10 Best 3D Modelling Software For Plant Designing

In this post, I will explain 10 best 3D modelling software for plant designing.

Overview:-

During basic and detail design phase of any process/power plant industry, any EPC (engineering procurement construction) company require 3-D as well as 2-D Software. Both type of software has its own advantage.

In ancient time when 3-D Software not exist in the market, the conceptual design of any plant is very hard because clash checking of any discipline  (piping, civil electrical, HVAC) w.r.t to another discipline is very hard. and cost of basic design as well as detail design is very expensive.

In consideration of above point mechanical and software engineer developed many 3-D Software which reduce the overall plant design and construction cost as well as increase HSE (health, safety and environment).

In modern civilization the design of any plant is very easy by adopting these type of software and cost and time of plant commissioning also decrease by 70% .all these software developed in considering of safety regulation of plant.

3-D Modelling software for plant designer/ Engineer.

1. PDMS

Plant design management software is designed and developed by AVEVA and used for plant design like piping routing, structure modelling, HVAC Modelling, support modelling etc. PDMS (Plant Design Management System) is a popular software in the 3D CAD industry. It is easily customisable and supports multi-user and multi-discipline environment and is widely used for engineering, design and construction projects in offshore and onshore

Feature :-

• It saves 30% material costs as compared to the manual calculation method.
• You will be able to calculate the exact quantities of materials are supposed to be used in the plant.
• It also helps the companies in avoiding the issues like lack of space, pipe clashes, and fitting problems.
• The association of PDMS will provide you a higher degree of accuracy compared to the 2D software and helps in plant design modifications.
• You can automatically run the isometric pipe drawings through PDMS. So, it will help you in advanced piping design.  
• User can change UDA* very easily.
• Stress input easily extract from PDMS For CEASAR-II software.
• We can easily export .rvm Navisworks file very easy.

Use :-

• Proces plant design.
• Power plant design .
• Offshore drilling.
• Any complicated civil structure design.
• For any plant which have critical piping.

2. SP3D- SmartPlant 3D

SP3D is used in creating designs for petrochemical setups, water refineries, power plants, oil industries, gas industries, food industries, and beverage companies.

Feature :-

• This comprehensive suite of software package has optimized design process for increased productivity in lesser time.
• We can re-use of existing data for new plant.
• The 3D visualization tool we are talking about is also known for its ease of installation & configuration.
• We can extract 2-D drawing as well as Isometric drawing from SP3D.
• Very easy to generate Navisworks as well as SPR( smart plant review) file.

USE:-

• 1.Process plant design.
• Power plant design by SP3D

3. E3D

AVEVA E3D Design is the world’s most technologically advanced 3D design solution for the process plant, marine and power industries. It enables powerful visualization, clash-free, multi-discipline 3D design, and rapidly generates accurate drawings and reports to reduce costs, timescales and commercial risks of both greenfield and brownfield capital projects.

AVEVA Model Simplification and AVEVA Native Model Simplification enable users to import complex 3D CAD models of equipment items that have been created in external Mechanical CAD (MCAD) systems into AVEVA E3D Design.

Formerly called AVEVA E3D Insight, AVEVA E3D Design Mobile allows users to access 3D designs from any global location with a tablet or mobile device to review and approve model updates, allowing for real-time response to accelerate project delivery from anywhere in the world

Feature:-

• E3D tool based and also commands based software.it is the customization of auto cad and PDMS Tool.
• All PDMS commands work properly in E3D software.
• We can use PDMS Templates in E3D by using some important commands .
• E3D also user friendly software for designer/engineer.

use:-

• Marrine industry
• Power industry
• Oil and gas industry. etc

4. CADWorks

CADworks also a product of Hexagon (Intergraph)

CADWork Plant Professional is also a next-generation plant design and automation package to create intelligent and realistic 3D models. Developed by Intergraph (Hexagon), CADworx has the complete DWG file-based range of tools providing unparalleled flexibility and collaboration. The software works on AutoCAD or BricsCAD platform and is very easy to create complex 3D plant models. The main features of CADWorx Plant Professional as piping design software are:

Feature:–

• Specification-driven design tools
• HVAC ducting and cable tray routines
• Model/P&ID synchronization
• Detects clashes/collisions
• Isogen auto-isometrics
• Detailed bill of materials
• Real-time design status
• Equipment modeling
• Piping specifications in metric and imperial formats
• Auto-routing to create quick 3D piping models
• all commands of AUTO CAD 3-D work properly in CADWorks.

use:-

• Plant design
• Building design
• Power plant design etc

5. Autoplant 3D

AutoPLANT 3D is an intelligent, spec-driven, sophisticated 3D plant design and modeling software application developed by Bentley, USA. By creating intelligent piping layout drawing, equipment, raceways, and isometrics in a single application, the AutoPLANT 3D modeler saves time and cost. The software uses an AutoCAD-based application for design work which is quite easy to use, customize, and administer.

Feature:-

• A single streamlined application,
• Easy integration with other Bentley products.
• High information mobility,
• Lower risk due to industry-proven mature software
• Scalability,
• Easy design review and clash detection.

6. AutoCAD Plant 3D

AutoCAD Plant 3D is a modern plant design solution developed by Autodesk. Built on the AutoCAD platform, this pipe design software package adds modern 3D models of piping, equipment, and support structures. It has the ability to generate isometrics very quickly. Integrated to AutoCAD P&ID, the program is quite easy to model and edit which increases productivity and lowers cost.

Feature:-

• Easy to operate.

7. PDS

PDS software very rarely used nowadays.

8. S3D – Smart 3D

it is also the product of hexagon(Intergraph). this software is similar to the SP3D. IT IS used in Bechtel company.

9. Autodesk Revit

Revit BIM software helps architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) teams create high-quality buildings and infrastructure. Use Revit to:

feature:-

• Model shapes, structures, and systems in 3D with parametric accuracy, precision, and ease
• Streamline documentation work, with instant revisions to plans, elevations, schedules, and sections as projects change
• Empower multidisciplinary teams with specialty toolsets and a unified project environment

use:-

• Architectural design
• Structural design
• MEP Design
• Construction

10. EPlant – Piping

Other piping 3D SOFTWARE Used in power and process and building industry

• M4 Plant
• G4 Plant
• CADMATIC
• EPLANT-Piping
• Pipe Designer 3D
• OpenPlant
• Rhinopiping
• Smap3D
• Autodesk Inventor