Table 1 Digital twin development tools for the process industry (adapted from [10])
Vendor
Software package
Key features (according to the vendors)
Aspen
Technology
Aspen OTS Framework
[24]
▪ Data communication links handle the
exchange of data and commands
▪ User interfaces support different views of
the application for operators, engineers and
training instructors
DuPont Industrial
Biosciences
TMODS [23]
▪ Fully customised to match plant configuration, conditions, compositions, control
schemes, safety interlocks and GUIs
Honeywell
UniSim Competency
Suite [18]
▪ Customisable framework for a structured
operator competency management system
▪ Interactive, navigable, panoramic 2D field
operator training environment based on highresolution photographs of the facility
Ingenieurbüro
Dr.-Ing. Schoop
GmbH
WinErs/C-eStIM [20, 21] ▪ Modular process automation system
▪ Provides a flexible, process control and
simulation system suitable for industrial,
didactical and research applications
▪ Complete process monitoring and operation
via a user-editable GUI
▪ Simple graphical editing of controls and
simulations via block structures, logic plans
and GRAFCET with no prior programming
knowledge required
Wood Group
(John Wood
Group)
ProDyn [25]
▪ Offers off-the-shelf and customer-specific
solutions
▪ Operator training and learning systems,
abnormal situation management, and process
troubleshooting
▪ Can be used to develop and test plant
procedures
NovaTech
NovaTech Ethanol Training Simulator, D/3 DCS
[26]
▪ Allows breweries, biofuels facilities, and
other process plants to develop real-to-life
plant simulations
▪ Training on complex process control techniques and correcting behavioural patterns
▪ Trend visualisation, process analytics and
control loop performance monitoring and
optimisation
Outotec
HSC Sim [27]
▪ Various simulation and modelling applications based on independent chemical reactions
and process units
▪ Graphical flowsheet and spreadsheet type
process unit models
Perceptive
Engineering
PerceptiveAPC [22]
▪ Tools for monitoring, analysis or predictive
control, in a logical, intuitive interface, for both
batch and continuous processes
▪ Training module and easy-to-use templates
to tune and validate the right controller (also
model-predictive control (MPC)) for the
process
(continued)
70
C. Appl et al.
Vendor
Software package
Key features (according to the vendors)
Aspen
Technology
Aspen OTS Framework
[24]
▪ Data communication links handle the
exchange of data and commands
▪ User interfaces support different views of
the application for operators, engineers and
training instructors
DuPont Industrial
Biosciences
TMODS [23]
▪ Fully customised to match plant configuration, conditions, compositions, control
schemes, safety interlocks and GUIs
Honeywell
UniSim Competency
Suite [18]
▪ Customisable framework for a structured
operator competency management system
▪ Interactive, navigable, panoramic 2D field
operator training environment based on highresolution photographs of the facility
Ingenieurbüro
Dr.-Ing. Schoop
GmbH
WinErs/C-eStIM [20, 21] ▪ Modular process automation system
▪ Provides a flexible, process control and
simulation system suitable for industrial,
didactical and research applications
▪ Complete process monitoring and operation
via a user-editable GUI
▪ Simple graphical editing of controls and
simulations via block structures, logic plans
and GRAFCET with no prior programming
knowledge required
Wood Group
(John Wood
Group)
ProDyn [25]
▪ Offers off-the-shelf and customer-specific
solutions
▪ Operator training and learning systems,
abnormal situation management, and process
troubleshooting
▪ Can be used to develop and test plant
procedures
NovaTech
NovaTech Ethanol Training Simulator, D/3 DCS
[26]
▪ Allows breweries, biofuels facilities, and
other process plants to develop real-to-life
plant simulations
▪ Training on complex process control techniques and correcting behavioural patterns
▪ Trend visualisation, process analytics and
control loop performance monitoring and
optimisation
Outotec
HSC Sim [27]
▪ Various simulation and modelling applications based on independent chemical reactions
and process units
▪ Graphical flowsheet and spreadsheet type
process unit models
Perceptive
Engineering
PerceptiveAPC [22]
▪ Tools for monitoring, analysis or predictive
control, in a logical, intuitive interface, for both
batch and continuous processes
▪ Training module and easy-to-use templates
to tune and validate the right controller (also
model-predictive control (MPC)) for the
process
(continued)
70
C. Appl et al.