Hyprotech Extends its Design Domain; Undertakes Online Optimization Projects at Solutia and BP Oil

N/Ach Ltd. (Calgary, Alberta.), the process simulation and design subsidiary of <%=company%> , has made an agreement with Heat Transfer Consultants (HTC) to acquire the intellectual property rights to their heat exchanger design and rating programs. The recent agreement will permit Hyprotech to pursue its vision of providing the process industries access to the world's leading engineering expertise within an integrated engineering environment.

Earlier, in conjunction with its application partner MDC Technology, it announced the winning of a contract to provide optimization and performance-monitoring capabilities at the Decatur, Ala., nylon plant of Solutia Inc. (Monsanto's former chemical operations). A similar project will be performed by the two companies at BP Oil's Alliance Refinery, located in New Orleans, La.

Commenting on the HTC agreement, Tony Vysniauskas, a vice president at Hyprotech, stated, "The marriage of HTC's heat exchanger technology with Hyprotech's simulation technology means we can provide our customers with a wider range of heat exchanger models. The user simply selects the heat exchanger model (component) which best suits their engineering requirements." Under the terms of the agreement, Hyprotech will assume ownership of the ongoing development, marketing and support of the STX and ACX, comprehensive, PC-based software packages, originally developed by HTC. HTC will continue to be involved in the support and development of STX and ACX as well as to provide consulting services to the process industry.

As early pioneers in simulation software development, Hyprotech and HTC have had a close business relationship spanning more than a decade. As early as 1984, Hyprotech and HTC worked closely to establish links between HTC's heat exchanger programs and Hyprotech's Hysim and Hysys process simulation platforms, allowing process engineers access to rigorous exchanger models as part of their overall process simulation studies. In recent years, STX has been embedded within the Hysys framework, through the OLE Automation capabilities provided by both simulation architectures. (OLE Automation is a feature of Microsoft's Windows software that allows for linking applications and data.)

"We have had a good, longstanding relationship with Hyprotech and its family of simulation products" states Pat Doyle, president of HTC. "Collectively, our technologies will provide our customers with powerful tools to address process design, operability and control issues early in the engineering design phase."

Solutia project also uses OLE Automation
The MDC-Hyprotech project at Solutia will make use of Hysys RTO+, a software package that allows process engineers to model a process dynamically, and then interact with live control system data to manage production rate changes, handle process constraints and maximize operating profits.

Lynn Lanier, Sr Process Control Specialist with Solutia Inc., comments "We are always looking for innovative technologies that help us improve operational performance and reduce operating costs. The integration of our reactor model within Hysys.RTO+ will be a valuable tool in helping us predict the optimum operating conditions for the process."

MDC-Hyprotech will develop a detailed model of an adiponitrile reactor system and its separator/decanters. Then, using OLE Automation, the reactor system will be embedded in Hysys.RTO+ through OLE Automation.

The BP project will also involve a realtime optimization and performance-monitoring system for a major process unit. "It's no secret that the refining business is competitive, and strategic investments that provide us with an attractive return are critical to our business performance," states Blaine Tookey, BP Oil's project manager. "We estimate potential benefits of 5-20 cts/bbl of feed can be achieved for this unit."

Hysys.RTO+ is a tight integration of the two proven technologies. It provides the robustness and flexibility of rigorous first principle models and thermodynamic methods together with the speed of simultaneous solution. With Hysys.RTO+, accurate engineering models of the entire process operation can be quickly developed. With these models, actual plant data can be used to run the models and recommend setpoints that will help the plant achieve the optimum performance. In the online mode, Hysys.RTO+ can pass these optimal set points to regulatory control systems, or targets to advanced control schemes. In addition, Hysys.RTO+ can identify and track performance indices for key pieces of equipment to assist in production scheduling and maintenance planning.

HTC's STX is a thermal design and rating program for shell and tube heat exchanger designs such as condensers, thermosiphons and kettles. ACX is a thermal design and rating program for induced and forced draft air-cooled exchangers. Established in 1978, HTC has products in use in more than 450 companies in 40 countries to solve problems in the manufacturing, contracting and processing areas of the refinery, chemical and power industries. N/Ach is in the business of helping the process industries improve profitability and operating performance through process understanding. With powerful capabilities to address Design, Operability, Training and Optimization issues, Hyprotech serves more than 1,500 customers in over 80 countries around the world.

Founded in 1981, MDC Technology provides realtime process optimisation systems to the oil & gas, oil refining, gas processing, chemicals, petrochemicals and power generation industries. For additional information, please contact:

Tony Vysniauskas
Hyprotech Ltd.
International: (403) 520-6000
North America: 1-800-661-8696
Fax: (403) 520-6040

Pat Doyle
Heat Transfer Consultants Inc.
Tel (510) 827-9689
Fax: (510) 827-1407

Darren Greener
MDC Technology Ltd.
Premier House, Startforth Road,
Riverside Park
Middlesbrough
TS2 1PT U.K.
Telephone: 44 (0)1642 252523
Fax: 44 (0)1642 252233