Zhejiang University Researchers Unveil Revolutionary Digital Twin Platform for Industry 4.0

In a major advancement for industrial technology, researchers from Zhejiang University have introduced a revolutionary digital twin (DT) platform designed to transform the process industry. The Novel Generation Modelling (NGM) system, unveiled on September 3, 2024, creates highly accurate virtual replicas of physical systems, allowing companies to optimize operations, enhance productivity, and fuel innovation in unprecedented ways.

The rise of Industry 4.0 has accelerated the demand for digital twin technology as industries seek to harness data-driven automation and connectivity. However, existing platforms often struggled to integrate complex data streams and models from multiple sources, highlighting the need for a more versatile and robust DT solution.

Published in the journal Digital Twins and Applications, the NGM system addresses these challenges by offering a highly scalable and accurate modeling environment. Leveraging the open-source programming language Modelica, the platform features eight integrated modules, including editors, simulators, and compilers. It effortlessly models chemical, electrical, thermal, and fluid systems, ensuring that industrial systems are not only simulated but also optimized for peak performance.

Professor Wenhai Wang, the project’s lead researcher, emphasized the significance of their achievement: ‘Our NGM platform addresses longstanding integration challenges in DT technology. By offering a highly scalable and accurate modeling environment, we empower industries to achieve unprecedented levels of efficiency and reliability. This breakthrough paves the way for safer and more optimized industrial control systems.’

The NGM system’s potential extends far beyond engineering prowess. From chemical plants to energy production facilities, the platform is poised to deliver substantial benefits across various industries. By enabling predictive maintenance and continuous real-time monitoring, NGM minimizes downtime, lowers operational costs, and reduces environmental impact. As industries transition further into the digital age, this technology could set new standards for smart manufacturing, making factories safer, greener, and significantly more efficient.

The development of the NGM platform was supported by several funding sources, including the Industrial Internet Development Project of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Key Research and Development Program of China, and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. This backing underscores the importance of the project and its potential impact on industrial practices worldwide.

As industries continue to embrace digital transformation, the NGM platform represents a significant step forward in realizing the full potential of Industry 4.0. By providing a comprehensive solution for creating and managing digital twins, this technology has the potential to revolutionize how companies approach process optimization, risk management, and innovation.

The implications of this advancement extend beyond immediate industrial applications. As digital twin technology becomes more sophisticated and widely adopted, it could lead to breakthroughs in fields such as urban planning, healthcare, and environmental management. The ability to create accurate virtual replicas of complex systems opens up new possibilities for testing scenarios, predicting outcomes, and making informed decisions in a wide range of contexts.

With the introduction of the NGM platform, the future of industrial automation and control looks brighter than ever. As companies begin to implement this technology, we can expect to see significant improvements in efficiency, safety, and sustainability across various sectors. The days of inefficient and error-prone industrial processes may soon be over, thanks to the power of this next-generation digital twin technology.

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