Engineering Simulation Solutions for the Chemical and Petrochemical Industries

Separation technology as a major unit operation has a broad range of applications in the chemical process and allied industries. Depending on the type and the purpose of the process streams being separated, there are different types of devices and process strategies. To help design, optimize performance and increase device reliability, engineers are using ANSYS engineering simulation software in gas separation, gas-solid, liquid-liquid, filtration and distillation applications.

The purpose of these engineering simulations is to provide detail and insight into the performance of these devices, thus reducing testing and prototyping costs. As field testing is costly and often unreliable, regular operating conditions data is difficult to achieve. Virtual prototyping with ANSYS simulation software, with tools such as fluid mechanics (CFD), structural mechanics (FEA) and ANSYS Mutiphysics, is used to complement and improve the designers', engineers' and operators' understanding of different types of separation equipment.

For example, ANSYS fluids tools are used to understand and reduced erosion caused by particles in solid separation and extraction devices. Also, ANSYS structural software can be used to design a settling/storage tank for its structural integrity. For filtration of the supply source driving force, the end use and process goals dictate the type, shape, maintenance schedule and the operational parameters of the filter.

Improvement in engineering simulation capabilities has made it possible to have a clear understanding of filtration technology through in-depth studies of filter media, analysis particle deposition and caking, pressure drop, through-put, back flushing and mechanical design.

A list of example areas where engineering simulation is used for separation applications include:

Particle tracks in a wet SO2 scrubber modeled with CFX-5.6.
Courtesy of URS Corporation

A compressible two-fluid model was used for analysis of feed nozzle configurations in distillation columns
Courtesy of Petrobras

Contours of solid concentration in a sedimentation filter