Abstract: Comparative Review of Open Source Free Chemical Process Simulation Softwares

Process simulation is a symbolic representation of chemical, biological or physical process. The softwares employed for this purpose are called "process simulation softwares". These softwares evolved over a period of last twenty years or more, with so (George Stephanopoulos, 2011) many advanced features for modelling, design, simulation and optimization of any industrial process. Some of the major commercial chemical engineering process simulation softwares are; Aspen Plus, ChemCAD, ProSim and HYSYS, etc. Open source free chemical engineering process simulation softwares is a relatively new concept having a provocative demand in the chemical process simulation. The reason behind this extensively growing popularity of a newly introduced form of chemical engineering process simulation softwares is; "the proprietary (commercial) softwares employed are too expensive" (for academic as well as learning purposes). Moreover, they lack the availability of source code to the users (Adilson José de Assis, 2006), with little or no modification capabilities and most importantly are used illegitimately.

The issues associated with the never-ending requirement and unaffordable prices of commercial chemical process simulation softwares have been reviewed. Thus, it became a necessity to evaluate the capabilities of open source free chemical engineering process simulation softwares in terms of their computation capability, thermodynamic property packages and unit operation modules (flowsheeting).

The main areas of analysis included the features, working, diversity and applicability of the selected open source free chemical engineering process simulation software. The simulation software selected for detailed analysis was "COCO" (Cape-Open to Cape-Open). COCO is Cape-Open compatible simulation software. Cape-Open provides standards that must be followed to interface process modelling software components specifically developed for design and operation of industrial processes (Alejandro O. Domancich∗^a, 2010). The preset criterion was on the comparison of COCO with contemporary commercial software Aspen Plus. The flexible structure and the user friendly environment of COCO led to its selection among various open source softwares. The main reason for COCO being chosen for this comparative analysis was its flowsheeting environment very similar to that of Aspen Plus. This tremendous similarity of COCO and Aspen Plus also became a basis for comparison of the results generated through two softwares.

This comparative analysis led to the identification of areas for further development keeping in view the promotion of usage/ adaption of open source free chemical engineering process simulation softwares. Two cases have been solved in COCO which involved physical property package template creation, model selection, flowsheeting in COFE (Cape-Open Flowsheeting Environment) and its solution, sensitivity analysis, design specifications and heat integration. The results of these cases have been compared with those of Aspen Plus. The results obtained have highlighted some of the limitations in Physical Properties database and solver of the COCO as well as inability for carrying out sensitivity analysis and design specification simulations, but it also brought into focus, a very positive aspect of COCO. That is its physical property database can be supplied with a component's physical properties package from outside making use of source code, its solver is quite accurate in giving results exactly the same as those obtained through any well developed commercial software and its flowsheeting environment is very sophisticated as is the case with any commercial software like Aspen Plus.

To whom all correspondences must be addressed:

Muhammad Shoaib                            engr.shoaibjdaoon@gmail.com

Dr. Saeed Gul                                           saeedgul@nwfpuet.edu.pk

Department of Chemical Engineering University of Engineering & Technology Peshawar, Peshawar Pakistan

Dr. Walter Wuoukovits                            wwukov@mail.zserv.tuwien.ac.at

TU WIEN Vienna Austria.