The Material Balance Module (MBM) for this firm’s Advanced Real-time Performance Modeling (ARPM) suite, is an easy-to-use, flowsheet-based solution that uses advanced mass and volume reconciliation to reveal sources of random error, bias, and gross error that jeopardize the accuracy of real-time plant data. The software interfaces directly with a plant’s IT infrastructure to automate data reconciliation without additional routine data entry. It combines advanced reconciliation methodologies within a flowsheeting tool to automate creation of daily material balance reports for each major unit, identify bad flow instrumentation, and aid in pinpointing material loss locations. The module is highly scalable. A user can, for example, create a simple material balance representation of plant streams and units and then extend the platform later to achieve more rigorous heat and material balance, online performance monitoring, and operations decision support modeling that may be needed for advanced closed loop optimization or real-time enterprise control.
