Noumenon Consulting Ltd

SmartPlant 3D read interface

The XMpLant interface for SmartPlant 3D provides open access to the full intelligent information of SP3D as an ISO 15926 model. All disciplines are supported with the full geometry, topology and attributes. Stairs, Ladders and Handrails are extracted as nested assemblies. Custom components are handled using XMpLant parametric component definitions in XML. A key tool for SP3D information interoperability and linkage to PLM.

Overview
Operates directly on the data in the SmartPlant RDBMS - SQLServer or ORACLE Delivers a fully intelligent 3D model as defined for the ISO 15926 3D model Manages custom components as XML definitions in ISO 15926 ShapeCatalogue Handles parametric Stairs, Ladders etc, Smart Equipment and Design Equipment SP 3D classes mapped to ISO 15926 classes using the Mapping subsystem Customised tables and additional custom tables supported All disciplines handled Equipment, Piping, Structural, CTs, HVAC, Hangers, Walls Plant hierarchy and meta data can be exported without discipline contents No SmartPlant 3D license required for read
The XMpLant SP3D read interface operates directly on the data in the RDBMS tables. It builds the ISO 15926 model from the relations in the RDBMS. It extracts the information and, using the definitions in the mapping file, maps their names and values to the relevant RDL class. The interface also uses the CodeList values in the SP Schema DB and also handles the mapping of custom columns of tables as well as additional custom tables and their columns. A key features is that Stairs, Ladders and Handrails, which are complex internal objects in SP3D, are returned with their full engineering structure and content. The interface also handles custom components for any discipline using the neutral parametric component ShapeCatalogue.

XMpLant returns the full engineering model that conforms to ISO 15926 3D model which can be written as
Dictionary Compliant XML (XMpLant schema) or as OWL / RDF part 8 files.
The Plant model returned has the full engineering hierarchy and topology of process plant. This allows the structure of the model to be graphically navigated and highlighted using the XML file. The geometry for components is generated using the industry standards providing parameters to parametric components defined in a ShapeCatalogue. Custom components are also handled in the same way a neutral parametric definition is created by user and added to the ShapeCatalogue. The parameters extracted from SP3D are passed to the parametric geometry engine of XMpLant which will create explicit geometry for the instance. Stairs, Ladders and Handrails are returned as their full engineering content of nested assemblies.

XMpLant converts parametric objects into their full engineering structure and contents

Read interface
SP3D uses three databases - Schema for reference data, Catalogue for standard definitions and Model for the information related to a specific model. The XMpLant read interface extracts the information from all three and uses the mapping files to define how to map the SP3D classes and attribute names and values to the relevant RDL class. The mapping file also supports the mapping of CodeList values from the SP Schema DB, customisation of tables as well as additional custom tables.

Custom components
In SP3D the components for piping, Cable trays, HVAC are defined using VB programs. A library of standard components is supplied with the system and new ones can be created as required for any project. These programs are responsible mainly for generating the graphics for the display. The shapes are an approximation of the shape of the actual component and the key parameters are those engineering values from the specification for standard components and custom designed ones. The XMpLant approach is to define the component shape (and connect point details) and their dimensions using expressions in terms of the engineering parameters. This means that there is an ISO 15926 parametric component definition for each component. The definitions can be used for piping, Cable trays, HVAC as well as Equipment. XMpLant has a geometry engine that can create explicit geometry for the components from their parametric definition for use downstream for visualisation, clash detection etc.

Operator

Valve body

Parametric Objects
In SP3D there are standard parametric objects for Stairs, Ladders and Handrails as well as a set of standard Equipment objects. The structural objects are complex structures but are of a relatively fixed structure. The XMpLant read interface decodes the stored parameters for these and creates the assembly structures that represent the engineering model for these objects. Parametric Equipment are generalised representation of some object (eg. Pump) which have individual structures and these can be defined in the same way as for custom components - their definitions being stored in the ShapeCatalogue. The XMpLant geometry engine will then create the geometry for them.

Equipment Most Equipment items are one off and as such are created as Design Equipment. The geometry of these items is created using a set of SP3D CSG primitives which are converted to ISO 15926-3 solids by the XMpLant interface. All of the engineering attributes are extracted along with the Nozzles that they contain.
This is the most complex discipline where the components are defined in the Catalogue and referenced in the model, which in themselves reference standard information in the Schema DB. The components are either standard or custom objects. Valves and their Operators are separate components that are linked in the design. The XMpLant interface extracts the full structure of the Piping model, the component engineering attributes and geometry. The geometry for the components is created from the parameters and the parametric component definitions in the XMpLant ShapeCatalogue. For standard steel sections the placement, orientation and a reference the controlling standard and section name is held in SP3D. The XMpLant interface reads this information and using the details loaded from the various standards recreates the geometry that represents the section. For Walls, Plates and Slabs the defining parameters are extracted along with the references to cutouts, which information is converted to the ISO 15926 representation. The resulting geometry is generated from this information. For Cable Trays and HVAC there are a set of standard components and many are created for particular projects. The XMpLant interface extracts the structure and component information. Some of the simple components are handled directly with most of the geometry being created from the parameters and the parametric component definitions in the XMpLant ShapeCatalogue. Hangers and supports are assemblies of components and are extracted as such with the components of the assembly being handled the same way as other components.

Piping

Structural

CableTrays, HVAC, Hangers and supports

XMpLant extracting the full engineering model of SP 3D as an ISO 15926 model Noumenon Consulting Ltd - solutions to plant information integration
For information: Call Adrian Laud on +44 (0)1234 376823 email: arlaud@noumenon.co.uk
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