Automatic generation of qualitative models of chemical process units
Catherine Ann Catino, S.D. Grantham, Lyle Ungar · Computers & Chemical Engineering · 1991
Abstract A library of general physical and chemical phenomena such as heat transfer and reaction has been developed in the qualitative process theory (QPT) representation of Forbus and used to build qualitative models of chemical process units. The QPT descriptions specify the conditions under which the phenomena become active and the constraints they contribute to the model, thus allowing the computer to automatically build and alter process unit models. In order to realistically model chemical plants, we introduce a Lagrangian approach to modelling the behavior of plug flow vessels and we present a set of techniques to focus the model building and solution mechanisms on specific aspects of unit behavior, reducing model complexity. These model generation and solution methods form a basis for developing flexible and robust expert systems that perform fault diagnosis, HAZOP studies and plant design.