of 129 companies spanning 60 countries.
For more information, visit www.yokogawa.com

The names of corporations, organizations, products, services and logos herein are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Yokogawa Electric Corporation or their respective holders.