Software Solutions

Plant Manager: Product Interoperability for the Future

The latest version of API RBI software is delivered in Equity's VCEPlant Manager framework. This new and innovative structure permits seamless integration and interoperability with our other software products such as VCESage, VCEDamage and other products under development. For instance, the additional and expansive Fitness-For-Service (FFS) analysis capabilities of VCESage can now be integrated directly with API RBI by just adding a new analysis module underneath a component or equipment node in the tree. Common input data required by these FFS modules is automatically linked down so that the same data does not need to be entered twice.

The initial Plant Manager release includes API RBI V9.0 and the following VCESage modules (which require an additional license).

• SHELL: Evaluate general shell sections of boilers and process vessels per the ASME Section I and ASME Section VIII, Division 1 & 2 design codes
• APIPE: Apply ASME B31.1, B31.3, B31.4, B31.8, and Section I codes for pressure piping to power, process, liquid transportation, gas distribution piping and boiler tubing
• TANK: Evaluate above ground storage tanks per the API 650 and API 620 design codes and the API 653 in-service inspection standard
• TANKSETT: Evaluate the effects of bottom settlement in above ground storage tanks
• APIFFS: Evaluate in-service damage that occurs in general pressure vessel shell sections using the methodology in API 579-1/ASME FFS-1

There are many other advantages to the new version of API RBI software delivered on the Plant Manager platform:

• An audit trail that can log when users log-in and log-out of the system and what data they changed and when they changed it
• The user roles and permissions have also been reworked for greater flexibility and security. It is now possible to define custom user roles and assign various combinations of permissions to these roles for viewing, editing, calculating and other operations with greater ease and flexibility
• The default value of every input data field is now shown on the form so every value used in a calculation is known to the user
• There is a new case structure for doing parametric analysis. Input parameters can be varied by creating a new case, changing the value and seeing how this affects the results
• It is also now possible for multiple clients to connect to a single server or multiple servers at once and drag and drop data between them
• There is support for multiple calculators so lengthy calculations can be distributed across multiple nodes or clusters for improved performance
• There is a new plugin architecture that allows for additional functionality such as custom reports or links to third-party applications such as SAP to be added at a later time without requiring an upgrade of the entire software installation. These plugins can also be customized for each client to provide user specific functionality (custom reports)
• A new software architecture that provides a more consistent look and feel compared to other Windows applications. Because of this new architecture, bugs can be identified and fixed more readily, new features can be added more quickly, releases can be more often and regular, and overall quality of the product can be improved