Flowsheeting packages: Reliable or fictitious process models?

F. Benyahia*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Flowsheeting packages can be useful computational aids in process design and help in understanding the behaviour of processes. However, without quality input data and a good overall chemical engineering background, the simulation results can easily be misinterpreted. Kinetic data and thermodynamic property methods can be the most likely source of errors. A case study is presented, where the same process model of a typical vinyl chloride monomer plant can give widely differing simulation results, even when employing recommended thermodynamics property methods. In this work the PRSV thermodynamics method were used as a base case, and then in turn the extended NRTL method, the Antoine vapour pressure method and the Kabadi-Danner method. The Antoine method gave the worst predictions, with deviations as high a 293%, whilst the other two methods gave varying but still significant deviations, indicating differing sensitivity of the methods to different parts of the process. Recommendations were put forward to minimize misinterpretation of simulation results.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)840-844
Number of pages5
JournalChemical Engineering Research and Design
Volume78
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2000

Keywords

  • Flowsheeting package
  • Kinetic data
  • Misinterpretation of results
  • Process model
  • Thermodynamics property methods

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Chemistry(all)
  • Chemical Engineering(all)

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