SimSci-Esscor and DNV Software Collaborate on Plant Safety Design Application


SimSci-Esscor and DNV Software Deliver Improved Flare Modeling Analysis For Plant Safety Design Applications

LAKE FOREST, CALIFORNIA, USA - November 6, 2006 - The SimSci-Esscor unit of Invensys and DNV Software have developed a link between SimSci-Esscor's VISUAL FLOW safety system design software and DNV Software's PHASTFX flammable effects software module. The link allows engineers in process plants to quickly and easily estimate a wide range of flammable effects during design work.

VISUAL FLOW provides engineers with a state-of-the-art tool for designing, documenting, and modeling safety systems, pressure relief networks, and general plant fluid-flow systems. Applications include relief networks, systems containing any configuration of multiple flares, relief valves, knock-out drums, and loops.

PHASTFX is a subset of PHAST and contains the major flammable and explosion models, including jet flame, pool fire, and BLEVE (boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion.

Regulatory agencies are challenging the process industries to verify the safety of plant operations. A standard requirement is often a comprehensive model of flare relief systems of the plant with full documentation of network structure, control systems/strategy, and maximum relief rates capacity. VISUAL FLOW is designed to address this need and improves the productivity of teams assigned to complete this task either as part of a new design, a plant revamp, or an on-going operation. With the link between PHASTFX and Visual Flow v5.2, users can pass stream information at the base of the flare to PHASTFX for initializing one of PHASTFX's jet flame routines. Additionally, users can make estimations for other flammable scenarios including pool fire or BLEVE, or a calculation of various vapor cloud explosion scenarios.

The key benefit for VISUAL FLOW users is that they can now quickly and accurately consider key process safety issues earlier in the design phase. VISUAL FLOW users will also tap into the collective process safety experience of thousands of PHAST users worldwide. By combining the expertise of SimSci-Esscor and DNV Software, process engineers will achieve:

o Safer designs and operation
o Faster regulatory documentation and compliance
o More efficient flare network modeling
o Reduced capital cost
o Reduced operating cost

For more information on Visual Flow, PHAST FX, or the link between Visual Flow and PHASTFX, please visit www.simsci-esscor.com.

About DNV Software

DNV Software is an independent software vendor and reseller specialized in developing innovative software solutions for design, construction, strength assessment, risk and information management. DNV Software is serving more than 3000 clients in 55 countries. For more information on DNV Software, please visit http://www.dnv.com/software/

About Invensys

Invensys is the world leader in industrial asset performance management. In addition to its rapidly expanding Global Solutions and Performance Management services groups, Invensys' automation businesses includes industry-leading brands such as Foxboro, Triconex, SimSci-Esscor, Wonderware, and Avantis, whose products are installed in more than 100,000 plants across the world. These range from small hybrid and batch plants to the world's largest upstream projects, refineries, gas plants, petrochemicals plants, power plants, and pulp and paper mills. For more information on Invensys' process automation businesses, please visit http://www.invensys.com/ps

The Invensys Group (www.invensys.com) is headquartered in London and is listed on the London Stock Exchange, with approximately 30,000 employees working in 60 countries.

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