ProSim DEP

The depressurization of the tanks is made for safety reasons: to avoid an explosion when a heat source appears (in the event of fire), to drain into the vents network if a leak appears in the installation, in the event of an electrical failure… The problem to be solved is therefore to drain the equipment within a time considered reasonable to avoid any problem in the plant.
ProSim DEP software allows to determine the evolution over time of the characteristics of the depressurized equipment (temperature, pressure, compounds quantity, composition of the phases, flow rate evacuated through the safety valve and its composition, flow through the breach, etc.).

A dynamic simulation environment

The depressuring module allows to determine time-pressure-temperature relationship when a vessel containing liquid, vapor or liquid/vapor mixture is depressured through a relief or control valve. Emptying can be done from the liquid phase or the vapor phase, depending on the different types of flow.

Depressuring module is integrated into ProSimPlus’ dynamic simulation environment

• Sequential modular approach is used with:
• A global simulation duration (time horizon)
• An increment of integration (step duration)

A user-friendly and easy-to-use graphical interface

From your description of the problem, enabled by a quality graphical user interface, ProSim DEP automatically establishes the connection between these programs to carry out the complete process simulation. This architecture presents many advantages: user-friendly environment, flexibility, ability to carry out modifications (more or less sophisticated model, modifications of the diagram…).

Databases

ProSim DEP contains two databases:

• a library of various, effective and accurate physical properties estimation programs and fluid phase equilibria calculations, with access to a database of pure component properties, this library being easily extensible;
• a mathematical model library of unit operations which is also extensible.

A simple sequence of steps and ease of use of the results

For each equipment, the use of more or less complex phenomenological models makes it possible to consider a progressive approach to the unit to be simulated. In addition, the availability of a wide range of thermodynamic models makes it possible to deal with the most complex systems.

Step 1 – Tank description

Step 2 – Initial conditions of the calculation

Step 3 – Heat exchanges definition

Step 4 – Draining description (liquid and/or vapor)

Step 5 – Stop events

Step 6 – List of predetermined events: the user can define a list of predetermined events

Step 7 – Numerical parameters: the user can modify the default values

Step 8 – Exploitation of the results

Following the start of the calculation, it is possible to follow the evolution of the convergence equipment by equipment or in a more general way on the whole process.

In addition, the consultation of the simulation report is intended to be as interactive as possible since each equipment has its own window for consulting the results. A general summary file in HTML format can also be edited and / or printed.

Finally, exporting the simulation results to Microsoft Excel™ can be done very easily.