June 2020
Digital Twin Steel Plant Model
TSC Simulation generate digital twin simulation models central to a £10m steel industry strategy project
In a £10 million digitization project that has the potential to completely change UK industry, TSC is responsible for creating and developing the core process simulation model, which includes interactive 3D of the plant and processes
TSC will create a digital twin of three plants. The Normanton Steel Plant for the Materials Processing Institute UK at its Teesside based research and innovation centre will be the first, followed by models for Liberty Steel Groups’ Hartlepool Pipes Mill and Speciality Steels Business. TSC will work with specialist digitisation companies who will use the digital twin model to show the huge advantages that can be achieved within the steel production process.
The project will seek to highlight the benefits of introducing Industrial Digital Technologies (IDT) to steel and other process sectors serving strategic manufacturing and construction supply chains.
This two-year project is worth more than £1 million to TSC Simulation, its sponsored by Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency, as part of the government’s larger Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution, also known as Industry 4.0 utilises IDT to enable the recording and analysis of data across machines for continuous improvement, creating a more cost-effective, efficient, flexible and faster process.
The Materials Processing Association will conduct an initial pilot project at the Normanton Steel Mill to evaluate and improve IDT before applying it to the production processes of Liberty Pipe and Liberty Specialty Steels.
Liberty Steel Group is seeking to make a significant change in both productivity and product performance by working in conjunction with the Institute, Shiftec and TSC Simulation.
The project will focus on using camera and imaging technologies in conjunction with intelligent processing and machine learning to increase accuracy; including process characterisation, the creation of digital twins and intelligent interactive process models.
Michael Bolton, Managing Director of TSC Simulation said: “The company had a major R&D programme to develop the technology to link active 3D of plant to accurate process simulation. This provides a safe, economic and environmentally friendly way to engineer and train on potentially hazardous plant.
Although this project focuses on the metal sector, it can also be applied in other processes where digital twinning can be linked to machine learning and intelligent process control. TSC specialises in the energy sector and we are confident that our ability to develop Digital Twins in this sector will allow more efficient use and control of the processes in the industry.”
