By Hendrik A. Kooijman and Ross Taylor
For more information on latest version of Chemsep click here
Department of Chemical Engineering, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY
13699
Characteristics
- ChemSep is a program for performing multicomponent
separation process calculations. ChemSep was created
specifically for use in courses on thermodynamics and/or separation
processes.
- ChemSep integrates flash, the classic equilibrium stage
column model and a nonequilibrium or rate-based column model in one
easy to use program.
- Graphical User Interface: New in Release 5.0 is a
graphical user interface for Windows that retains much of the look and
feel of the classic ChemSep interface. Problem solving is even
easier with the new version however; new features make navigation
within the interface much faster and the novice is taken through the
problem solving process in a natural way. Input may include simple
algebraic calculations as well as units. ChemSep checks your
input, lets you know when each phase of problem setup is complete, and
flags potential sources of difficulty before running a simulation.
- Nonequilibrium column model: Taking the guesswork out of
column simulation, ChemSep features a sophisticated
nonequilibrium or rate-based model. The model in ChemSep
includes the only available rate-based model for liquid-liquid
extraction. The built in Design Mode allows the engineer to
use proven rate-based technology in preliminary design.
ChemSep features more column mass transfer coefficient
correlations than any other similar model.
- Databank: ChemSep comes with a databank of 189
common chemicals. Available at additional cost is a license to the
industry standard DIPPR databank of over 1000 chemicals. Users can
create their own libraries of physical property data. Chemical formula,
structure, CAS number, or one of 50+ property values including
temperature dependant properties can be used to select components.
- Thermodynamic and Physical Property Models:
ChemSep includes almost all of the most widely used
thermodynamic models: 7 K-value models including DECHEMA (modified
Raoult’s law), Equation of State, and Chao-Seader; 10 Activity
coefficient models including UNIFAC; and 8 equations of state including
Peng-Robinson and Hayden-O’Connell (with chemical theory). ChemSep also
includes a large number of physical property models (viscosity, thermal
conductivity, surface tension, diffusivity) that are needed in
nonequilibrium column modeling.
- Performance Correlations: ChemSep includes over
40 correlations for mass transfer coefficients in different types of
column, as well as 18 different ways to estimate pressure drop and 16
for holdup.
- Degrees of Freedom Analysis: ChemSep tells you
the number of degrees of freedom and identifies how many variables
remain to be specified.
- Powerful plotting capabilities: ChemSep has
extensive support for plotting almost any kind of column profile
including composition, flow, temperature, pressure, K-values, and much
more. The plots are completely configurable. ChemSep uses the
Open Source package Gnuplot (for Windows) to display a plot in its own
separate window. Plots may be pasted directly into a word processor.
Users can design their own plots and include them in the pull-down plot
selection list for future use. From the results of a nonequilibrium
simulation one can plot profiles of any physical property as well as
numerous design-related variables such as froth height in a tray
column, approach to flooding, or specific interfacial area (these are
just a few of many variables that can be plotted).
- McCabe-Thiele Diagrams are a standard feature in
ChemSep (even for multicomponent systems).
- Export: Simulation results may be saved in a variety of
formats such as text, html and csv. Tables and graphs may be sent
directly to a text editor such as Notepad or spreadsheet program such
as Excel.
A great deal more information about ChemSep may be
found on our web
page.
ChemSep-Lite
A version of ChemSep with limited functionality is
available for free download from www.chemsep.org/downloads/index.html.
ChemSep-Lite is limited to no more than four components, a
databank with a limited number of components, no more than 50 stages in
a column simulation, and no nonequilibrium model.
To order, please visit our products page.