Smart process objects, which have both graphical and
simulation elements, may be used to create one or more graphic displays and one or more
process simulation modules, each having elements which may communicate with one another and with devices within a
process plant to model and depict the operation of a
process plant. The smart process objects may include one or more device objects, which represent physical devices within the
process plant, and may include one or more smart connection objects which represent and model the flow of a material, such as a gas, a liquid, a composition of
solid,
electricity, etc., through a connection between entities within the process
plant. The smart process objects may also include one or more smart
stream objects, which also may represent and model the flow of a material at a particular point in the process
plant. The
smart device, connection, and
stream objects may be interconnected to model the flow of material through the actual physical devices within the process
plant thereby enabling enhanced
simulation and modeling capabilities with the smart connection and
stream objects providing a convenient manner of enabling different entities and sections of a process model to be tied to one another.