Chemical Engineering7 min read

Native Plugin in Process Simulation Software

AI capabilities embedded directly into Aspen, UniSim, AVEVA and other process simulation platforms

What is the Native Plugin?

Process engineers live inside simulation software — Aspen HYSYS, Honeywell UniSim Design, AVEVA PRO/II. Switching between your simulator and a separate AI platform breaks your workflow.

Operon's Native Plugin embeds AI capabilities directly into your existing simulation environment. No context switching. No data export/import. AI assistance right where you work.

"It's like having a senior process engineer looking over your shoulder inside HYSYS, catching issues before they become problems."


How it works

1. One-Click Installation

Install the plugin directly into your simulation software:

  • Aspen HYSYS / Aspen Plus — native add-in via the Aspen ecosystem
  • Honeywell UniSim Design — extension module with full API access
  • AVEVA PRO/II — companion tool with live data bridge
  • CHEMCAD — integrated sidebar plugin

The plugin runs locally on your machine — your simulation data never leaves your network.

2. In-Context AI Assistance

With the plugin active, you get AI capabilities inside your simulator:

  • Model validation — real-time checks against your P&ID data and design standards
  • Parameter suggestions — AI-recommended operating conditions based on similar processes
  • Anomaly detection — highlights when simulation results deviate from expected patterns
  • Auto-documentation — generates simulation basis documents as you build models

3. Local-First Architecture

All AI inference runs locally via our edge deployment:

  • No cloud dependency — works offline and in air-gapped environments
  • Sub-second response times — no network latency
  • Data sovereignty — your proprietary process data stays on your infrastructure

Supported Platforms

PlatformPlugin TypeKey Capabilities
Aspen HYSYSNative add-inModel validation, parameter optimization, auto-documentation
Aspen PlusNative add-inSteady-state validation, sensitivity analysis assistance
UniSim DesignExtension moduleFull read/write, live P&ID sync, scenario generation
AVEVA PRO/IICompanion toolCross-reference, model comparison, data bridge
CHEMCADSidebar pluginEquipment sizing validation, stream analysis

Why it matters

Most AI tools for engineering require you to export data, upload it to a separate platform, wait for results, and manually apply insights back. This friction means engineers don't use AI tools even when they would help.

By embedding AI directly into the simulator, we eliminate every step of friction.

"We tried three different AI platforms before Operon. The others required us to change how we work. Operon's plugin just makes our existing workflow smarter."


Get Started

Our on-site engineers handle the full plugin installation and configuration — typically within 2-3 weeks.

Ready to get started?

Our on-site engineers can have you up and running within your first week.