ABSTRACT
A knowledge-based process modeling tool (ProMoT) is being developed to assist chemical engineers in generating mathematical models of process units. For representing the process modeling knowledge, a language with concepts specific to the chemical engineering domain has been designed. The Model Definition Language (Mdl) is an extension to a frame language called FrameTalk, which has been specifically designed with the goals of adaptability and extensibility in mind.
The FrameTalk system includes a meta level at which certain aspects of its functionality may be extended. Using the example of a continuously stirred tank reactor, it is shown how the frame representation is extended to support the formulation of process modeling knowledge with Mdl. The ability to provide abstractions for domain specific concepts greatly reduces the complexity for the chemical engineer to express new modeling entities or to compose them to form new process models.
