Competition in project engineering was held at INRTU for the first time as part of the CASE IN championship

INRTU hosted the qualifying round of the 10th International CASE IN Championship in the direction of "Project Engineering". Nine project teams from Irkutsk to Vladivostok offered solutions aimed at implementing advanced technologies of Industry 4.0.

The competition was moderated by Vladimir Konyukhov, professor of the Automation and Control Department. According to him, CASE IN project engineering competitions are held for the second time. However, this was the first time when INRTU hosted the tournament in this area.

"INRTU is a participant of theProgram "Priority 2030". INRTU has a case-simulator package on oil refining, energy and production management in its arsenal. This "portfolio" is gradually being introduced into the educational process. In addition, the new profile of the educational program "Innovation: Engineering Business in Fuel and Energy Complex" at INRTU is quite consistent with the objectives of case and project-based learning. Due to such opportunities and competences, the university was entrusted with the right to hold a new stage of the championship. It is nice that the Irkutsk residents were joined by teams from universities of the Far East. NIPIGAZ, the largest gas processing company in Russia, is the general sponsor of the event. The most distinguished contestants will be included in the company's personnel reserve," noted the professor.

The students were asked to solve a case related to increasing the efficiency of design and operation of construction projects. Technological solutions involved the search for digital modeling technologies. Possible points of implementation - enterprises for the production of methane-hydrogen mixtures from natural, associated gas and subsequent extraction of pure hydrogen from them.

Three teams from Irkutsk and Khabarovsk reached the semifinals. The group "Techno-Vatica" from INRTU, consisting of the future manager Maria Sambulova, chemists Mikhail Kovalev and Nikita Goryashin, was the leader. The authors proposed to create a design complex, combining BIM-technology, logistics, legal and economic parts.

According to Mikhail, the basis of the development will be software capable of evaluating the efficiency of various processes, from the preparation of the foundation pit to the commissioning of a particular shop. The software is expected to independently calculate the options for the design of production, find the best way for the company's development in terms of ecology and economy. A digital twin will simulate the life of the company.

The project also assumes the use of RFID and AR-labels when working with the devices designed for staff training. AR can be used to hone the skills of complex operations, such as starting up a process plant.

"Such an innovative solution can be used at any petrochemical and gas processing plant," said Mikhail.

According to Maria Sambulova, participation in CASE IN allowed her to gain an in-depth understanding of production processes: 

"During innovation lectures, we are taught to increase the profitability of the business. Particular attention is paid to economic calculations. However, it was the case championship that showed how important it is for a manager to be able to navigate the inner workings of a company. This teaches us to understand the needs of specialists, allows us to avoid accidents at the plant, and therefore contributes to the economic growth of the company".

Another team from INRTU - "Innovatics" - got a ticket to the next round. These are students Maxim Gordt, Margarita Maeva, Snezhana Ermolova and Maria Panko. The authors presented an overview-analysis of BIM modeling and VR technologies, focusing on their step-by-step implementation in construction. Polytechnics call the key advantages of BIM environmental friendliness, elimination of risk of overestimation.

"The cost of equipping one BIM-engineer workplace is $2,000-16,000, so only the giants of the construction business can afford such technology. Nevertheless, the effect of digitalization justifies the investment," thinks Maxim Gordt.

The team from the Far Eastern State University of Railway Transport "EnergoHub" finished in the top three of the qualifying round.

The winners are waiting for the district round, which will be held on April 20 in the online format. The best participants will go to 1 / 2 of the final championship in Moscow.

Natalya Neznanova, Deputy Technical Director for Engineering of Angarskneftekhimproekt JSC (Rosneft) acted as the expert of the contest. She called the participants of the championship people capable of discerning and implementing innovations.

"At such events, students are inspired by ideas and gain experience in interpersonal communication. In the long run, the success of the industrial industry as a whole will depend on this," the expert stressed.

Natalya Neznanova emphasized that she represents a corporate design institute that actively supports innovative solutions. The company invites for cooperation INRTU graduates who are ready to develop BIM direction, three-dimensional modeling and 4G technologies. Angarskneftekhimproekt has a special need for civil, mechanical and power engineers, and refinery process engineers.

Photo by Arseniy Chekmarev and Margarita Maeva (Student Media Center)