New Models, Communication Standards Strengthen ROMeo Optimizer

About the Author

Jim Montague is executive editor at Control, Control Design and Industrial Networking magazines. Jim has spent the last 13 years as an editor and brings a wealth of automation and controls knowledge to the position. For the past eight years, Jim worked at Reed Business Information as News Editor for Control Engineering magazine. Jim has a BA in English from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, and lives in Skokie, Illinois.

By Jim Montague, Executive Editor

In this world, there's probably nothing better than the true love shared by Shakespeare's two star-crossed teenagers. Well, if process applications could have human feelings for support software, it's a good bet they'd be mighty sweet on Invensys Operations Management's own namesake of the famous romantic hero—ROMeo real-time visualization and optimization engine.

Invensys is displaying and demonstrating the latest, more open, more powerful release of its SimSci-Esscor ROMeo Version 6.0 software during the company's OpsManage'11 event this week in Nashville.

"ROMeo is a real-time optimization engine that's always been great at crunching all the numbers in a plant and its processes, and then helping users make better decisions," says Harpreet Gulati, design and optimization director at Invensys.

Working in a Microsoft Windows environment and strengthened by its integration with Wonderware Intelligence enterprise manufacturing intelligence software, ROMeo 6.0 allows users to build on and unite existing automation and IT systems with technology applications from Invensys, its ecosystem partners and other third-party providers so the systems function as one, holistic enterprise control system.

Now, ROMeo 6.0 incorporates four new refinery process models that simulate and optimize reforming, coking, isomerization and visbreaking (viscosity-reducing) units. The software also contains several new capabilities, including the ability to openly share information using the Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) for Process Control-Unified Architecture (OPC-UA) standard. This standard allows ROMeo software to communicate with many of the company's simulation and workforce-enablement solutions, including its DYNSIM dynamic simulation software, PRO/II steady-state design software and ArchestrA Workflow software, as well any third-party product that also uses the OPC-UA standard.

"Implementing these standards and including new process models reinforces our commitment to providing the open technology solutions our customers need to achieve operational excellence," explains Gulati. "Our SimSci-Esscor ROMeo 6.0 software allows refiners to improve crude selection, evaluate crude supply and reliably predict refinery yields and qualities, as well as determine the potential for improving yields of higher-value products. Also, by integrating it with our Wonderware Intelligence enterprise manufacturing intelligence software, which enhances the ability to analyze real-time plant operating data, ROMeo 6.0 allows plant personnel to make informed decisions that reduce operating costs, increase throughput and maximize profit."

An integrated online and offline optimization solution for the refining, petrochemical and gas processing industries, ROMeo 6.0 handles equipment monitoring, utilities optimization and material balance in open- or closed-loop mode.

"The journey towards real-time business optimization begins by taking full advantage of existing automation systems in combination with innovative software applications, such as SimSci-Esscor ROMeo, that support a fully empowered workforce," Gulati says. "Including new refinery process models extends the software's reach so that additional pieces of important equipment can be optimized. This can help enhance the bottom line of any company and speed its journey toward operational excellence."

Invensys will be demonstrating ROMeo 6.0 software throughout OpsManage'11 in the Integrated IT and Engineering Center of the Collaboration Expo.