Hybrid sequential and simultaneous process simulation system

A method of simulating the operation of a process network having a set of physical plant elements through which mass flows including a plurality of junction nodes at which mass flow within the process network converges or diverges and one or more non-junction nodes, comprising:

• using a computer device to store a definition of a process network on a computer readable memory, the definition of the process network including a plurality of process nodes associated with the process network at which pressures or flows are to be determined in a simulation, wherein two or more of the process nodes are junction nodes at which flow within the process network converges or diverges, and one or more of the process nodes are non-junction nodes associated with process elements within the process network;
• and
• using a computer device to determine the pressures and flows at each of the plurality of process nodes of the process network during each of a multiplicity of simulation cycles, including during each of the multiplicity of simulation cycles;
• solving a set of simultaneous equations expressing a pressure/flow relationship to determine the pressure at each of the junction nodes without determining the pressure at each of the non-junction nodes and to determine the flow within each of a set of flow paths between the junction nodes;
• and
• sequentially determining pressures at each of the non-junction nodes based on the pressures for the junction nodes and the flows within the flow paths as determined by the solving of the simultaneous equations.

A simulation system for simulating a flow through a network having a set of physical elements, comprising:

• a definition of a network stored on a computer readable memory, the definition of the network including a plurality of nodes associated with the network at which first and second physical flow characteristics are to be determined in a simulation, wherein two or more of the nodes are junction nodes at which flow within the network converges or diverges, and one or more of the nodes are non-junction nodes associated with physical elements within the network;
• and
• a simulation routine stored on the computer readable memory that executes on a processor to determine the first and second physical flow characteristics at each of the plurality of nodes of the network during each of a multiplicity of simulation cycles, the simulation routine including;
• a first routine stored on the computer readable memory that executes on a processor to solve a set of simultaneous equations expressing a relationship between the first and second physical flow characteristics to determine the first physical flow characteristic at each of the junction nodes without determining the first physical flow characteristic at each of the non-junction nodes during each of the multiplicity of simulation cycles;
• and
• a second routine stored on the computer readable memory that executes on a processor to determine the first physical flow characteristic at each of the non-junction nodes based on the first physical flow characteristic determined for the junction nodes during each of the multiplicity of simulation cycles.

A simulation method for simulating flow through a network having a set of interconnected physical elements, comprising:

• storing a definition of the network on a computer readable memory, the definition of the network including a plurality of nodes associated with the network at which first and second flow characteristics are to be determined in a simulation, wherein two or more of the nodes are junction nodes at which flow within the network converges or diverges, and one or more of the nodes are non-junction nodes associated with physical elements within the network;
• and
• performing, via a computer device, a simulation of the flow through the network by determining first and second flow characteristics at each of the plurality of nodes of the network during each of a multiplicity of simulation cycles, including;
• solving a set of simultaneous equations expressing a relationship between the first and second flow characteristics to determine the first flow characteristic at each of the junction nodes without determining the first flow characteristic at each of the non-junction nodes during each of the multiplicity of simulation cycles;
• and
• determining the first flow characteristic at each of the non-junction nodes based on the first flow characteristic determined for the junction nodes during each of the multiplicity of simulation cycles.