Piping Engineering & 3D Design

Design Overview

Thermo Design primarily utilizes AutoCad/AutoPlant applications for its 3D modeling and drawing generation. Other CAD applications maintained by Thermo Design include PDMS, Tekla Structures, and MicroStation. Thermo Design’s Designers and Draftspersons trained to use these applications have plant design experience in the range of 10 to 20+ years.

Bentley AutoPlant, previously known as Rebis AutoPlant is specifically developed for 3D plant design and process piping. AutoPlant utilizes the latest AutoCad and MicroStation CAD applications to provide file formats most commonly used in industry.  AutoPlant offers Isogen as an option for piping isometric drawing generation. Walk-through and collision detection technology are also part of the AutoPlant suite. During the ten year span from 1996 to 2006, Thermo Design has completed approximately 85 projects using AutoPlant.

PDMS is a standalone database driven application developed for total 3D plant design. It includes collision detection, walk-through technology, and Isogen for piping isometric drawing generation. PDMS includes limited ability to utilize AutoCad file formats. Thermo Design can use PDMS when specified by clients.

Tekla Structures previously known as Xsteel, is a 3D modeling and analysis application specifically developed for civil engineering structures. Models can be exported for use with AutoPlant/AutoCad and are a part of our plant design models. Thermo Design has utilized Tekla Structures since 2004 where complex structures are required on plant designs.

MicroStation has similar capabilities as AutoCad and offers an alternative CAD platform for AutoPlant. Thermo Design can utilize MicroStation for vender and client file format conversions to and from AutoCad.

Please refer to the file links below for a sample portfolio of our past design work.

•    Bagadja Gas Field, Turkmenistan - Site Layout (PDF File, 1.27 Mb)
•    URGN-3-BA Gas Plant, Brazil - Site Layout (PDF File, 1.63 Mb)
•    NAIP Gas Field, Turkmenistan - Site Layout (PDF File, 983 kb)
•    Sample Design Walkthrough (WMV File, 1.04 Mb)

Project Functions

After PID drawings are completed by process engineering the piping group can begin plant design and modelling. The initial plant layout and modelling is a critical function to ensure that the plant will provide safe design, ease of operations access and maintenance access. As such, on large plants a safety engineering specialist will often analyze hazardous events and consequence analysis utilizing specialized tools such as PHAST to provide an initial basis for equipment spacing. In conjunction with process and mechanical engineering a senior piping designer (20 plus years of experience) will then layout the plant equipment and start modelling.  Depending on the complexity of the plant, as modelling progresses TDE’s project team will complete internal or joint reviews of the model with the client at design milestone stages, for the most critical applications some client’s request design reviews at 30%, 60% and 90% model completion.

Throughout the modelling process mechanical engineering is involved to execute piping stress analysis utilizing the Caesar software program. Engineers and designers work together to route critical lines in hot / cold service and lines connected to equipment. Piping and mechanical engineers design piping supports and create pipe support schedules.

Upon model completion a material take off is generated from the model database and utilized by purchasing to procure the piping material so isometric drawings and pipe material are released to the shop floor at the same time. A team of designers are utilized to generate the piping isometrics for shop fabrication. Prior to release to the shop isometrics are checked by a design checker and approved by a piping mechanical engineer. The design cycle is complete with the generation of as built drawings upon the completion of module fabrication in the shop.