Chemical Stream Composition Tracking Without Component Duplication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current chemical process modeling techniques face challenges in accurately tracking compositions, leading to duplication of components, errors in calculations, and inefficiencies due to the complexity of representing multiple sources and components, which results in inaccurate and time-consuming simulations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a three-layer system for chemical process modeling, comprising an external layer for user interaction, a middle layer for source-specific data, and an internal layer for unique components, allows for accurate allocation and calculation by separating mixed species from individual species and eliminating duplication, thereby optimizing calculations and reducing computational time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If duplication of components is used to track multiple sources, then source-specific tracking is improved, but calculation accuracy deteriorates due to errors in logarithmic functions and component-sensitive calculations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the composition tracking system into multiple layers (external layer for user interaction, middle layer for source-specific tracking, internal layer for unique components). This segmentation allows source-specific information to be maintained without duplicating components, thereby preserving calculation accuracy while enabling traceability of material origins throughout the chemical process.
2Loss of information
If duplication of components is used to represent multiple sources, then source allocation is improved, but device complexity increases due to unreasonably large composition vectors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the composition representation into segmented layers where the middle layer handles source-specific allocation and the internal layer manages unique components. This segmentation prevents the composition vector from growing unreasonably large while maintaining the ability to track and allocate materials to their sources, thus reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a layered dimensional structure (external, middle, internal layers) to organize composition data. This dimensional organization allows source allocation information to be stored and retrieved without increasing the fundamental size of the composition vector, effectively adding a tracking dimension without proportional complexity increase.
3Productivity
If single-source modeling is used to simplify calculations, then calculation speed is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to inaccurate phase equilibrium and flow efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the modeling approach to allow different levels of detail in different layers. The internal layer maintains accurate unique component data for precise phase equilibrium calculations, while the external layer provides simplified user interaction. This segmentation enables both fast calculations and high precision to coexist.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified copy of the composition data in the external layer for user interaction, while the internal layer maintains the complete accurate data. This copying approach allows fast access to simplified models while preserving the ability to perform accurate calculations when needed, thus maintaining both speed and precision.
4Loss of information
If duplicated components are used to track sources, then source-specific data is improved, but loss of time increases due to additional manipulation steps and tedious processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data processing into automated layers where the middle and internal layers handle source-specific tracking automatically. This segmentation eliminates the need for manual manipulation and additional processing steps, allowing source-specific data to be tracked automatically without increasing user processing time.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of chemical process simulation providing improved methods and systems for expressing the composition of a stream in a chemical process model in a manner that is not immediately indicative of the underlying composition, providing for improved accuracy of allocation of a process output stream to the appropriate source(s), avoiding duplication of components or other inaccurate component representations in relation to critical calculations, and improving the operation of a computer or other computing system for performing chemical process modeling and simulation. The systems or methods provide for three distinct layers of interaction, separating mixed species displayed to the user from individual species used in calculations, while providing transformation objects between dataset layers to provide for accurate modeling, calculation, and display.