(204c) The Most Common Pitfalls in Process Simulation

Process simulation is a tricky skill to master.  Even with years of experience, a typical user is constantly facing new problems that they need to address.  There are many issues that can lead to unexpected and unnecessary errors with the use of process simulation tools.  Despite what simulation program you are using, many of these issues are common from one program to another.  In this presentation, we will discuss the “Most Common Pitfalls in Process Simulation“.  For each topic, we will discuss various techniques and methods to fix these troublesome problems and prevent their occurrence. 

Topics to be discussed include:

1. Bad data entry
2. Simulation defaults
3. Bad plant data
4. Thermodynamic method selection
5. Simulation tolerances and convergence
6. Recycle identification and handling
7. Model complexity
8. Difficult or impossible specifications
9. Assay pseudo-component development
10. Assay property blending

These topics are based on decades of experience and feedback from end users to technical support representatives for process simulators.  They often represent the most commonly asked questions or areas that most users find to be problematic.  While the specific examples highlighted in each topic come from SimSci-Esscor software, the intent of this presentation is to be broad based and should be applicable for both new and experienced users of process simulation programs.  Also, no topic is more or less significant than another.  The numbering of each topic is meant solely for organizational purposes, not for priority or importance.