Simulation of complex sequences of multi-stage separators
AssigneeMobil Oil Corporation
InventorAlfred M. Peiser
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Abstract
The computer time needed to simulate a multistage fractionating tower is decreased by programming the computer to solve the applicable equations in which there have been replaced the two principal variables, flow ratio and temperature, by a single principal variable S which is the product of the flow ratio times the equilibrium constant of a base component at each particular stage temperature. By so reducing the dimensionalities of the problem, there is achieved the reduction in computer time by successive iterative solution of the equations to achieve realistically close simulation of selected operations of the tower.
Claims5
In separation processes wherein a multicomponent feed stream in which the relative volatility of the individual components thereof are relatively insensitive to changes in temperature is supplied to a multi-stage fractionating tower, the method comprising:
- performing heat, material and equilibrium balances for the stages of said tower to determine a singla principal variable S at each stage representing the product of the flow ratio times the equilibrium constant of a base component at the temperature of that stage and with initially assumed values representative of constant relative volatilities of said components based upon assumed temperatures, and
- repeating the heat, material and equilibrium balances with new values for said constant relative volatilities based upon the newly found temperatures for the respective stages to determine a new value of the principal variable S at each stage until the last newly found temperatures substantially correspond with the assumed temperatures.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.