Use of API Standards for Phase Equilibrium and Thermophysical Properties in the Simulation of Refinery Processes

The American Petroleum Institute’s Technical Data Book Committee has been developing industry standards for the computation of the phase equilibrium and thermophysical properties of hydrocarbons, petroleum fractions and their mixtures in industry since 1966. Over the past 13 years, the Committee has upgraded a number of their methods to incorporate the latest knowledge and understanding from their member companies. The mission of the API Tech Data Committee remains to provide reliable data for use in simulating refinery processes.

This 9th Edition provides significant improvements in both the methods and software which have been designed for efficient, productive use in process simulation by refinery engineers. Chapter 6 on density has been revised with the new modified Rackett Zra parameters to provide increased accuracy in predicting liquid density. Also, new logic to predict liquid density more accurately and revised distillation interconversion methods have been added. A three phase flash engine provides accurate prediction of vapor, hydrocarbon & aqueous phases. Additionally, binary interaction parameters and several methods have been updated. The presentation will cover the practical application of this newest version of the API Technical Data Book in the simulation of refinery processes and provide refinery engineers with a better understanding of refinery thermodynamics.