Research & Development for the Process Industry

Strong ecosystems for new concepts and technologies

Artificial intelligence and new technologies are fundamentally changing the way the process industry works and opening up new opportunities for collaboration. X-Visual is therefore actively involved in research projects to identify technological trends at an early stage. Together with universities and industry partners, we develop innovative solutions in the areas of MTP, immersive technologies, process engineering, and data integration.

Close networking with scientific and economic players creates innovation ecosystems in which we continuously expand our technological expertise and respond early to new developments in the software world.

MTP & automation

The automation of process plants is becoming increasingly important, as it can significantly speed up planning, engineering, and commissioning. An important step in this direction is the MTP standard (Module Type Package). It connects plant components to control systems in a standardized way, enabling consistent data integration and efficient control of automated processes.

Our vision is that this automation is already taken into account when creating P&IDs in our software. Flowcharts should be structured in such a way that they contain the relevant structured information and are prepared for later MTP export.

ENPRO 2.0 ORCA

Efficient orchestration of modular systems >>

In the ENPRO 2.0 ORCA project, plant operators, module manufacturers, automation specialists, system integrators, authorities, and universities worked together to develop concepts integrating process engineering, safety engineering, and automation for modular, intelligent, and flexible production plants. The interfaces and behavior of the modules were aligned with the methods, models, and tools developed in ENPRO 2.0 ORCA for orchestration, approval, and virtual commissioning. The feasibility of the module concept was demonstrated in laboratory and pilot-scale reference implementations. The interfaces and information models developed were also actively incorporated into standardization work at NAMUR, ProcessNet, ZVEI, GMA, and DKE.

ENPRO website

REUNION

Networked Demonstrator Alliance for Optimized Process Chains >>

The ENPRO initiative has paved the way for flexible, energy-efficient production processes, including through modular approaches, networked modules, and data standards. REUNION is now implementing these concepts in laboratory and production demonstrators, modernizing existing plants, and pursuing the establishment of a cross-company pool of standardized PEAs. The focus is on the development of energy-efficient hardware modules, MTP-based automation, transparent energy data, and the approvability of modular systems based on FAIR-documented modules. The goal is to enable suppliers to provide automated, energy-efficient, and approvable modules to facilitate flexible and sustainable processes in the chemical industry.

REUNION website

DEXPI

Data Exchange in the Process Industry >>

DEXPI (Data Exchange in the Process Industry) is developing a uniform data standard for the process industry that covers all phases of the plant life cycle. The current focus is on the exchange of piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&ID). Data models and interfaces are continuously being developed within the temporary working group of ProcessNet. The standardized DEXPI data format enables the use of suitable tools, simplifies communication between departments and contractors, and makes the P&ID the central information hub. X-Visual supports the DEXPI standard to ensure the efficient exchange of P&ID data between different CAE tools.

DEXPI website

Immersive Technologien

Virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and artificial intelligence (AI) open up new possibilities for planning, visualizing, and optimizing complex plants. In the process industry, immersive technologies support training, guided maintenance procedures, and AI-assisted analysis of flow diagrams, for example.

Our vision is to make these technologies widely accessible and to design their use in such a way that they can be seamlessly integrated into existing work and system landscapes. Reliable data integration plays a central role in this.

KEEN

Artificial intelligence incubator labs in the process industry >>

KEEN brought together 20 industrial and scientific institutions to introduce artificial intelligence (AI) methods into the process industry and evaluate their potential. The consortium conducted research in three areas: process modeling, plant engineering, and operational optimization, including self-optimizing plants. The aim was to increase the efficiency of engineering and production processes throughout the product life cycle. The methods were tested with real production data and trialed in pilot plants to demonstrate their applicability, reliability, and benefits. A network of incubator laboratories supported the transfer from the laboratory to the pilot phase (TRL 4 → TRL 8), thus ensuring the sustainable implementation of the technologies.

KEEN website

MR4SO

Integration of process and process technology through AR-guided work on the plant >>

As part of the WIR! alliance MR4B, the MR4SafeOperations project is developing mixed reality and IoT-supported processes to assist and document operational and maintenance work (B&W) in hazardous areas. Manual tasks such as sampling, reading measurement data, and communicating with the control room are made easier by hands-free information, reducing working hours. The aim is to promote the widespread use of mixed reality and IoT technologies to improve safety and working conditions for O&M personnel.

MR4SO website

KEPLER

Data integration & pre-engineering based on block diagrams and BIM models >>

As part of the WIR! alliance MR4B, the KEPLER project is developing a mixed reality application for 3D layout planning in industrial plant construction that integrates data models from building design (BIM) and the process industry (DEXPI). In complex plant construction planning projects, the application enables all trades involved to work together efficiently in terms of time and resources on a common database. The collaborative multi-user approach simplifies early (pre- and basic) engineering and promotes communication and the exchange of experience. This results in an early coordinated plant model that can be exported for further use in detailed planning.

KEPLER website

MR4Heatpump

Optimal design of heat pumps & sector coupling in existing buildings >>

As part of the WIR! alliance MR4B, the MR4HeatPump project aims to improve quality and reduce costs in the planning process and during the commissioning of heat pumps in existing buildings. This is achieved through technologies such as LiDAR scans, mixed reality (MR), and adaptive control. Smartphones can be used to collect information on the building envelope, energy status, heat demand, and technical equipment. LiDAR scans enable precise 3D models, supplemented by thermal images. Based on a simplified BIM model and existing operating data, a digital twin is created and transferred to a virtual environment. Augmented reality supports communication directly on site.

MR4Heatpump website

MR4H2

Mixed reality and modular planning (MTP) for integrated operation and remote maintenance of hydrogen plants >>

With the increasing share of renewable energies, sector coupling is becoming more important for flexibly managing electricity, heat, and hydrogen demand. The ramp-up of the hydrogen economy requires flexible tools for planning, operation, and maintenance. In the MR4H2 research topic, such methods are being tested on a 240 kW PEM electrolyzer, a heat pump, and a gas pressure control system. Mixed reality and modularization enable the parallel development of operating and maintenance concepts, personnel training, and early fault detection. This allows companies to optimize processes and develop new services. In addition, natural gas infrastructures are being digitized and imaging techniques are being used for the early detection of hydrogen emissions.

MR4H2 website

Guideline VDI 2776

Our CEO Wolfgang Welscher is actively involved in shaping VDI Guideline 2776 and contributes his industry and IT expertise to the regular meetings.

The guideline describes the planning process for modular plants and defines the basic terms for understanding, planning, and designing modular plants. It provides guidance for the successful design and planning of modular plants in continuous and discontinuous operation in the pharmaceutical, chemical, biotechnological, and petrochemical industries. The experience and findings from the ENPRO 2.0 ORCA project (Efficient Orchestration of Modular Plants) are also incorporated here.

Over 20 years of experience in innovative engineering software

We use the experience and results from our research projects to continuously optimize our engineering tools. For over 20 years, we have been successfully developing our intelligent P&ID software PlantEngineer for drawing professional P&ID diagrams and documenting process engineering plants. Learn how to intuitively create professional flow diagrams “out of the box” and export Excel lists and data sheets.