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Steady-state simulation and optimization of processes |
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ProSimPlus is a process engineering software that performs rigorous mass and energy balance calculations for a wide range of industrial steady-state processes. It is used in design as well as in operation of existing plants for process optimization, units troubleshooting or debottlenecking, plants revamping or performing front-end engineering analysis.
ProSimPlus has many applications in industries such as chemical, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, oil, gas treatment, refining, specialty chemical, and in engineering companies. Its rich thermodynamic package and its flexible architecture allow the representation of almost all systems encountered.
The alternative in process simulation
To design more competitive units, to operate very integrated processes closer to their limits, to face new regulations (environment, safety,…), engineers cannot be satisfied with simple models anymore. They need a powerful but easy-to-use tool to simulate the behavior of their plants, to quickly test new configurations and to get the optimal solution without necessarily being a modeling expert.
ProSimPlus answers to these requirements with an environment that is convenient, easy to use, technically complete and numerically efficient.
The ability to represent your system accurately
The solutions obtained with simple models provided by most of the simulators are probably already implemented. ProSimPlus allows the engineer to go further and to use sophisticated models to represent all the complexity of the actual plant behavior.
ProSimPlus provides over 70 unit operations among which the common operations and the more specific ones:
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Several types of chemical reactors (CSTR, PFR, etc) with a wide library of chemical reaction models: instantaneous, equilibrated, kinetic controlled, complex reactions... |
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Multi-stage LV or LLV columns, possibly reactive for distillation, absorption or stripping |
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Multi-stage separators for liquid-liquid extraction |
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Multi-stage separators with transfer models - non equilibrium stage (optional) |
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Multi-fluids heat exchangers (plate-fin heat exchangers) |
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Solid treatment equipment (crystallizer, filters, hydrocyclone…) |
ProSimPlus has functionalities to perform the sizing of most equipment: columns (packing, plates…), heat exchangers, separation vessels, etc. When necessary the user can create custom unit operations easily or re-use modules that were written in other environments: MS-Excel, VB, etc
A complete thermodynamic package
The quality of a simulation rests above all on a good representation of the thermodynamic behavior of the system and one cannot hope to represent highly non-ideal systems without the adequate models.
ProSimPlus can model complex systems thanks in particular to numerous thermodynamics models, selected for their reliability and robustness.
The management of compounds and thermodynamic models is ensured by Simulis Thermodynamics software component and offers a large set of functionalities, in particular:
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A standard database of over 2 000 components, based on the Aiche's DIPPR database |
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Quick and easy edition of compounds |
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Graphical visualization of properties, directly from the flowsheet |
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Calculation of all types of properties (transport, thermodynamics or phase equilibrium) on the process components |
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Creation of CAPE-OPEN compliant "property packages" that gather all thermodynamic elements involved in the process (pure components properties, models, interaction coefficients...), integration of CAPE-OPEN unit operations directly in ProSimPlus simulation. |
One or several "calculator" can be defined and each of them is associated to a list of compounds and a thermodynamic model
ProSimPlus allows the configuration of a specific thermodynamic model suited to each process combining the different properties calculation methods available. Additionally, it is possible to use several thermodynamic models within the same flowsheet.
ProSimPlus relies on a standard database which is based on AICHe's DIPPR database and enriched with data from research projects led by ProSim’s thermodynamics experts.
Additionally, the open architecture of the software makes it possible to integrate new thermodynamic models and private databases of components or binary interaction coefficients.
[ Details on the thermodynamic library ]
The ability to model processes with complex chemical reactions
A large number of reaction models are available to represent instantaneous or controlled kinetics reactions, equilibrated reactions and complex reactions.
Different models can be associated to different parts of the process and it is possible to integrate several sets of reaction in the same flowsheet to obtain more accurate results.
Unique robust and efficient convergence algorithms
ProSimPlus is particularly effective in the resolution of complex simulation problems: processes with highly non-ideal mixtures, numerous recycling loops or very large flowsheets.
The fast convergence is ensured by specific algorithms based on the simultaneous modular approach that remains efficient whatever the complexity of the process.
This development, unique in the world of simulators, comprises in particular:
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Automatic determination of the calculation sequence: it is not necessary to provide the torn streams nor to initialize streams as in other simulators |
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Simultaneous treatment of recycling and constraints through proven methods |
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A multivariable control approach in which it is possible to impose one or several process output by simultaneously adjusting one or several selected parameters |
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An optimization module based on a non-linear approach (SQP) for the optimization of the operating conditions according to user defined criterion |
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At the level of each unit operation, a fast and reliable convergence using the specific algorithm relevant to the equation system to be solved (Newton, Gear…) and a generalized use of analytical derivatives |
Thanks to these features, ProSimPlus gives results, without tedious and time consuming convergence tests.
A convenient and easy to use software
ProSimPlus use is very intuitive. Users who are accustomed to another simulation tool are surprised how easy to learn ProSimPlus is and how fast they can progress with the software. As for beginners, they do not need long and expensive training to become fully operational.
ProSimPlus provides a large set of functionalities for a simple and efficient exploitation of results: fully configurable table summarizing the streams characteristics, on-line help, unit systems management, generation of results under HTML (simulation reports), MS-Excel (mass and energy balances), .BMP or .EMF (flowsheet)...
“Scriplets” provide the user with the ability to plot graph, exchange simulation files with others users, call Simulis Thermodynamics calculation services, create equipment specification sheets, etc. Scriplets are “small” VBS programs that can be used at any time, directly from the ProSimPlus flowsheet and which library can also be enriched by the user. A whole set of new functions were introduced in the new release in this fashion. They contribute in making the difference between an easy to use industrial tool and a software designed for some specialists.
The graphical interface rests on Windows standards with numerous tools to ensure fast access to information and convenient learning: information layers, color management, right click, double click, drag and drop...
ProSimPlus is also the only process simulator available in French and English.
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Gas treatment unit
showing stream fractions
Alcohol production unit
(simulation running)
Configuration window of a
3-phase column (total condenser and decanter)
Thermodynamic model definition
Visualization and calculation of
properties on a pure component
Physico-chemical properties calculations
on mixtures
Cyclohexane production unit
Bioethanol production plant
process diagram
Stream partial flowrate vizualisation
Phase envelope from a stream in ProSimPlus
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