Multiple model development using subflowsheet functionality

1. A computerized method for modular development of industrial process models comprising:

collecting a plurality of flowsheets, wherein each flowsheet includes a corresponding one of a plurality of groups of unit models;

combining the plurality of flowsheets to create a combined model, wherein each of the plurality of flowsheets maintains its identity in the combined model;

directing that a first macro associated with a first flowsheet be run;

automatically executing, in response to the directing, the first macro and other macros by the same name as the first macro;

displaying a graphical representation of the combined model;

modifying a first of the plurality of flowsheets;

recombining the first of the plurality of flowsheets with the combined model, wherein recombining the first of the plurality of flowsheets with the combined model comprises:

breaking any connections between unit models in the combined model that are duplicates of unit models in the modified first of the plurality of flowsheets;

deleting the unit models in the combined model that are duplicates of unit models in the modified first of the plurality of flowsheets;

importing the modified first of the plurality of flowsheets an as imported flowsheet; and

reestablishing the imported flowsheets input/output streams that match the broken connections by both name and structure; and

performing an operation on the combined model, wherein an associated operation is automatically performed on the modified first of the plurality of flowsheets.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of flowsheets in the combined model are organized into a navigable hierarchical structure.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein automatically executing includes automatically executing the other macros, beginning with any other macro that has the same name as the first macro and is associated with a lowest hierarchical level flowsheet relative to the first flowsheet, and progressing to any other macro that has the same name as the first macro and is associated with a higher hierarchical level relative to the lowest hierarchical group, until the first macro is run.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein combining the plurality of flowsheets comprises:

importing information and objects that are local to one of the plurality of flowsheets;

determining if there are any conflicts that need to be addressed before importing global information and objects from the one of the plurality of flowsheets into a second of the plurality of flowsheets;

establishing interfaces between the one of the plurality of flowsheets and the second of the plurality of flowsheets; and

creating and connecting graphical data from the one of the plurality of flowsheets to the second of the plurality of flowsheets.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein determining if there are any conflicts that need to be addressed before importing global information comprises:

determining information and naming that is global to the combined model;

resolving conflicts by giving a user an option selected from the group consisting of:

changing the one of the plurality of flowsheets to resolve a conflict, accepting suggested names for conflicting objects and providing new, non-conflicting names.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the first of the plurality of flowsheets comprises:

exporting information and objects that are local to the first of the plurality of flowsheets;

duplicating and exporting information that is global to the combined model;

localizing and exporting an interface between the first of the plurality of flowsheets and the combined model;

exporting any reference to information outside the first of the plurality of flowsheets;

importing the exported information as a stand-alone instance of an exported model; and

modifying the stand-alone instance of the exported model.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the automatically executing the first macro and other macros by the same name as the first macro is performed prior to run-time processing of the combined model.