Modeling and Simulation

Modelling - Simulation - Optimising

In designing complex technical / physical systems, the construction of pilot plants or prototypes usually involves a considerable expenditure in terms of both time and material. An initial supporting measure is the application or development of models for the systems in the form of mathematical equations which describe the physical laws involved. These models then constitute the basis for more expedient designing of pilot plants or prototypes and more efficient planning of experimental testing programs. Furthermore, the control of complex systems can usually be improved considerably with the additional use of models, for example.

Hence, it is quite understandable that the methods and processes of modelling and simulation have been introduced into a wide variety of specialised fields during recent years. Fields of application range from the natural and engineering sciences, through environmental research, all the way to medicine or the economic and social sciences.

In due consideration of this development, CUTEC established a Department of Modelling and Simulation toward the end of 2003. The major functions of this department are the acquisition of projects supported by third-party funds and support of the other operative departments.

During the coming years, the special challenge will be the establishment of an appropriate interface between computer science on the one hand, and the engineering sciences on the other hand, for allowing faster execution of research and development projects.

In concrete terms, four fields of activity – a few of which have already begun – should be supported by the department:

Plant designing and optimising: Pilot plants and industrial-scale plants should be dimensioned, and their operating behaviour should be optimised, on the basis of existing programs as far as possible or – if no such programs exist – with tools which we ourselves have developed or supplied. For this purpose, the Modelling and Simulation Department is available for solving procedural problems or for programming tasks in the course of projects.

Faster development: For achieving this objective, the department performs functions similar to those for the aforementioned field of activity. For optimised test planning, the parameters which relevantly affect the process under investigation must be determined in advance. Furthermore, the tests can be scaled up more easily and more reliably with the application of validated mathematical model.

Causality recognition: Data records from the Institute's own tests or series of measurements from industrial practice must often be evaluated. With the available mathematical models, known relationships can be extracted, in order to simplify the investigation and explanation of the remaining phenomena.

More efficient control: In many pilot plants encountered in practice, the control processes involve a long time delay (for instance, waste incineration plants with grate technology (minute or hourly range) or waste-water treatment plants (weekly or monthly range)). In such cases, an advance calculation must be performed to determine the conditions for the future and thus to adjust the process parameters in due time by means of a predictive control unit.

After the acquisition of projects which have allowed expansion in rapid succession, especially of personnel resources, special emphasis must be placed on the acquisition of specialised projects, together with the process-engineering departments, in the coming years.