1.Check this post by bension and see which version you are using and see if that version allows you to do what you wanted?https://bobj-board.org/t/86960
2.Attached is the screenshot where you can find option to export to BOE.
3.What instruments are you trying to refresh??
a)If you using webservices(QaaWS)/Live Office/data from XML (using XML maps) to populate instruments , then YES, you can refresh instruments without refreshing the whole model.
b)If you are using just some static data from excel, then NO, you cannot update instrument until you refresh the whole model.
bambazooka 
(BOB member since 2007-01-26)