(107a) Thermodynamics Insights: Solving Distillation Mysteries Using a Simulation Lens

All popular process simulation programs contain thermodynamic packages that can contribute to design and troubleshooting of separation systems involving distillation. Still, there is nothing completely automatic about selecting an appropriate physical property package containing the best parameters for the job at hand. If we choose poorly, the method may not yield the accuracy we require for design and troubleshooting challenging systems. Are there heuristic approaches and simple physical concepts that can aid us in this important selection process?

Properly-selected physical property packages enable the effective use of modern simulation tools. Once enabled, the engineer can use these tools to for troubleshooting columns, selecting entrainers, predicting azeotropes and scale formation, and many other design and operations decisions. Accurate property prediction is essential to the success of all of these tasks.

In this talk we will present several approaches a practicing engineer can use better leverage the tools available in process simulation packages. This will include heuristics and shortcut methods that will complement the sophisticated tools available in these packages.