The new generation

"A modelling platform to 2020".
What does this mean?

"Some problems run 5 to 10 times faster."
Why?

We are pleased to announce the full release of gPROMS v3.1.

As most customers are aware, gPROMS v3.1 is the culmination of many years' development that have resulted in the staged release of a completely re-architected product, phase 1 of which was released as v3.0 eighteen months ago.

In addition to the new underlying kernel architecture – now fully implemented – v3.1 includes many new usability, modelling and solution techniques that establish it as a leader in all areas of process modelling.

	Flowsheeting & display features
	New modelling capabilities
	Execution and solution

"Companies need to know that their investment in modelling is secure"

"gPROMS will remain state-of-the-art for a decade or more."

"Only by a process of continual renewal can you bring [advances in modelling and software technology] to users effectively."

Ten times faster and just as accurate

Transform function used in defining non-uniform grid

The results of using an exponential transformation to generate a non-uniform grid: identical results with 10 times fewer discretisation points

V3.1 provides significant new functionality for both model users and expert model developers.

Comprehensive graphical flowsheeting tools with multi-layered flowsheets and hyperlinked diagnostics simplify model construction.
Related new graphic display capabilities and scalable vector graphics make possible continually-updated inline displays of results with process icons linked to attributes such as temperature.
Advanced modelling features such as the ability to use ordered sets and zero-length arrays make models simultaneously more general and powerful, simplifying housekeeping in large organisations.
On the solution front, unified solver and kernel architecture, the ability to solve high-index problems and enhanced techniques for distributed systems are all major developments keeping gPROMS at the forefront of process modelling technology.

These pages outline some of the key features. For more information see the gPROMS v3.1 release notes or request an on-site update for your company.

"A modelling platform to 2020"

The philosophy behind the new-generation gPROMS is described by PSE Managing Director Costas Pantelides:

"The leading process industry companies are becoming serious about capturing their IP in mathematical models and systematically using these to accelerate innovation and manage risk.

"As companies move their IP from legacy code and traditional flowsheeting environments they need to know that their investment is secure. We have ensured this with a seamless transition to a completely new generation of software that will remain state-of-the-art for a decade or more.

"As with any other product, software grows old. It may not 'wear out', but it becomes obsolete: new languages, conventions, techniques and facilities become available. Equally important, the concepts behind the original purpose – modelling of complex processes in this case – become refined and advanced through continual R&D. Only by a process of continual renewal can you bring these advances to users effectively."

Third-generation advanced process modelling

The gPROMS 3 development, while the second generation of the gPROMS product, is third-generation advanced process modelling, in a process that began with the original SPEEDUP project at Imperial College in the 1980s (generation 1).

This continued with the development of the first gPROMS platform (generation 2), which took a 'clean sheet' approach to the original concepts while adding essentials such as a task language for handling of batch process systems, distributed systems modelling and full parameter estimation and dynamic optimisation capabilities.

gPROMS v3 (generation 3) represents a complete rewrite of the underlying technology, coupled with a state-of-the-art user interface, to provide the most modern – and most powerful by a long way – modelling platform available to the process industries.

Why do some problems run 5 to 10 times faster?

No, it isn't because previous versions of gPROMS were particularly inefficient.

v3.1 is packed with features that not only simplify creation of models, but make their execution more efficient too.

One such feature is the ability to specify non-uniform grids for distributed systems. This means that it is possible to concentrate grid lines in areas of significant change and make them much more sparse in areas where little is happening

By using appropriately 'shaped' distributions of grid points, it is possible to significantly reduce the number of points – and hence the number of equations and the solution time – without sacrificing any acuracy.

For example, in a multitubular reactor model involving a distributed model of reaction tubes where most of the reaction is occurring at the beginning of the tube (as is typically the case) the number of equations can be reduced from millions to hundreds of thousands.

These resulting speed enhancements are particularly important when it comes to dynamic optimisation of large and complex systems, or application of high-fidelity models online.

Why switch to gPROMS v3.1?

You will find that:

The ordered sets capability makes handling of enumerated domains – where you are dealing with sets of discrete compnents, for example – very easy
The new non-uniform grids capabilities can reduce the size and thus memory requirements of distributed system models significantly, making execution much faster
The use of graphs and other results in flowsheets makes results visualisation much easier
Improved diagnostics reduce model development times
The new initialisation feature can reduce development time significantly and simplify the handover of models to other people in the organisation.

In addition, many problems run significantly faster because of the streamlined and enhanced new solver structure.

Want more information?

For more overview information, see related information on the right. For more detailed technical information (existing PSE customers only), see the gPROMS v3.1 release notes.

Alternatively Request a WebEx or on-site update

What users have said

"Being able to see results during the simulation is a real productivity enhancer"

"My reactor model converges without any initial guesses"

"Ordered sets make my life so easy"

On-site workshop?
Click to arrange

Update via WebEx?
Click to arrange

We will be happy to provide you with a gPROMS v3.1 workshop either on-site or via WebEx to help you make the most of gPROMS v3.1's new features within your organisation.

5
good reasons to switch

Ordered sets capability

Non-uniform grids

Graphs and other results in flowsheets

Much better diagnostics

Improved initialisation

See below for more details.