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The NEOLANT Group of companies, the developer of the software and hardware package, Digital Decommissioning has completed the first two phases of the Project 44: Development of an equipment dismantling project in the controlled access areas of Kozloduy nuclear power plant, units 1-4.

The NEOLANT Group of companies, the developer of the software and hardware package, Digital Decommissioning has completed the first two phases of the Project 44: Development of an equipment dismantling project in the controlled access areas of Kozloduy nuclear power plant, units 1-4.

Facility

The Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant operates in Bulgaria at the Danube River, some 200 kilometers north of the country's capital of Sofia, and five kilometers east of Kozloduy, the town after which the station is named.

In 1966, the governments of Bulgaria and the former Soviet Union signed an agreement to cooperate on the construction of the Kozloduy plant. Construction began four years later as a joint project of Teploelektroproekt of Moscow and Energoproekt of Sofia.

In 1974, the station began operating with an output 220MWe of electrical power. The Soviet Union and later Russia supplied and handled the nuclear fuel. During the years of 1991 to 2002, the station grew to six power units with a total capacity of 3,760MWe, which covered 45% of country's need for electrical energy.

The Kozloduy plant currently manages two pressurized water reactors, with a total output of 2,000MWe. The older and smaller Units 1 to 4 were shut down by 2007. Units 5 and 6, constructed in 1987 and 1991, are VVER-1000 reactors. As part of a program to extend its life by 30 years, Unit 5 was in 2017 upgraded to a capacity of 1,100MWe. A seventh 1,000 MWe unit may be installed using a reactor from the terminated Belene project, for which Bulgaria paid €600 million.

When Bulgaria candidated for EU membership, it was required to satisfy EU conditions for nuclear plant safety, and so the first four nuclear power units will be decommissioned. The remaining two VVER-1000 reactor units (5 and 6) were successfully upgraded during 2005-2006, and so meet EU safety requirements.

Customer: State Enterprise Radioactive Waste (SE RAW), Republic of Bulgaria

Decommissioning: Russian-German consortium comprising of GC NEOLANT, JSC NIKIMT Atomstroy, NUKEM Technologies GmbH, and EWN GmbH

Period of implementation: 2016-2019

Interesting Fact

Kozloduy is the first nuclear power plant decommissioning in Europe to use information technology to support the back-end stage of nuclear power plant units, thereby increasing the economic and technical significance of the project.

Goal

Project 44: Development of an equipment dismantling project in the controlled access areas of Kozloduy nuclear power plant, units 1-4

As-built 3D model showing Units 1 through 4 of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant

As-built 3D model showing Units 1 through 4 of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant

Generating the equipment list for selected equipment on the premises of Unit 2, the Kozloduy NPP

Generating the equipment list for selected equipment on the premises of Unit 2, the Kozloduy NPP

Visualizing dose rate measurement points on the 3D model of Units 1 through 4, Kozloduy NPP

Visualizing dose rate measurement points on the 3D model of Units 1 through 4, Kozloduy NPP

Results

• Provided reliable estimates of the amount of radioactive waste generated
• Acquired up-to-date as-built documentation
• Systematically arranged and generated all required engineering and technical data at the decommissioning stage, taking into account the duration and turnover of staff
• Improved and verified the design and process solutions under development
• Prepared demonstration materials submitted for expert review
• Created an integrated information database for future coordination, planning, and control of the contractor firms during actual decommissioning activities
• Trained personnel from the contractor firms
• Obtained actual data of the design and arrangement of the radioactive waste reprocessing facilities at units 1-4

Implementation

Stage 1. A radiation survey that included the following tasks in Building 1 and the reactor compartment of Unit 1:

• Taking radiation surveys of all 150 rooms of Building 1 and of the reactor compartment of Unit 1
• Making spectrometric examinations of all areas to update the existing nuclide vectors
• Swiping samples from the surfaces of equipment in the premises
• Undertaking gamma scanning of all areas

Stage 2. The development of 3D engineering and radiation models:

• Laser scanning of 600 premises in Buildings 1 and 2 and the reactor compartments of Units 1 through 4
• Digitizing 40,000 project and design documentation pages
• Creating an as-built model of the 500,000 elements that make up the buildings and reactor compartments

Stage 3. Development of design documentation for dismantlement of systems and equipment of Building 1 and the reactor compartment of Unit 1

Results of gamma-scanning an area of the the Kozloduy NPP nuclear power plant

Results of gamma-scanning an area of the the Kozloduy NPP nuclear power plant

Interactive analyses of elevation marks at the Kozloduy NPP

Interactive analyses of elevation marks atthe the Kozloduy NPP

Report of the inspection of the the Kozloduy NPP premises

Report of the inspection of the the Kozloduy NPP premises

Generating process flow charts of equipment dismantling in premises of NPP Kozloduy Unit 1

Generating process flow charts of equipment dismantling in premises of NPP Kozloduy Unit 1

The NEOLANT Group of companies today released its newest software and hardware package, Digital Decommissioning for comprehensive engineering and radiation survey, developing decommissioning concepts, decommissioning designs, personnel training for decommissioning.

The NEOLANT Group of companies today released its newest software and hardware package, Digital Decommissioning for comprehensive engineering and radiation survey, developing decommissioning concepts, decommissioning designs, personnel training for decommissioning.

Conditions of radioactive contamination posing threats to the facility personnel and population of adjacent territories characterize procedures of decommissioning of nuclear power and nuclear fuel cycle facilities. It prevents the direct participation of the staff in certain operations and its presence in some areas of facility under decommissioning. Significant amount of radioactive waste accumulated during the period of its operation and massively generated during the decommissioning should be also considered.

The need to mitigate emerging threats resulted in the fact that the stage of detailed design of nuclear facility decommissioning is mandatory, and the decommissioning is a rather expensive phase of the facility life cycle.

"Application of Digital Decommissioning package ensures achievement of a fundamentally new quality level of design for nuclear facility decommissioning supported by multi-dimensional dynamic simulation of a radiation-dangerous facility and technological processes ensuring the dismantling, elimination of radioactive contamination, and management of the radioactive waste generated at an improved level of safety, reliability, and economic efficiency.
 It became possible through the use of building information modeling, virtual reality, laser scanning, and spherical photography, which provide creation of a digital as-built engineering and radiation model of a facility under decommissioning," says Vladislav Tikhonovsky, First Deputy Director General at NEOLANT GC.

Advantages of the Digital Decommissioning Package

• Highly precise estimation of radwaste amount classified by specific activity, morphology, and reprocessing methods
• Variants calculation of radiation fields dynamics considering sequence of the equipment and utility systems disassembling
• Justified calculation of production and economic indicators of a decommissioning project: resources, time, dose rates, design and estimate indicators
• Maximizes the safety of decommissioning activities
• Combines personnel training with decommissioning project development

Functional Capabilities of the Digital Decommissioning Package

Functional Capabilities of the Digital Decommissioning Package

Customer Success Story

Digital Decommissioning package is used in the first nuclear power plant decommissioning project in Europe with digital support the back-end stage of nuclear power plant units – Project 44: Development of an equipment dismantling project in the controlled access areas of Kozloduy nuclear power plant, units 1-4.

The project is implemented by the Russian-German consortium comprising of GC NEOLANT, JSC NIKIMT Atomstroy, NUKEM Technologies GmbH, and EWN GmbH.

As-built 3D model showing Units 1 through 4 of the Kozloduy NPP

As-built 3D model showing Units 1 through 4 of the Kozloduy NPP

Visualizing dose rate measurement points on the 3D model of Units 1 through 4 of the Kozloduy NPP

Visualizing dose rate measurement points on the 3D model of Units 1 through 4 of the Kozloduy NPP

For More Information
To learn more about Digital Decommissioning:

• Register for our webinar at neolant.com/dd/webinar
• Ask questions from dd@neolant.com
• Make appointments for meetings through neolant.com/dd/meeting or telephone us at +7 (499) 999 0000

In this video, Jairo Fernandez, President of Edoxx Technical Services LLC (USA) is being interviewed about the partnership with NEOLANT Group.

Through the partnership agreement, Edoxx will deliver NEOLANT’s flagship software and provide services in the area of large-scale design, construction, and operations.

Today, the US markets are in great demand solutions that allow clients to realize drastic savings in their operations, while increasing the reliability of their facilities. It's Big Data, Machining Learning and so on.

Edoxx's clients note that NEOLANT's solutions are easy to used and with a very user-friendly interface.

Draga Company, a partner of NEOLANT Group of Companies (Russia), rendering services on digitalization of industrial assets on the territory of Nordic countries has represented Engineering Data Management System (EDMS) to be implemented throughout all stages of the industrial and infrastructure facilities – NEOSYNTEZ – at the annual conference Transforming Offshore Operations - Working with Digital Technology held in Norway.

Draga Company, a partner of NEOLANT Group of Companies (Russia), rendering services on digitalization of industrial assets on the territory of Nordic countries has represented Engineering Data Management System (EDMS) to be implemented throughout all stages of the industrial and infrastructure facilities – NEOSYNTEZ – at the annual conference Transforming Offshore Operations - Working with Digital Technology held in Norway.

The conference provides platform for leading suppliers and vendors of intellectual engineering systems. The main goal of the event is to promote advanced technologies for the oil and gas branch.

Fig.1. Excitement of NEOSYNTEZ EDMS at the Exhibit Booth of the Draga Company, NEOLANT’s Partner

Fig.1. Excitement of NEOSYNTEZ EDMS at the Exhibit Booth of the Draga Company, NEOLANT’s Partner

Event attendees have recognized prospects of implementation of NEOSYNTEZ EDMS developed by NEOLANT under rush developing conditions of digital transformation in the Norwegian oil and gas sector. A Digital Asset – a virtual prototype of a facility – is created on the base of NEOSYNTEZ facilitating and improving decision-making process concerning managerial and engineering issues. It is resulted in general in the enhanced efficiency and safety of the facility operation throughout the whole life cycle.

Therefore Norwegian oil and gas facilities get the state-of-the-art industrial management tool proven in plants of the largest international holdings, such as Gazprom and Rosneft. Synergistic experience of NEOLANT and Draga, who are leaders in creation and management of Digital Assets, assures their qualified maintenance with due consideration of specific practical purposes.

Fig. 2. Tasks Performing through Usage of Digital Assets on the base of NEOSYNTEZ

Fig. 2. Tasks Performing through Usage of Digital Assets on the base of NEOSYNTEZ

To learn more about NEOSYNTEZ right now you may perform as follows:

• load the presentation,
• subscribe for web-demonstration,
• сonsult through the telephone number: +7 (499) 999 0000 or the following e-mail address:neosyntez@neolant.com

The NEOLANT Group of Companies (Russia), which provides a comprehensive portfolio of software solutions for industrial plant management, and Draga, (Norway), a provider of services for the digitalization of industrial assets, signed the Partnership Agreement aimed distributing Russian-made BIM/IDMS technology throughout the Nordic region.

Which Products

Draga will offer the following NEOLANT GC solutions and services that support digital asset creation and maintenance:

Targeted Clientele:

Draga will target companies involved in engineering manufacturing, such as the following ones:

• Vertically-integrated holdings
• Engineering companies
• Design and construction entities
• Asset operators

Synergy in Partnership

"The difficult situation facing large companies – whether in Russia, the Nordic region, or worldwide - is their use of heterogeneous CAD and BIM data files. The problem is multiplied by the absence of an integrated platform for managing their asset lifecycles. Until the situation changes, companies suffer from administrative, operational, und informational gaps and bear significant financial cost.

The goal of our partnership with Draga is to eliminate of gaps in the asset lifecycle,” said Vitaly Kononov, President of NEOLANT Group of Companies. “We do our best through the combination of solutions and services over the course of creation and maintenance of digital assets.”

“Draga is always looking for the best solutions that give our customers a better return on investment, enhanced end-user experience, and saving on resources,” said Kent Andersen, CEO of Draga.

“The partnership with NEOLANT Group will enhance our portfolio and enable us to extend our digitalization solutions to offer better products to our clients."

***

About DRAGA

Draga is the digital asset management market leader in Scandinavia, providing full digital asset management services for the owner / operator market.

Our services include:

• Selecting the right tools for the job and perform system gap analysis
• Making information intelligent through our digitalization services
• Setup, integrate and manage intelligent engineering systems
• Assisting with debottlenecking of information workflows and processes to make organizations lean and efficient

Draga has over a decade of experience in implementing digital solutions, and we understand the industry best practices. Our engineers have backgrounds from engineering and owner / operator environments, and offer pragmatic real life experience in the use of intelligent systems.

The NEOLANT Group of Companies, which has been a partner of the Hexagon Company for many years, has released today its brand new software package – InterStorage, which expands the potential of Intergraph SmartPlant Foundation in the sphere of managing engineering data with help of navigation through complex 3D model integrated from various CAD/BIM/PLM formats.

The NEOLANT Group of Companies, which has been a partner of the Hexagon Company for many years, has released today its brand new software package – InterStorage, which expands the potential of Intergraph SmartPlant Foundation in the sphere of managing engineering data with help of navigation through complex 3D model integrated from various CAD/BIM/PLM formats.

Usage of the single information model for a plant to review and obtain data provides crucial advantage in making managerial and engineering decisions throughout all stages of the facility lifecycle from design to operation, including renovation and retrofitting.

The single information model integrated data from various sources makes it possible immediately to obtain information on any model element: simple indication of an element opens all related documentation.

Flexible research and data/elements visualization tooling significantly accelerates the situation analysis.

The single information model of a plant and the data focusing system of Intergraph SmartPlant Foundation (SPF) engineering information management (Plant Lifecycle Management) with procedures of information updating makes it possible to incorporate in a common informational field an operating organization, as well as construction, repair, scientific and research entities, and subcontractors providing all of them with up-to-date information and increasing efficiency of their interaction.

InterStorage expanding capabilities of SPF with functions as follows:

• Conversion, integration and publishing of an integrated information model from various CAD systems/PLM in the SPF repository considering graphical and semantic data.
• Quick review of the integrated model of any as large as desired plant/plants directly in the SPF environment.
• Visualization of the whole plant and its components with their data; the data to be indicated can be selected manually or by query in the SmartPlant Foundation environment.
• Automatic detection of collisions in the model integrated data from different CAD/PLM systems in the SPF environment.

Dmitry Dorobin, Head of Integrated and CAD Technologies at NEOLANT GC

Dmitry Dorobin, Head of Integrated and CAD Technologies at NEOLANT GC

“InterStorage is useful for the companies, which corporate operating IT environment is based on Intergraph SmartPlant Foundation. SPF is a solution that comprehensively covers all tasks of the facility engineering infrastructure and is specifically customized for the operation with data and maintenance of their integrity. Simultaneously the solution has certain limitations considering the rate of operation with complex 2D/3D information models of large-scale process facilities”, – said Dmitry Dorobin, Head of Integrated and CAD Technologies at NEOLANT GC.

“InterStorage neutralizes this parameter and expands SPF in the sphere of data visualization allowing easy, clear and rapid operation with the information model. As a result the customer obtains an effectively operating tool to manage engineering data on the base of SPF. Besides, InterStorage is absolutely compatible with the heterogeneous CAD/BIM/PLM environment and can be integrated with majority of the state-of-the-art software platforms: Autodesk, Bentley, AVEVA, Dassault Systemes, PTC, etc.”

Customer Success Story

Gazprom Neft PJSC is a vertically integrated oil company engaged primarily in oil and gas exploration, production, and refining, as well as the production and sale of petroleum products.

The Company is Russia’s fastest growing company, both in terms of hydrocarbon production and refining.

Introduction of InterStorage in the Intergraph SmartPlant Foundation environment made it possible to create a tool for easy and time-saving operation with a complex 3D model. Due to its capabilities SmartPlant Foundation has been successfully used in solving operating tasks, while the customer was greatly satisfied with the system as a whole.

For More Information

To learn more about InterStorage:

• Visit on our website InterStorage description
• Order a webinar and put all questions you may have or
• Consult through the telephone number: +7 (499) 999 0000 or the following e-mail address: interbridge@neolant.com.

Experts of IAEA Operating Safety Analysis Review Team (OSART) during their mission to review state of Novovoronezh NPP in May 2017 highly appreciated the innovative technologies developed and implemented by NEOLANT GK in the creation of Practical and Theoretical Training Centre of the Novovoronezh NPP.

Experts of IAEA Operating Safety Analysis Review Team (OSART) during their mission to review state of Novovoronezh NPP in May 2017 highly appreciated the innovative technologies developed and implemented by NEOLANT GK in the creation of Practical and Theoretical Training Centre of the Novovoronezh NPP.

Under the creation of the Novovoronezh NPP Practical and Theoretical Training Centre, specialists of the NPP jointly with NEOLANT’s specialists completed the project “Hardware and Software Complex of Virtual Reality (HSC VR)” and a simulator to exercise personnel activities on actuation of radiation emergency personnel protection plan for Novovoronezh NPP Power Units 6-7, Rosenergoatom Concern JSC.

Fig. 1 HSC VR of Novovoronzh NPP

Fig. 1 HSC VR of Novovoronzh NPP

Fig. 1 HSC VR of Novovoronzh NPP

The Project included the activities as follows:

• HSC VR equipment was installed and adjusted in the Novovoronezh NPP Practical and Theoretical Training Centre.
• 3D-models of the Novovoronezh NPP buildings were developed on the base of design documentation.
• The simulator software was developed.
• The 3D-models were integrated in the simulator.
• Features for two training modes were implemented:
  • exercise learning capabilities: navigation through the model, learning arrangement of process systems, equipment, rooms, and equipment characteristics;
  • performing assignments: getting an assignment, searching an equipment unit needed, carrying out assigned activities with the equipment unit.

Experts of NEOLANT GK are prepared to develop further capabilities of virtual and augmented reality to train the personnel of the Novovoronezh NPP, as well as to implement the same projects, including tailor-made solutions, for other power plants and for other industrial branches in the Russian Federation and worldwide.

An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) led expert mission conducted this month in Russia looked into current approaches and practices on design knowledge management in nuclear organizations.

IAEA

The IAEA team work together with Russian experts during the Knowledge Management Assist Visit mission in Moscow, March 2017. (Photo: JSC ASE EC)

The IAEA team work together with Russian experts during the Knowledge Management Assist Visit mission in Moscow, March 2017. (Photo: JSC ASE EC)

An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) led expert mission conducted this month in Russia looked into current approaches and practices on design knowledge management in nuclear organizations.

The five-day IAEA Knowledge Management Assist Visit (KMAV) was held on 13-17 March 2017 at the Moscow office of the Atomstroyexport Group of Companies (JSC ASE EC), an Engineering Division of Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM. The visit was conducted within the framework of Practical Arrangements between the IAEA and ROSATOM.

Under its Design Knowledge Management – Plant Information Models initiative (DKM-PIM), the IAEA works with Member States in identifying good practices on managing design knowledge in nuclear organizations. The main objective is to develop a better understanding of effective design knowledge management, including modern applications and tools. KMAV missions support this goal.

During the mission, the JSC ASE EC experts have presented the IAEA mission team unique tool, a project management system, entitled Multi-D®, that allows for effective management of design knowledge and information throughout the life-cycle of a nuclear power plant (NPP).

The six-member team comprised experts from four Member States and two IAEA officials. The team identified a number of good practices to share with the global nuclear sector, including:

• Joint project by JSC ASE EC and NEOLANT on design basis reconstitution executed at Russian NPPs,
• Application of design knowledge transfer for decommissioning project at Leningrad NPP,
• Application of DKM in implementing joint engineering, procurement, construction schedule for new build projects.

The mission also noted a number of recommendations for improvement, including:

• Encourage design knowledge sharing between different stakeholders and provide benchmarking with other nuclear organizations on DKM,
• Reinforce DKM with contractors on ‘responsible designer’ principle,
• Encourage commitment and active support in DKM-PIM development from ROSATOM and Rosenergoatom.

The mission brought together various national stakeholders in Russia, showing the growing interest in design knowledge management. These included representatives from ROSATOM, the nuclear regulator Rostechnadzor, the nuclear operating organization Concern Rosenergoatom, RASU (Rusatom Automated Control Systems), NEOLANT (engineering company) and VNIIAES (All-Russian Research Institute for NPP Operation). The participants reviewed and discussed the case study report on "Application of Design Knowledge Management in ROSATOM". The report will be part of a future IAEA publication on current approaches and practices in DKM and PIM implementation in nuclear organizations.

Background

The IAEA helps its Member States to develop and maintain appropriate technical expertise throughout the nuclear technology life cycle. Effective knowledge management helps achieve this objective. As one of the tools to support this objective, an IAEA KMAV may be requested by a Member State for one of its nuclear organizations. Its objectives include:

• Providing assistance and consultancy to counterparts who want to benefit from good practices in knowledge management strategies and techniques.
• Identifying good practice areas where knowledge management is already providing benefits.
• Making recommendations on how knowledge management shortcomings identified in the visit could be rectified.

The Russian-German Consortium joining NEOLANT Group of Companies, EWN, and Nukem will develop a project of Kozloduy NPP Units 1-4 decommissioning in Bulgaria. This project is expected to become the first one of this kind in Eastern European to execution of which Russian companies will be admitted.

The Russian-German Consortium joining NEOLANT Group of Companies, EWN, and Nukem will develop a project of Kozloduy NPP Units 1-4 decommissioning in Bulgaria. This project is expected to become the first one of this kind in Eastern European to execution of which Russian companies will be admitted.

The State Enterprise Radioactive Waste, the customer of the project, and European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) funding the activities chose NEOLANT Group of Companies as subcontractor for the project owing to its complex of engineering and IT expertise.

First of all NEOLANT owns wide experience in development of processes and equipment for radioactive waste management and reactor power unit decommissioning; similar projects have already been implemented for NPPs and industrial enterprises in the Russian Federation. When choosing this advantage was of great significance as the Kozloduy NPP is built on the Russian-based model.

The fact that NEOLANT GC has expertise in NPP life cycle informational support with the use of information modeling is of no less importance. The approach makes it possible to improve and verify decommissioning procedures and thereby ensure top-level safety and economic efficiency that is also relevant for European customers.

The Digital Decommissioning software developed by NEOLANT GC on the base of the own Russian NEOSYNTEZ platform of engineering data management will be used at execution of the project. Information models of decommissioning units will be created in the software; the information models help make best and precise engineering and managerial decisions.

It’s worth mentioning that 50 pre-qualification applications were made in total, and only three applicants reached the final: Ansaldo (Italy), ONET (France), and the Russian-German Consortium with NEOLANT’s participation that won the end tender well ahead of other bidders.

“The project is meant for three years. First, the qualitative execution should set a precedent of a successful accomplishment of the Russian company in Europe in such a sensitive area as nuclear safety and it takes on particular significance in the current not simple political circumstances. Secondly, the execution of the project allows for elaborating the Digital Decommissioning technique thanks to the experience of international cooperation thus enlarging knowledge in the area and competitive capacity of Russian technologies. It opens highly interesting prospects for the Russian companies as the similar technologies may become in demand in the countries that intend to decommission NPP power units in the foreseeable future”,

– Vladislav Tikhonovsky, First Deputy-President, NEOLANT GC, comments.

About EWN

The EWN-Group comprises companies dealing with the decommissioning of nuclear facilities. The radioactive residues/waste generated during the dismantling will be cut, treated, intermediately stored and delivered to the Federal Final Storage for the long term disposal.

More about EWN: www.ewn-gmbh.de.

About NUKEM Technologies

NUKEM Technologies is an engineering company that focuses on the management of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, decommissioning of nuclear and nuclear and radiation dangerous facilities, as well as on support at operation, consulting, and development of engineering solutions for research reactors.

The company stood at the origins of nuclear industry in Germany and has long-term experience in different areas, such as:

• operation of own nuclear fuel generated facilities, design of units;
• implementation of complex scientific research activities;
• broad spectrum of engineering services ranging from delivery of equipment for construction of new facilities, through operation and up-grading to decommissioning of nuclear and radiation dangerous facilities;
• reprocessing of radioactive waste generated at various nuclear facilities.

NUKEM Technologies GmbH is a subsidiary of JSC Atomstroyexport, a strategic partner of NEOLANT.

More about NUKEM Technologies GmbH: www.nukemtechnologies.com.

About State Enterprise Radioactive Waste

The enterprise is entrusted with the responsibility to protect the environment and to attend to people’s health and safety by management and storage of radioactive waste generated by the nuclear applications in the fields of energy, industry, medicine and everyday life.

Our main activity is related to collecting, handling, pre-treatment and treatment, conditioning, storage and burial of radioactive waste, including decommissioning of radioactive waste management facilities.

More about State Enterprise Radioactive Waste: www.dprao.bg.

About the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development

The European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) was founded in 1991 to create a new post-Cold War era in Central and Eastern Europe, furthering progress towards ‘market-oriented economies and the promotion of private and entrepreneurial initiative’.

The EBRD is owned by 65 countries, as well as the European Union and the European Investment Bank. The EBRD develops partnership with a wide range of stakeholders representing local and international business, investors, and participants of development process to encourage its activity.

More about EBRD: www.ebrd.com.

NEOLANT Group of Companies, Russian developer of information modeling technologies, presented NEOSYNTEZ – the Russian PLM-System (PLM – Plant Lifecycle Management) for industrial and civil enterprises during the Third International Conference on Nuclear Knowledge Management – Challenges and Approaches held in Vienna, Austria, 7-11 November 2016. The event was organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency in cooperation with the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency.

Fig. 1. From the left to the right: Vitaliy Kolomiets (IAEA), Vladislav Tikhonovsky and Alexey Kabachnikov (NEOLANT GC) at the ROSATOM’s Stand

Fig. 1. From the left to the right: Vitaliy Kolomiets (IAEA), Vladislav Tikhonovsky and Alexey Kabachnikov (NEOLANT GC) at the ROSATOM’s Stand

Fig. 2. NEOLANT’s Stand Report

Fig. 2. NEOLANT’s Stand Report

Fig. 3. Vitaliy Kolomiets and Maksim Gladyshev (IAEA), Alexey Kabachnikov (NEOLANT GC), Alexey Katukhov (ROSATOM) at the NEOLANT’s Stand Report

Fig. 3. Vitaliy Kolomiets and Maksim Gladyshev (IAEA), Alexey Kabachnikov (NEOLANT GC), Alexey Katukhov (ROSATOM) at the NEOLANT’s Stand Report

NEOLANT Group of Companies, Russian developer of information modeling technologies, presented NEOSYNTEZ – the Russian PLM-System (PLM – Plant Lifecycle Management) for industrial and civil enterprises during the Third International Conference on Nuclear Knowledge Management – Challenges and Approaches held in Vienna, Austria, 7-11 November 2016. The event was organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency in cooperation with the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency.

“It is encouraging that Russian technologies accumulating long-term experience of the NEOLANT Company are proven to be globally competitive. High interest of experts from many countries to our developments and appreciation of IAEA experts supports the conclusion. Among the conference participants we met a number of likeminded partners developing information modeling technology for different NPP lifecycle stages. Nuclear power plant is a dangerous facility comprising hundreds of thousands of equipment items and tens of pipeline kilometers, while a lifecycle (LC) from conceptual design to decommissioning lasts for over a 100 years. Hence, issues of knowledge transfer about facility, personnel training, integration of different IT systems, and others are becoming ever more relevant. We are proud of Russian achievements in this field: information modeling technologies have been proven on tens of Russian nuclear facilities and effectively solve the mentioned tasks. We are ready to share our experience and accumulated expertise with newcomer countries”,

Vladislav Tichonovsky, First Deputy Director General, NEOLANT GC, comments.

A NEOLANT’s conference report, a poster presentation (Fig. 2) and a joint ROASTOM/NEOLANT exhibition represented background of the system development, benefits from its usage for industrial and civil construction, and performance capabilities. A movie demonstrated the system operation at the exhibition stand.

The NEOLANT’s specialists, reported at the demonstration stand, explained that the NEOSYNTEZ system is based on a data centric approach and helps to create the whole information model of an industrial facility. That information model is a single updated and structured digital data storage comprising engineering and financial information for every facility unit. The information effectively supports making decisions on asset management throughout the facility lifecycle: from design to decommissioning.

The approach ensures the following competitive advantages for the facility:

• Enhanced environmental and industrial safety on the base of
  • visual control of maintenance procedure implementation, radiological conditions, fire protection, etc.;
  • use of advanced tools for operating and maintenance personnel training.
• Higher level of engineering and managerial decisions through:
  • consolidation of configuration, process, financial, and time features in a single model comprehensively;
  • complete, updated, reliable, and interrelated data on the facility;
  • capability to analyze data in any section views and with visual reference to facility items.
• Mitigated risk of facility information loss owing to creation of a single digital storage of full information required for the facility operation.
• Reduced facility ownership cost through maximal implementation of the system capabilities solving practical tasks at any facility LC stage.

Within the frameworks of the Conference agenda, Aleksey Kabachnikov, leading engineer of the Engineering Models Division, NEOLANT, gave the report: NPP Information Model as an Innovative Approach to End-to-End Lifecycle Management of the NPP and Nuclear Knowledge Management Proven in Russia describing the NEOSYNTEZ engineering data management system as an information model of an industrial facility integrated purpose-designed applications to support making justified engineering, process and managerial decisions and implementing them by various services of the facility including operating, construction, design, maintenance, scientific research institutions and sub-contractors.

NEOLANT Group is pleased to announced that it has entered into an agreement with Edoxx Technical Services to distribute its processing plant information modeling software in the USA, Canada, and Latin America. Through the partnership agreement, Edoxx will deliver NEOLANT’s flagship software and provide services in the area of large-scale design, construction, and operations.

NEOLANT Group is pleased to announced that it has entered into an agreement with Edoxx Technical Services to distribute its processing plant information modeling software in the USA, Canada, and Latin America. Through the partnership agreement, Edoxx will deliver NEOLANT’s flagship software and provide services in the area of large-scale design, construction, and operations.

Fig. 1. Synergy effect of the new partnership between NEOLANT Group and Edoxx

Fig. 1. Synergy effect of the new partnership between NEOLANT Group and Edoxx

Fig. 2. Edoxx experts receive training in information modeling at NEOLANT Group’s offices

Fig. 2. Edoxx experts receive training in information modeling at NEOLANT Group’s offices

Fig. 3. Guillermo Camargo, Edoxx VP of Operations (center) with NEOLANT trainers

Fig. 3. Guillermo Camargo, Edoxx VP of Operations (center) with NEOLANT trainers

The software covered by the agreement includes the following products:

• InterBridge creates and views integrated plant information models from a variety of CAD platforms, such as in *.dgn, *.dwg, *.vue, *.rvm, *.rvs, *.dri, *.dxf, *.pid, and *.rvt formats.
• NEOSYNTEZ manages engineering data throughout the entire plant lifecycle.
• POLYNOM new generation 3D CAD software for comprehensively designing new facilities, constructing them, and retrofitting existing facilities.
• SOMOX is on-line software for managing the construction of facilities of any complexity.

Edoxx experts are trained in how to operate the software from NEOLANT, and so provide North American and Latin American clients with the required engineering expertise.

Back in 2014, we made it our mission to enter international markets gradually,” said Vitaly Kononov, President of NEOLANT Group. “We consider it crucial that we work through the know-how of competent, local partners.”

Edoxx has proven experience in supporting the design, maintenance, and operations of complex processing plants. By using NEOLANT’s platforms, Edoxx will be able to implement advanced solutions in asset management, and so reduce maintenance costs while reducing the number of unplanned shutdowns. Having the most accurate data, and having it in real time, allows clients to realize drastic savings in their operations, while increasing the reliability of their facilities.

NEOLANT’s Information technologies in 3D modeling and data management are easy to use, and so allow clients for the first time to implement data analytics and IoT (internet of things).

We found NEOLANT's information modeling technology to be very advanced and easy to use, yet customizable and with the extraordinary potential of adding IoT concepts in asset management and plant maintenance programs,” said Guillermo Camargo, Edoxx VP of Operations. “The ability to talk and deal with different software languages and formats of preexisting designs – such as SP3D, PDMS, Cadworx, and Inventor – have a high value to our business We have been extremely pleased with the quality, expertise, and friendly interaction with NEOLANT personnel and are thrilled by the result.”

Edoxx is now working in the North American market promoting solutions using NEOLANT’s platforms. The company is planning to undertake asset management programs by delivering the data over NEOLANT’s platforms in North and Latin America in the months to come.

About Edoxx Technical Services LLC

Edoxx Technical Services LLC is an engineering and 3D design company with strong resources and 3D intelligent modeling capabilities. The company has offices in Houston Texas, Helsinki Finland, and Bogota Colombia, with a support center in Hyderabad India. Edoxx is a subsidiary of Vepica International BV. The group employs over 1,800 engineers and technicians.

Edoxx engineers have in-depth experience in supporting the design and 3D modeling of conceptual and detailed engineering for new onshore and offshore oil and gas facilities, power and industrial plants, and petrochemical facilities. Edoxx produces as-built data and engineering drawings for existing plants using well-established reverse engineering procedures. Existing field data is gathered using laser scanning, and then intelligent models are produced with engineering, mechanical integrity, and reliability information linked to the 3D model.

Edoxx has worked extensively with international contractors and operators such as Foster Wheeler, Worley Parsons, Ref-Chem, Bechtel, Ventech, CB&I, ABB Lummus, SBM Imodco, Shaw Group, and Acuren.

The video shows how the information modeling of a complex engineering facilitates efficient performing functions of General Contractor and field supervision.

About the Angstrem-T Submicron Semiconductor Manufacturing Foundry:

• Total clean room area of 7,500 m2.
• Production capacity of 15,000 wafer starts per month.
• Wafer diameter of 200 mm.
• Manufacturing process of 130–90nm using 9 metals (Cu).

NEOLANT demonstrates how the Intergraph’s innovative solutions help to create a common plant information space and support transferring the information from a life cycle stage of process facilities to other stages and effectively solve the following tasks:

• For design: reduced period of work and improved quality.
• For construction: reduced period of work, lower expenditures, and increased safety.
• For operation and decommissioning: higher efficiency of process management and increased safety.

NEOLANT demonstrates how the Intergraph’s innovative solutions help to create a common plant information space and support transferring the information from a life cycle stage of process facilities to other stages and effectively solve the following tasks:

• For design: reduced period of work and improved quality.
• For construction: reduced period of work, lower expenditures, and increased safety.
• For operation and decommissioning: higher efficiency of process management and increased safety.

Provided by NEOLANT Services on the base of Intergraph Software Platform

1. Customization and implementation of Intergraph Smart Plant Enterprise software products.
2. Creation of standard elements catalogues:
   • SmartPlant 3D catalogues and specifications.
   • SmartPlant P&ID character catalogues.
   • SmartPlant Electrical character catalogues.
   • SmartPlant Instrumentation character catalogues.
3. Customization and setting up of SmartPlant Foundation.
4. Creation of IMS (Information Management System) based on SmartPlant Foundation.
5. Setting up of engineering data exchange within the Intergraph Smart Plant Enterprise by means of TEF adapters.
6. Information support of operation on the base of SmartPlant for Owners and Operators.
7. Development of specific tailor-made capabilities for SmartPlant Foundation, SmartPlant 3D, and SmartPlant with the use of application program interface (API).
8. Delivery of software for creating 3D-characters: SmartCon.
9. Delivery of InterBridge (3D CAD/PLM data translator and viewer developed by NEOLANT) for SmartPlant Foundation.

JSC “Institute Hydroproject” and NEOLANT Group of Companies signed the cooperation agreement to promote and implement projects of PJSC RusHydro on the basis of multidimensional modeling technologies in the design, reconstruction/construction and operation of hydropower facilities in Russia and abroad.

JSC “Institute Hydroproject” and NEOLANT Group of Companies signed the cooperation agreement to promote and implement projects of PJSC RusHydro on the basis of multidimensional modeling technologies in the design, reconstruction/construction and operation of hydropower facilities in Russia and abroad.

JSC “Institute Hydroproject” has been applying multidimensional modeling technologies to design new hydropower and waterworks installations for quite a long time; the design information model (IM) of a facility being the result. Besides, currently, the RusHydro Group manages more than 70 renewable power facilities under operation that do not have information models created. However, an information model is of high importance for the operation, reconstruction and modernization of the existing facilities since it makes possible to achieve the essential optimization of resources.

So as to convert a design model into the construction and operational one, a pilot project was implemented jointly with JSC NEOLANT on the basis of the Volga Hydroelectric Power Station. In the frame of this project, an InterBridge tool was used to “immerse” a model into the NEOSYNTEZ IT environment, a platform to manage the industrial facility life cycle. As a result, a digital prototype of the Volga Hydroelectric Power Station gained functionality necessary for the solution of applied tasks of construction, reconstruction and operation and the benefit from this multidimensional model increased by times for the direct owner, that is RusHydro. Eventually, the following effects can be achieved:

• to increase controllability, transparency and predictability of production processes at all stages of the facility life cycle;
• to improve quality of the decisions taken due to full and timely information and technological support;
• to provide integrity (elimination of organizational, functional, information and financial gaps) and coherence of information streams between various engineering disciplines, contractors and life cycle stages;
• to increase the culture and quality of the asset operation due to the centralization and consolidation of engineering and technical information of the enterprise, reduction of time for identification and elimination of defects, performance of complex repair work.

Fig. 1. Application of InterBridge (developed by NEOLNAT Group of Companies) to form a Unified Information Model of the Volga Hydroelectric Power Station

Fig. 1. Application of InterBridge (developed by NEOLNAT Group of Companies) to form a Unified Information Model of the Volga Hydroelectric Power Station

Fig. 1. Application of InterBridge (developed by NEOLNAT Group of Companies) to form a Unified Information Model of the Volga Hydroelectric Power Station

Fig. 1. Application of InterBridge (developed by NEOLNAT Group of Companies) to form a Unified Information Model of the Volga Hydroelectric Power Station

Fig. 1. Application of InterBridge (developed by NEOLNAT Group of Companies) to form a Unified Information Model of the Volga Hydroelectric Power Station

Fig. 2. NEOSYNTEZ Application (developed by NEOLNAT Group of Companies) to manage the Volga Hydroelectric Power Station Life Cycle

Fig. 2. NEOSYNTEZ Application (developed by NEOLNAT Group of Companies) to manage the Volga Hydroelectric Power Station Life Cycle

Fig. 2. NEOSYNTEZ Application (developed by NEOLNAT Group of Companies) to manage the Volga Hydroelectric Power Station Life Cycle

Fig. 2. NEOSYNTEZ Application (developed by NEOLNAT Group of Companies) to manage the Volga Hydroelectric Power Station Life Cycle

Fig. 2. NEOSYNTEZ Application (developed by NEOLNAT Group of Companies) to manage the Volga Hydroelectric Power Station Life Cycle

A successful implementation of the pilot project gives JSC “Institute Hydroproject” as well as NEOLANT GC specialists all grounds to offer the implementation of all projects on the basis of information modeling technologies in the reconstruction/construction and operation of all hydropower facilities managed by PJSC RusHydro both in Russia and abroad.

It should be noted that the advantages of such facility life cycle management have been already confirmed in other branches of the Russian industry that is proved, for example, by the effective management of such parameters as the budget, due dates, quality at implementation of the largest EPC projects.

“The reality is that it is important not only to implement projects of constructions but also to support their operation and to fulfil it in the most effective way. The creation of a multidimensional model and its application allow a significant increase of our competitiveness on the global stage as well. The implementation of information modeling technologies at PJSC RusHydro, being an integral part of the construction project and operation support, is a complicated but quite realistic goal. We are glad to be helped by specialists of NEOLANT GC. The use of import-independent products is now an essential requirement for the uninterrupted implementation of projects”,

– says Nikolay Trifonov, Deputy Chief Engineer for Multidimensional Modeling and Design, JSC “Institute Hydroproject”.

The NEOLANT Group of companies today released its newest software package, SOMOX for monitoring and managing construction projects. The versatile program helps automate the planning and management process, as well as monitor construction progress and work with network schedules for effective 4D-6D planning of industrial and civil facilities of any complexity.

Fig. 1. 4D Visualization of Construction Process

Fig. 1. 4D Visualization of Construction Process

Today, purpose-developed software like Oracle Primavera and Microsoft Project are typically used to manage projects. Using such software allows users to describe sequences, dependencies, and scopes of activities. Until now, however, these programs did not track the progress of construction and installation, or ensure there are not spatial collisions.

Based on experience accumulated through the use of information modeling in the field of civil and industrial construction, NEOLANT developed SOMOX to be a solution that meets the specific needs of the construction market. The primary feature of this new software is its use of 4D-6D models. This feature integrates 3D models (imported without loss of quality from any external CAD system via InterBridge) with calendars and network schedules imported from project management systems, such as Oracle Primavera.

The SOMOX system implements the following processes:

• Optimizes 4th level diagram based on 3D models.
• Generates daily and weekly assignments on the base of an activities schedule with 3D visualization of the scope of works.
• Input actual data on CIWs accomplished.

These capabilities make it possible to transfer 4D-6D models from the desktop to the construction site and back. It synchronizes activities added to the schedule with actual activities on the construction site.

"Collisions frequently emerge in construction sites when, for example, equipment is already on-site but utilities, such as ventilation, have not yet been installed,” said Dmitry Dorobin, Head of Integrated and CAD Technologies at NEOLANT GC. “Our SOMOX software facilitates analysis and optimization of the consequences of activities, and so helps you determine time and spatial collisions, as well as testing alternatives before the activities begin. All these significantly reduce time and financial expenditures for projects."

SOMOX coordinates and optimizes the activities of all professionals interacting at building sites by providing a common source of information:

• General Contractors and Subcontractors access effective work planning and timely changes management.
• Chief Designers access optimized design concepts of the construction sequence.
• Developers and Technical Clients receive on-line access to the project information, work status, and allocation distribution.
• Customers receive current information about the construction process.

The software was developed using methodology provided by NIAEP–ASE United Company engineering company, a strategic partner of NEOLANT.

Customer Success Story

NIAEP-ASE United Company is one of the largest Russian engineering companies, having constructed all Russian nuclear power units and some 30% of all power units in the world. The company widely uses all available technology for information modeling the design and construction of facilities. It successfully implemented SOMOX advanced plant management software with the assistance of expertise from NEOLANT.

The technology’s efficiency proved itself during the construction of more than 10 nuclear power plan units by reducing the total project cost by 10%. In an interview with Vyacheslav V. Alenkov, Director of System Engineering & IT at JSC NIAEP - JSC ASE, he describes the positive effects of digital modeling on the business of his engineering company.

For More Information

To learn more about SOMOX:

• Register for our webinar and get answers to all your questions about the SOMOX system.
• Receive live consulting with a NEOLANT expert on implementing SOMOX by calling +7 (499) 999 0000 or emailing cmr@neolant.com.

NEOLANT being a rightholder of InterBridge – a software to create and view a unified Information Model of large-scale process facilities based on different CAD and PLM platforms, has implemented a project on the InterBridge adoption in АSE Group of Companies – one of the largest EPC, EPCm and PMC companies in the world.

NEOLANT being a rightholder of InterBridge – a software to create and view a unified Information Model of large-scale process facilities based on different CAD and PLM platforms, has implemented a project on the InterBridge adoption in АSE Group of Companies – one of the largest EPC, EPCm and PMC companies in the world.

Nowadays, АSE Group of Companies is one of few companies with a wide experience in the application of the Information Modeling technologies to design and construct facilities all over the world. The company is a developer and active user of its own Multi-D innovative project management system focusing on the construction of complicated engineering facilities and allowing the most effective management of such parameters as budget, due dates and quality.

JSC NIAEP, being a part of the ASE Group, is familiar with InterBridge through multiple projects implemented jointly with NEOLANT. However, the scope of the engineering company activities requires the creation and viewing the whole process facility comprising, as a rule, more than 500000 elements. Here, it is of high importance to provide a high capacity at any personal device: smartphone, laptop, PC, etc.

Fig. 1. Application of InterBridge to create and view an overall data model of the Rostov NPP-3

Fig.1. Application of InterBridge to create and view an overall data model of the Rostov NPP-3

Fig.1. Application of InterBridge to create and view an overall data model of the Rostov NPP-3

Fig.1. Application of InterBridge to create and view an overall data model of the Rostov NPP-3

Fig.1. Application of InterBridge to create and view an overall data model of the Rostov NPP-3

It stands to reason that InterBridge has been selected to meet this requirement since it has the following key advantages proved in comparison with world-known brands:

• Support of data conversion of the majority of popular CAD/PLM platforms.
• High speed of opening/drawing of a 3D model of facilities (e.g., less than 10 seconds for a 131 016 element model).
• Minimum RAM is used to startup the software and upload a 3D model.

• Wide functional capabilities including the access to the attributive data, intellectual search, work with data structure, plotting dynamic sections, autodetection of collisions, work with point cloud, datasheet setup, creation of 4D models, etc.

At present, NIAEP uses InterBridge both as a standalone product ad as a part of its own data systems:

• Weekly-daily targets for the current management of the construction process.
• Major Construction Office – web-portal to monitor and manage the major construction process.

Group of Companies NEOLANT wishes you Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

NEOLANT freely admits that CAD vendors have their own products, and that InterBridge (their server-based data viewer and manipulator for 2D and 3D files from CAD and PLM systems) is not first to the market. And so their job is to convince customers that InterBridge is worth a look against competitors like Autodesk Navisworks, Intergraph SmartPlan Review, and Bentley Navigator.

NEOLANT freely admits that CAD vendors have their own products, and that InterBridge (their server-based data viewer and manipulator for 2D and 3D files from CAD and PLM systems) is not first to the market. And so their job is to convince customers that InterBridge is worth a look against competitors like Autodesk Navisworks, Intergraph SmartPlan Review, and Bentley Navigator.

Expert of NEOLANT represented Russia as longstanding user of information simulation for nuclear facilities on the Consultancy Meeting to Finalize the Document on Application of the Modern Plant Information Models (PIM) to Support and Manage Design Knowledge throughout Nuclear Power Plant Life Cycle held in International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, 16-20 November 2015.

Expert of NEOLANT represented Russia as longstanding user of information simulation for nuclear facilities on the Consultancy Meeting to Finalize the Document on Application of the Modern Plant Information Models (PIM) to Support and Manage Design Knowledge throughout Nuclear Power Plant Life Cycle held in International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, 16-20 November 2015.

Fig. 1. Dmitry Dorobin (upper row, on the right), Head for Integrated and CAD Technology Solutions in NEOLANT at the IAEA Consultancy Meeting to Finalize the Document on Application of the Modern Plant Information Models (PIM) to Support and Manage Design Knowledge throughout Nuclear Power Plant Life Cycle

Fig. 1. Dmitry Dorobin (upper row, on the right), Head for Integrated and CAD Technology Solutions in NEOLANT at the IAEA Consultancy Meeting to Finalize the Document on Application of the Modern Plant Information Models (PIM) to Support and Manage Design Knowledge throughout Nuclear Power Plant Life Cycle

Fig. 2. NPP Plant Information Model (PIM) to Solve Practical Tasks throughout Life Cycle

Fig. 2. NPP Plant Information Model (PIM) to Solve Practical Tasks throughout Life Cycle

For the first time the subject of creating and using information simulation technologies for nuclear facilities was considered at the IAEA level in September 2014. Scale of problems solved by NPP Plant Information Model attached special significance to the subject that has been progressing at a fast pace and today enters final straight before to be included in the IAEA recommendations.

NEOLANT as owner of unique experience in developing and supporting information models of all 10 NPPs in the RF is an active participant of IAEA events concerning the subject. In every case, the company's experts represent expertise in solving the wide range of practical tasks by means of nuclear facility information models.

NEOLANT took part in the final meeting preceding publishing the guidance document on application of modern information models to support and manage NPP knowledge throughout NPP life cycle as invited speaker from the Russian Federation. Dmitry Dorobin, Head for Integrated and CAD Technology Solutions in NEOLANT made a summarizing report on long-term experience of PIM application in the Russian nuclear industry (Fig. 2) emphasizing following advantages of information modeling comparing to automatization solutions of former generation without using information model:

• Providing for uniformity, integrity, completeness and consistency of data supporting decision-making.
• Enhancing knowledgeable decision-making at all managing levels owing to accessible all PIM data analytics modules and capability for personnel to operate large set of information slices.
• Improving rapid decision-making by means of user friendly and obvious graphical interfaces for IT tools operation.

«Nuclear power plant is apparently one of the most complicated process facilities in the world having long-term life cycle (about 100 years from design stage up to decommissioning). The life cycle period lasts far longer than the age of human life, therefore the issue of keeping and transferring knowledge about the nuclear facility is especially acute. Effectiveness of the knowledge management process affects the present and the future of global nuclear industry, and international cooperation is most powerful in this area nowadays. It is the sphere where Russia has what to demonstrate and offer to world nuclear community, since information simulation has been intensively used to support Russian NPPs for more than 15 years. We believe the experience will act as a role model for other countries and PIM technologies will gain widespread in the industry», –
Dmitry Dorobin, Head for Integrated and CAD Technology Solutions in NEOLANT said.

The document on application of modern information models to support and manage NPP knowledge throughout NPP life cycle is expected to be issued and added to IAEA recommendations during the first quarter of 2016.

NEOLANT Russia is ready to launch its InterBridge software on the international market. The company is targeting large-scale facilities in areas such as industrial and civil construction. InterBridge performs on-line translations of graphical and semantic 2D/3D data between cross-platform CAD and PLM systems. This enables users to convert and view shared 2D and 3D models.

Naturally, InterBridge is not the only conversion and visualization product on the market for EDMS (engineering data management systems). CAD and PLM vendors have their own convertors and viewers; until now, NEOLANT’s own offering was no different. However, InterBridge is being released as standalone software that any enterprise can now purchase to solve their design, construction management, operations, and decommissioning tasks.

What advantages does InterBridge offer, as distinct from similar software that’s been on the market for a longer time? Here are a number of compelling reasons:

• Common Problems Enterprises Experience Implementing 3D Plant Information Modeling
• Using Plant Information Models to Boost Your Business
• How to Make 3D Models Viable
• InterBridge Achieves Results
• Why InterBridge is the Best Solution for Large Facility Operators
• Evaluate InterBridge Live at Your Work Place

Common Problems Enterprises Experience Implementing 3D Plant Information Modeling

One of the primary problems of state-of-the-art CAD systems that create 3D plant information models is their disciplinary focus. There are specialized systems for architecture and construction, there are other systems covering the design of automatic process control systems and electrical engineering, still other systems that encourage short-term and proper engineering design. As a rule, models created in systems of these types meet the high standards of dedicated specialists and contain a large amount of data describing engineering decisions to the last detail.

It can be argued, however, that on the market today there is no all-purpose CAD system that implements all aspects of all 3D design stages.

At a certain stage in a project, the design team will need to integrate all discipline-specific CAD models in a single comprehensive plant model. There are many reasons to do this, but the most important ones are as follows:

• It’s only possible to determine collisions with an integrated, interdisciplinary model.
• Customers typically require a comprehensive model for operations.

Creating an integrated 3D model is apparently a simple task. Most CAD systems support the capability of exporting models in several exchange formats or can read models saved in their competitors’ formats. When the project is developed on a single CAD platform (e.g, Bentley Systems), then the integration of graphical data and the creation an integrated plant model is easily done.

Will, however, the model contain all the information needed? It’s possible that the integrated model (along with graphical elements containing all engineering attributes associated with the graphical elements in specialized CAD systems) will not be of value to the customer.

Regardless of lifecycle stage of the facility, even if the facility has a 3D model, the model is not necessarily informative, accessible, or complete. It may be only a beautiful 3D picture that is devoid of sufficient data and useful only for boggling the minds of managers.

Does it analyze technical decisions or find interdisciplinary collisions? It is not reasonable for users to employ a model with restrictions at the facility LC. At the construction and operation stages it is not important to the customer which CAD system developed the model; in any case, these kinds of users are generally not required to operate CAD. Contractors and operators need a simple and easily accessible tool that helps them to decide on production goals.

Using Plant Information Models to Boost Your Business

3D models are valuable when they are filled with useful information demanded by the facility LC. In this case the model provides the following benefits:

• Enhances the quality of technical decisions made through proper visualization of all engineering data and analysis of all technological solutions used in the model.
• Reduces the number of corrections in design documentation by on-line searching and avoiding collisions in design and construction, both spatially and technologically.
• Arranges interaction among counterparts (investors-customers-contractors), services (designers-contractors, constructors–maintenance engineers) and disciplines (architectural and construction design and process engineering) all supported by working in a common model information space.
• Reduces construction and operation expenses by creating and using an integrated and comprehensive plant information model that provides rapid access to the necessary data and allows for analysis of activities prior to making construction and operation decisions.
• Generates added value for business by transmitting the plant information model to the customer, preferably without reference to particular CAD/PLM system. This kind of model allows users to obtain the necessary data at any time, analyze it, and so make sound engineering decisions.

How to Make 3D Models Viable

InterBridge was developed by NEOLANT with the aim of solving the above mentioned problems. It is the best software for the on-line conversion and viewing of CAD/PLM graphical and attribute data. It works with many platforms that create, display, and analyze the integrated 3D plant information models.

InterBridge provides the following capabilities to plant operators:

• Manipulating models independently without reference to any specific CAD/PLM platform. InterBridge’s native format is compact, more lightweight than with most other viewers. It stores all information about the facility, which allows users to access the model as a visual tool for making decisions in the area of the user’s competence. There is no need to purchase expensive CAD systems.
• Integrating project parts created by different CAD/PLM platforms in a unified 3D plant model that considers all disciplines. It contains all necessary attributes, which is valuable for plant management at the LC stage.
• Converting models from one CAD format to another without loss of attribute components. These conversions are necessary when the designer works in one format and the contractor or facility client requests another format.
• Converting models to neutral formats such as XML, SAT, STEP, and ISO 15926.

What benefits do enterprises get from using InterBridge? The benefits accrue from having information that is integrated, based on a comprehensive information facility model. Regardless of the enterprise’s role -- be it the designer, the construction company, or the operator -- InterBridge allows the company to avoid a whole range of expensive and complex problems, while creating additional possibilities, such as these:

• Saving existing CAD/PLM infrastructure by avoiding the necessity to purchase high-priced licenses or adopting new CAD/PLM platforms for working with the files submitted by the original design software.
• On-line visualization of all data, including infrastructure consisting of hundreds of thousands of elements.
• Making decisions based on consideration and analysis of all features of every facility’s element. InterBridge performs all model manipulations, from importing models to searching for collisions.
• Solving application tasks by visualizing the entire facility with the highest degree of visual detail. In addition, InterBridge provides the following functions:
  • Considering the arrangement of a facility’s elements. For example, during installation planning, taking into account the impossibility of simultaneously installing the pipeline and ventilation systems.
  • Reporting specifications of elements. For example, when a broken pipe needs to be replaced, the system immediately displays the pipe diameter and name of the pipe manufacturer.
  • As an operational tool. For example, issuing specifications for valve replacement.

You reach results with InterBridge through the following advantages:

• Saving time in every day routine operations that involve large amount of heterogeneous data.
• Cost saving by avoiding errors that can be traced beforehand by visualizing and analyzing the pool of data.
• Trouble-free and safe operation of the facility by integrating complex information models with facilities’ operation systems. This makes it possible to implement regular maintenance, such as finding and immediately repairing equipment failure in a timely fashion. All of the functions needed for decision making and repair are contained in the model.

There is value in InterBridge’s ability to make any enterprise more competitive by reducing production cost. As the cost of output and provided services becomes manageable, the desired level of profit is reached.

InterBridge Achieves Results

InterBridge offers the following useful functions to plant operators:

• 3D Model Navigation
  InterBridge offers instant views of facilities, such as selection and alignment of elements, rotation, horizontal/vertical movement, 3D model scaling, and setting standard views (top/bottom, front/back, right-/left-side).
• Access to Attribute Data
  InterBridge accesses all attribute data associated with elements in 3D models just by clicking the element.
• Intelligent Search
  InterBridge searches for elements’ attributes and text. To do so, the user specifies the search criteria and then can refine the search by means of logical operators, such as and and or.



Fig. 1. 3D Model Navigation
Fig. 1. 3D Model Navigation

Fig. 2. Access to Attribute Data
Fig. 2. Access to Attribute Data

Fig. 3. Intelligent Search
Fig. 3. Intelligent Search


• Object Isolation
  InterBridge instantly hides and displays 3D model parts as required by the user. For example, it is possible to isolate only a specified pipeline visually, or just a room and the equipment inside of it.
• Cutting Dynamic Sections
  InterBridge cuts sections in the following directions: top/bottom, front/back, and right/left views.
• Geometric Measurements
  InterBridge measures distances between points, angles, and surface areas (as calculated by the area between all points selected).



Fig. 4. Object Isolation
Fig. 4. Object Isolation

Fig. 5. Cutting Dynamic Sections
Fig. 5. Cutting Dynamic Sections

Fig. 6. Geometric Measurements
Fig. 6. Geometric Measurements


• Automatic Collision Detection
  InterBridge finds where 3D geometry intersects with other elements automatically. Designers can immediately determine all collisions between the architectural and construction parts of the design, even when one is developed in one CAD system and the other in another CAD system.
• Reading Point Clouds from Laser Scans
  InterBridge loads point clouds generated by 3D laser scanners to compare as-designed with as-builts.
• Specifications
  InterBridge generates specifications from elements selected by users.
  Elements can be selected individually, using search criteria, or by attributes. The fully formatted specification is saved to the dashboard's Report page, and available in tab-delimited format for editing by spreadsheets and other analysis software.



Fig. 7. Automatic Collision Detection
Fig. 7. Automatic Collision Detection

Fig. 8. Reading Point Clouds from Laser Scans
Fig. 8. Reading Point Clouds from Laser Scans

Fig. 9. Specifications
Fig. 9. Specifications


• Other
  InterBridge visualizes 3D models by a variety of means, including room/solar lighting, flecks, transparency, structure, and draft contours. It displays material parameters and textures, model layers, and large-scale raster maps. InterBridge use colors to indicate backgrounds, selected elements, and markers and styles. It prints and saves selected images as bitmaps with smoothing and high resolution (up to 24576 х 24576). It binds files into documents. And InterBridge creates 4D models.

Why InterBridge Is the Best Solution for Large Facility Operators

InterBridge shows excellent performance during implementation of large-scale projects in oil, gas, chemical, defense industries. Our benchmarking reported the following results.

• Most compact software: The InterBridge distribution package is only 2MB, hundreds times smaller than competitors; see figure below.



• Fastest operations: InterBridge opens 3D models of large facilities (consisting of several hundred thousand elements) quickly, literally “flying” even on standard office computers. The software instantly opens the model, and then makes is ready for operators to manipulate the model in any way. Other software systems are sometimes unable to handle giant models, or simply cannot open models of this type. See figures below.




• The most productive software: InterBridge is able to manipulate very large 3D models (made of several hundred thousand elements) requiring a significantly smaller amount of memory; see figure below.

The results come from a comparative analysis carried out by NEOLANT staff using the following hardware and software configuration:

• Hardware: 3.4GHz Intel Core i7-4770 with 8GB RAM and NVIDIA GeForce GT640 4GB graphics board running on 64-bit Windows 7
• Software: InterBridge 2015.2 2015.828, compared to Autodesk Navisworks Manage 2016 (64x) 13.0.1240.5, Bentley Navigator V8i (SELECTseries 6) 08.11.09.713, and Intergraph SmartPlant Review 2015R1 (11.01.00.0101)
• 3D Model: 842MB with 131,016 elements

Evaluate InterBridge Live at Your Work Place

For more information about InterBridge, we invite you to consult the following resources:

• Download the free demo version.
• Watch the tutorial video.
• Register for a webinar.

NEOLANT of Russia attends the XIV Session of the Subcommittee on Telecom and Information Technologies, Russian-Chinese Commission.

Figure 1. NEOSYNTEZ Work Scheme

Figure 1. NEOSYNTEZ Work Scheme

NEOLANT announced today that it intends to cooperate with China in the use of Russian software and Information Modeling technology to provide a safe and efficient management of industrial facilities throughout the lifecycle. The announcement was made during the XIV Session of the Subcommittee on Telecom and Information Technologies, Russian-Chinese Commission.

NEOLANT is a member of the working group that supports Russian software exports to members of the BRICS countries – Brazil, India, China, and South Africa. The subcommittee acts under the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation.

At the XIC Session, NEOLANT presented on the successful Russian experience in developing and using technology to solve practical tasks needed by the nuclear and energy industries. The NEOSYNTEZ PLM (Plant Lifecycle Management) platform developed by NEOLANT was considered as a focal product for software export. The PLM platform provides engineering data management at all lifecycle stages of infrastructure facilities. (See figure 1.)

At the meeting, committee members acknowledged the importance of Russian technology for the Chinese market, and emphasized that technology should significantly promote total management cost optimization, as well as enhancing industrial safety.

NEOLANT, jointly with ASE (Atomstroyexport-NIAEP-Atomenergoproekt), under the aegis of The State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM held a special event representing technologies of the NPP Throughout Life Cycle Management (LCM) at the IAEA General Conference 14 to 16 September in Vienna.

It is for the first time that the Russian Federation have been presented on such a large scale at the key event of the global nuclear community. Special attention was focused on the unique Russian experience of information and process support of the nuclear power plant life cycle, from designing to decommissioning. 

NEOLANT's experts had reported at more than one IAEA technical meetings dedicated to application of the NPP life cycle management technologies at nuclear facilities, while at the IAEA General Conference they shared their many years’ experience in development and implementation of the LCM technologies that solve practical tasks of NPP operation and decommissioning. Thus NEOLANT, jointly with ASE, one of the world largest engineering companies, held the exposition, complemented the traditional ROSATOM’s exhibition stand and the briefing where NEOLANT’s Head for Design and Development Center Alexander Kanischev made the presentation: Digital Decommissioning: Software and Process Platform to Support the Final Stage of Nuclear Facility’s Life Cycle.

Fig. 1. NEOLANT’s Head for Design and Development Center Alexander Kanischev reporting about Digital Decommissioning

Fig. 1. NEOLANT’s Head for Design and Development Center Alexander Kanischev reporting about Digital Decommissioning

Fig. 2. Director General of The State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM Sergey Kirienko (first from the left) and IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano (second from the left) visiting the 3D virtual tour (Picture by D. Calma/IAEA)

Fig. 2. Director General of The State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM Sergey Kirienko (first from the left) and IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano (second from the left) visiting the 3D virtual tour (Picture by D. Calma/IAEA)

Fig. 3. From the left: Director General Vitali Kononov (NEOLANT), Leading Expert Fedor Aparkin (IAEA), First Deputy Director General Vladislav Tikhonovsky (NEOLANT), System Engineering and IT Director Vyacheslav Alenkov (ASE)

Fig. 3. From the left: Director General Vitali Kononov (NEOLANT), Leading Expert Fedor Aparkin (IAEA), First Deputy Director General Vladislav Tikhonovsky (NEOLANT), System Engineering and IT Director Vyacheslav Alenkov (ASE)

A virtual reality room was the key innovative element of the exposition. The tool was intentionally prepared by ASE for the IAEA General Conference. Guests of the room participated in the 3D virtual tour over ROSATOM’s global nuclear facilities and using VR helmets saw as ASE applies the LCM technologies in the everyday “field” work implementing EPC projects. The first ones were IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano and Director General of The State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM Sergey Kirienko.

In addition to that visitors of the exposition had opportunity to evaluate the high-precision operation of dismantling robot Brokk during NPP decommissioning and the state-of-the-art simulation method applied for the verification of remote-controlled dismantling of reactor structures. NEOLANT uses the method realizing the projects for ROSATOM’s leading enterprises.

Just in three days representatives of official delegations from more than 30 countries (not only having log-term experience in nuclear energy generation but also just planning nuclear power plant construction) visited the exhibition. In side-event visitor’s multiple opinions it became obvious that the NPP LCM technologies make Russia more competitive on the global market and hence encourages increasing the international orders portfolio.

See the photoreport

Group of companies NEOLANT (Russia) offers to examine InterBridge capabilities at your working place by watching video tutorials.

Go to InterBridge Page

Group of companies NEOLANT (Russia) offers to examine InterBridge capabilities at your working place by watching video tutorials.

InterBridge: Lesson 1 "Programm Interface"

InterBridge: Lesson 2 "Files and Layers Operation"

InterBridge: Lesson 3 "Navigation"

InterBridge: Lesson 4 "Setting up Visualisation"

InterBridge: Lesson 5 "Selecting and Marking out Elements"

InterBridge: Lesson 6 "Measurements"

InterBridge: Lesson 7 "Sections"

InterBridge: Lesson 8 "Researching Elements"

InterBridge: Lesson 9 "Obtaining Specifications"