Industries
Planning energy plants and power plants with AutoCAD Plant 3D
Replace a catalyst, extend the exhaust line, convert a heating plant – usually in an existing plant and with a short shutdown. We capture the plant by laser scan, plan in AutoCAD Plant 3D and check the overall model with Navisworks.
With us you will find solutions for your tasks.
Typical plants
- Combined heat and power units (CHP) with exhaust gas cleaning (SCR catalyst)
- Heating and energy centres of industrial sites
- Boiler, steam and condensate plants
- District heating transfer stations and contracting plants
Typical planning tasks
- As-built captureLaser scan of the plant, registration in ReCap and pipe recognition with EdgeWise.
- Plan the exhaust line and catalystFit new components into the existing plant – with expansion joints, supports and insulation.
- Check for clashesCombine piping, steel structure and existing plant in Navisworks and find clashes before installation.
- Documents for installationIsometrics, orthos and bills of materials from the model; plant designation as specified, for example KKSKKS – Power plant identification system Identification of plants, systems, equipment units and components in power plants according to guideline VGB-S-811-01. Background and sources › or RDS-PPRDS-PP – Reference Designation System for Power Plants Identification system for power plants based on the international standard series ISO/IEC 81346; successor to KKS. Background and sources ›.
Standards and regulations
| Topic | Code | What it is about |
|---|---|---|
| Piping | DIN EN 13480,DIN – German Institute for Standardization “DIN” before a number means that the standard is published in Germany by the German Institute for Standardization. Background and sources ›EN – European Standard European Standard, developed by CEN (general) or CENELEC (electrical engineering). Background and sources › Directive 2014/68/EU (PED) | Industrial piping and pressure equipment |
| Boilers | DIN EN 12952 | Water-tube boilers and auxiliary installations |
| Pipes and flanges | DIN EN 10216-2, DIN EN 1092-1 | Seamless pipes for elevated temperatures, flanges |
| Emissions | 44th BImSchV | Limit values for medium-sized combustion, gas turbine and combustion engine plants |
| Plant identification | KKS, RDS-PP | Uniform designation of plants, systems and components |
A selection for orientation. Which regulations apply is determined by your project, your client and the permit. The short descriptions do not replace the standard.
Piping specs and catalogs
For energy plants, steel pipes made of P235GHP235GH – Steel name for pressure equipment Steel designation according to DIN EN 10027-1: P = steel for pressure vessels and pressure pipes, number = minimum yield strength in MPa, letters = properties (e.g. GH for elevated temperatures, NL for low temperatures). Background and sources ›, stainless steel exhaust lines, expansion joints and valves are particularly suitable:
- Carbon steel – pipes & fittings – 2 catalogs
- Ventilation, flue gas & modular systems – 4 catalogs
- Manufacturer valves & expansion joints (3D blocks) – 5 catalogs
- Valves (DIN EN) – 12 catalogs
All catalogs with contents: ASEING Piping Catalogs. Your own piping spec? Size it in the Piping Spec Calculator – preliminary sizing, not a piping design. Existing catalogs are checked by the Catalog Checker.
From our projects
What we have implemented in this industry so far – counted, not estimated.
| From our projects | Number |
|---|---|
| Projects | 26 (2023–2026) |
| Isometrics | 109 |
| Orthos (2D drawings from the model) | 168 |
| registered laser scans | 155 |
| pipes recognized with EdgeWise | 349 |
| Projects with setup or introduction of AutoCAD Plant 3D | 5 |
| Projects with 3D piping design | 24 |
| Projects with laser scanning | 11 |
Anonymized from our project records, as of 08.10.2026: industry, period and counted scope – without customer names. Quantities are counted files in the project folders.
Example Series: catalysts on CHP units in existing plants
For a plant builder in exhaust gas cleaning, we have been planning the replacement and retrofitting of catalysts on CHP units since 2023 – with survey, EdgeWise, planning in AutoCAD Plant 3D and checking in Navisworks. Example project: 20 scans, 99 recognized lines, 22 isometrics and 10 orthos.
How we support you
3D laser scanning
Scanning, registration and, on request, modelling in AutoCAD Plant 3D – from a single source.
Project support
AutoCAD Plant 3D specialists in your project – remote or on site, for peaks or complete work packages.
Clash detection and plant origin point
Combine disciplines and find clashes with Navisworks.
ASEING Piping Catalogs
Ready-made Plant 3D catalogs to DIN EN – checked, with ordering texts.
Questions from practice in training and support
- The insulation thickness from the P&IDR&I – Piping and instrumentation diagram Flow diagram showing all pipes, valves, equipment and instrumentation of a plant (P&ID, Piping and Instrumentation Diagram). Background and sources › does not reach the 3D model To the practice question
- Calculate the insulation weight of a component automatically To the practice question
- Bring the support tag onto the isometric To the practice question
- Combine all insulation for clash detection in Navisworks To the practice question
All questions: Practice questions in the Infobase.
Your next step
Looking for support in an ongoing project?
Frequently asked questions
Do you also plan during ongoing operation?
Yes. The laser scan captures the plant without disturbing operation. Planning then takes place on the model so that the shutdown for installation stays short.
What is an SCR catalyst?
SCR stands for selective catalytic reduction: a catalyst in the exhaust gas converts nitrogen oxides with a reducing agent into nitrogen and water. In CHP units it sits in the exhaust line downstream of the engine.
Do you also supply the plant designation?
We apply designations as you specify, for example to KKS or RDS-PP. The designation itself is defined by your client.
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Standards status for this page 4 standards · researched October 2026
| Standard | Contents | Current edition | Replaced / successor |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIN EN 13480 | Metallic industrial piping | DIN EN 13480-1 to -6 and -8:2024-12; Part 7 as DIN CEN/TR 13480-7:2022-08 | replaces the 2017-12 editions with amendments A1 ff. |
| Directive 2014/68/EU (PED) | Pressure Equipment Directive (recast) | Directive 2014/68/EU of 15 May 2014 (OJ L 189 of 27 June 2014) | replaces Directive 97/23/EC (superseded on 19 July 2016) |
| DIN EN 10216-2 | Seamless steel tubes – Part 2: Non-alloy and alloy steel tubes with specified elevated temperature properties | DIN EN 10216-2:2025-02 | replaces DIN EN 10216-2:2020-04 |
| DIN EN 1092-1 | Flanges and their joints – Circular flanges for pipes, valves, fittings and accessories, PNPN – Nominal pressure rating Designation for the pressure rating of flanges and valves (Pressure Nominal), e.g. PN 16. It corresponds roughly to the allowable pressure in bar at room temperature; at higher temperatures, less is allowed. Background and sources › designated – Part 1: Steel flanges | DIN EN 1092-1:2018-12 | replaces DIN EN 1092-1:2013-04; DIN EN 1092-1 Corrigendum 1:2014-08 |
Researched at DIN Media, ISOISO – International Organization for Standardization “ISO” before a number denotes a worldwide standard of the International Organization for Standardization in Geneva. Background and sources ›, IECIEC – International Electrotechnical Commission International Electrotechnical Commission in Geneva: worldwide standards for electrical engineering and for instrumentation and control. Background and sources › and ASMEASME – American Society of Mechanical Engineers US engineering society. Its codes for piping, flanges and pipe dimensions apply in many plants worldwide. Background and sources ›, as of October 2026. Before binding use, please check the current edition with the standards publisher. Overview of all standards: Plant Engineering Infobase · Standards status.
Terms, background and sources 10 terms on this page
Brief explanations for reference. They do not replace the standard or code itself.
- KKS – Power plant identification system
Identification of plants, systems, equipment units and components in power plants according to guideline VGB-S-811-01.
A KKS code is structured from coarse to fine: overall plant, system, equipment unit, component. Its successor is RDS-PP according to ISO/IEC 81346.
- RDS-PP – Reference Designation System for Power Plants
Identification system for power plants based on the international standard series ISO/IEC 81346; successor to KKS.
- DIN – German Institute for Standardization
“DIN” before a number means that the standard is published in Germany by the German Institute for Standardization.
DIN was founded in 1917 as the Standards Committee of German Industry. If “DIN EN” or “DIN EN ISO” precedes the number, a European or international standard has been adopted unchanged as a German standard.
- EN – European Standard
European Standard, developed by CEN (general) or CENELEC (electrical engineering).
Every member country must adopt an EN unchanged as a national standard – in Germany as “DIN EN …”. Conflicting national standards are withdrawn.
- P235GH – Steel name for pressure equipment
Steel designation according to DIN EN 10027-1: P = steel for pressure vessels and pressure pipes, number = minimum yield strength in MPa, letters = properties (e.g. GH for elevated temperatures, NL for low temperatures).
- R&I – Piping and instrumentation diagram
Flow diagram showing all pipes, valves, equipment and instrumentation of a plant (P&ID, Piping and Instrumentation Diagram).
Symbols and drawing rules: DIN EN ISO 10628-1 and -2. Identification letters for instrumentation: DIN EN 62424 or ISA-5.1.
- PN – Nominal pressure rating
Designation for the pressure rating of flanges and valves (Pressure Nominal), e.g. PN 16. It corresponds roughly to the allowable pressure in bar at room temperature; at higher temperatures, less is allowed.
Specified in DIN EN 1333. The pressure-temperature ratings for each material are given in the component standards, e.g. DIN EN 1092-1 for steel flanges.
- ISO – International Organization for Standardization
“ISO” before a number denotes a worldwide standard of the International Organization for Standardization in Geneva.
ISO was founded in 1947. Its members are the national standards bodies; for Germany, this is DIN.
- IEC – International Electrotechnical Commission
International Electrotechnical Commission in Geneva: worldwide standards for electrical engineering and for instrumentation and control.
IEC was founded in 1906. IEC standards adopted in Europe are called “EN IEC …” or “EN 6xxxx”.
- ASME – American Society of Mechanical Engineers
US engineering society. Its codes for piping, flanges and pipe dimensions apply in many plants worldwide.
ASME was founded in 1880. Well-known codes: B31.3 (process piping), B16.5 (flanges), B36.10M and B36.19M (pipe dimensions).
Sources and origins
- vgbe energy (formerly VGB PowerTech) (for KKS, RDS-PP)
- IEC – International Electrotechnical Commission (for RDS-PP, R&I, IEC)
- DIN – German Institute for Standardization (for DIN, P235GH, PN)
- CEN and CENELEC – European standardization (for EN, P235GH, PN)
- ISO – International Organization for Standardization (for R&I, ISO)
- ASME – American Society of Mechanical Engineers (for ASME)