Dynamic simulation of multicomponent distillation

Abstract

AbstractA program has been developed for the dynamic simulation of large scale chemical processes. The simulator has a highly modular structure and an explicit integration routine which is capable of handling large systems of stiff ordinary differential equations. The use of an explicit method reduces computer storage requirements and greatly simplifies the writing of new modules.Unit subroutines have been written which are capable of describing multicomponent distillation columns without resorting to conventional thermodynamic equilibrium calculations. The absence of these iterative routines reduces computation time and allows tray efficiencies to be handled in a more natural manner than is possible with Murphee efficiencies. The program also includes an advanced thermodynamic property package based on the Peng Robinson equation of state.An industrial process consisting of two distillation columns with a combined total of seventy‐five mass transfer stages, has been successfully simulated and the computed results have been compared with dynamic data collected from plant tests.