Large-scale plant design

WSP CEL flexibly designs 3D process plants with MPDS4. For an interactive overview video of plant design with MPDS4 click here.

When clients demand changes to industrial plant designs weeks or days before project deadlines, large-scale 3D design can save the day.

Martin Tompkins, senior mechanical designer at WSP CEL, designs process plants.  He understands that it is a client’s privilege to change their mind, often at the last minute.

He recently explained to CAD Schroer how large-scale 3D design software keeps his clients happy.

Project management and engineering firm WSP CEL designs process plants for pharmaceutical, food, chemical and energy providers. One of the main demands on its design software is flexibility when plans change.

“Clients update requirements regularly, often halfway through a project or later. When last-minute requests drop on your desk, 3D plant design software really comes into its own,” said Tompkins.

Tackling process changes

Process changes, involving changes in line sizes, valves, pumps or machinery have some of the most wide-ranging consequences.

“This could mean throwing out entire layouts, changing 30% of the plant. In pharmaceuticals projects, layout changes affect air flow rates and the air handling units, requiring adjustments to ductwork,” said Tompkins.

“Clients have to pay for design changes, so we need to make them as fast as possible.” 

4x quicker in 3D

WSP CEL delivers its projects with CAD Schroer’s MPDS4 Plant Design software. Its interactive, catalogue-driven 3D design approach allows engineers to quickly lay out complete process installations.

“We can respond immediately to last-minute changes, even making them in project meetings,” said Tompkins.

“In 3D, you only make a change once. All the derived 2D drawings update automatically. With 2D, you’d have to change multiple drawings: the layouts, different views on detail drawings; the pipe isometrics… taking at least 4 times longer, with no way to visualise the result.”

Fast feasibility, high quality

MPDS4’s 3D visualisation delivers fast proofs of concept and effective change communication.

“A customer recently wanted to change their oil well tree type, which entails surface pipework modifications. With MPDS4, it took 2-3 days to prove feasibility and complete the design change. In 2D it would have taken 2-3 weeks,” Tompkins said.

“And with automatic interference checking we can avoid any mistakes caused by the rush to make last-minute changes, minimising the risk of ugly surprises on-site.”

Being armed with flexible 3D engineering design software matching a flexible attitude can save huge costs and builds customer loyalty.

For an interactive overview video of plant design with MPDS4, please click here.