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Continuous approach optimizes vapor-liquid equilibrium calculations
A new implementation of continuous vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) calculations provides better accuracy than traditional methods. In addition, the procedure selects mathematically optimal "pseudocomponents," called quadrature components. Engineers have long recognized the continuous nature...
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Published in: | The Oil & gas journal 1993-02, Vol.91 (7), p.76-80 |
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Main Authors: | , , |
Format: | Magazinearticle |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | A new implementation of continuous vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) calculations provides better accuracy than traditional methods. In addition, the procedure selects mathematically optimal "pseudocomponents," called quadrature components. Engineers have long recognized the continuous nature of petroleum-based streams in the refinery. Because of the large number of compounds, it is common practice to divide the continuous mixture into a collection of narrow-boiling-range fractions called pseudocomponents. However, using a few arbitrarily chosen components may introduce a great deal of uncertainty into the results of a phase-split calculation. The continuous thermodynamics approach was developed so that the continuous nature of complex mixtures would be recognized and maintained throughout the calculations. The composition of the continuous mixture is obtained experimentally from well-known methods such as true boiling point distillation analysis. Such an analysis gives the engineer a continuous representation of the mixture composition. Several examples are provided to illustrate the various applications of the quadrature components calculations. |
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ISSN: | 0030-1388 1944-9151 |