Application of FRI Tray Efficiency Model in Column Simulation and Design	April 2013
At the 2013 Spring AIChE meeting in San Antonio we presented together with ConocoPhillips a paper on the application of the FRI valve tray efficiency model where we feature the total reflux simulation facility inside ChemSep. We show how the FRI model was implemented in our equilibrium column model and how FRI measured composition and temperature profiles could be closely match FRI data. Included is also a comparison between the model and two industrial columns, a C4 splitter reported by Klemola et al. and a dehexanizer reported by Jakobsson et al.

ChemSep v6.9 Released	January 2012
For version 6.9 we doubled the size of our pure component database making it easier to do real life flowsheeting with ChemSep. By adding the Predictive Peng-Robinson 78 and Henry component thermodynamic models we enable the simulation of typical hydrocarbon systems and that of light gases dissolved in mixed solvents. Most importantly, we decided to significantly increase the number of components and stages in our free ChemSep LITE that is part of the COCO flowsheeting package: convince yourself how quickly you can build a flowsheet using up to 40 components and 300 equilibrium stages using a database covering 400+ chemicals!

ChemSep v6.8 Released	January 2011
This new version features a continuous UnDo/ReDo in the GUI making it easier to correct mistakes. Where possible the user interface was simplified for more intuitive use. The number of tables, buttons and hints were extended. Using ChemSep columns in CAPE-OPEN compliant flowsheeting software was simplified with a new initialization dialog box. From v6.7 the Residue Curve Map generation was repaired and the flash algorithms and plot options for the VLE diagrams were much improved. Pseudo sidestreams can now be added and various bugs were patched (vapor viscosity, liquid heat capacity). Several new property methods were added (liquid density as well as vapour and liquid viscosities plus diffusivities). The Pure Component Data manager now has a units selection and temperature correlations can be fitted to data points. Packings data for Nutter/Raschig packings were updated and we implemented our own proprietary Maximum Useful Capacity (MUC) calculation.

ChemSep v6.6 Released	April 2010
Version 6.6 includes temperature-dependent interaction parameters for the Wilson, NRTL,and UNIQUAC activity coefficient models. The handling of temperature-dependent properties in the pure component data (PCD) manager was improved and we added an excel-export capability that facilitates inspection of the data. Comparisons of Total Reflux measurements (x,T profiles) with simulations can be shown inside ChemSep and we improved our flash algorithms again. The GUI can now directly load ChemSep columns residing inside COCO flowsheet simulation fsd-files and we improved convergence of COCO flowsheets using ChemSep column operations.

ChemSep v6.5 Released	December 2009
The new version 6.5 is packed with new features such as various design methods and capacity/GPDC plots for packed columns, the option to specify piecewise linear pressure profiles, CAPE-OPEN thermo 1.1 interface, and improved convergence methods. We updated many mass transfer coefficient and pressure drop models, specifically for packed columns. We also updated the look and feel of the GUI with easy cut and paste out of grids of data (e.g. into the feeds specifications or from results) and added a flexible way to export any data of the column simulation onto multiple sheets of an Excel workbook. Basically anything you can graph can be exported to Excel. Further improved was the modeling of columns at Total Reflux and the McCabe-Thiele analysis now includes diffusivity calculations for detailed mass transfer coefficient modeling. We updated the API SRK model and the property estimation methods in the Pure Component Databank manager.

ChemSep v6.3 Released	April 2009
In version 6.3 the GUI now has its own CAPE-OPEN panel. Editing a ChemSep column as part of a CAPE-OPEN flowsheet directly brings forward the ChemSep GUI. This not only reduces the number of mouse clicks to navigate through a flowsheet but also makes for a more natural look and feel between native and CAPE-OPEN unit operations. For the nonequilibrium model we added equilibrium stages with specified efficiencies and system factors and a new table with all hydraulic operation indicators for trays (jet-flood, downcomer backup, weir loading, downcomer choking, Asystem limit, etc.). For packed columns we added the Billet and Schultes (1999) and the proprietary Raschig GmbH models for pressure drop, capacity and mass transfer coefficients.

ChemSep v6.2 Released	August 2008
Version 6.2 includes a new feed-stage model, an improved relative volatility model, convergence methods, and solve options. The GUI now shows the physical properties for all streams (including feeds, products, and those inside the column). A new analysis tool can quickly plot binary physical property diagrams and allow comparisons with data, to enable correct model selection. Usability of the GUI has increased with a configurable toolbar, plots can be copied and pasted as EMF files, and sep files are automatically backed up. A complete new (physical) property data manager has been added with many property estimation methods and a web search for adding new compounds. It can plot temperature dependent properties and allows comparison with experimental data (loaded from, for example, DIPPR or other databanks) for ensuring accurate simulation results.

ChemSep v6.1 Released	March 2008
The new version of ChemSep LITE has been released. New features include physical properties, a more robust column solver, fully configurable toolbar and short-cut keys, and logging for all property calculations. For the CAPE-OPEN column simulator we added energy ports, user parameters, and column text reports. This new LITE version is incorporated in the new version of the COCO Simulator (v1.10). A new chapter was added to the ChemSep book on CAPE-OPEN and Flowsheeting that covers the new features and illustrates the use of the ChemSep column simulator in flowsheets.

ChemSep LITE Extended	August 2007
Due to the popularity of ChemSep LITE simulator we have extended the number of compounds that can be used from five to ten and the number of equilibrium stages from 50 to 150. These extended limits will enable the simulation of industrial processes. Also enhanced are the binary VLE Analysis and tray rating and costing of equilibrium column simulations (where the results can be directly loaded into the tools of the industrial vendors).

Benchmarking MTC models	May 2007
At the EFCE Distillation and Absorption Working Party meeting at the TU Delft a benchmarking overview was presented for mass transfer models of structured packings. It was shown that for the cyclohexane/normal-heptane test mixture the HETP needs to be computed as an average by integrating over the packed bed when comparing the performances of MTC models. For this test mixture, which replaced the benzene/toluene, the relative volatility can change by more than ten percent! Physical properties are also not constant and the HETP varies differently at different pressures. Yet this mixture is most commonly used for testing packings in distillation service. Therefore, we started the construction of an online database for distillation test data available from the open literature to determine the models best suited for predicting the performance of modern packings and trays.

CAPE-OPEN Overhead Determined	November 2006
At the national AIChE Meeting in San Francisco we presented some tangible numbers on the computational overhead involved with CapeOpen process calculations with ChemSep+COCO and ChemSep+AspenPlus. The ratio between running flash and column simulations with or without CapeOpen is a factor of about 2.5. Interesting is that this average is not influenced by the number of compounds in the simulations, the tests were performed with 20-200 pseudo compounds in a crude oil mixture.

ChemSep Version 6	October 2006
In October we launch the new version of ChemSep, version 6, which includes many new features, such as Residue Curve Maps, ternary VLE diagrams, Parametric Study mode, constant relative volatility and Universal Mixing Rule (Voutsas et al.) thermodynamic models, as well as physical property calculations. Visit our site in October to test-drive these with ChemSep-LITE.

ChemSep in Motion	March 10 2006
At the recent CAPE-OPEN meeting in Cannes, France, progress was reported on the interoperability of the ChemSep CAPE-OPEN Unit Operation with commercial flowsheeting packages Aspen Plus (AspenTech), PRO/II (SIMSCI), and Aspen HYSYS (AspenTech), as well as with the flowsheeting package COCO which was designed completely from CAPE-OPEN principles. A simple C3/C4 splitter with a purity specification is used as a test case. Tested was the capability to run the ChemSep column unit operation in the flowsheeter, whether it was possible to obtain thermodynamics and pure component data from the flowsheeter, and whether the flowsheeter allowed changing the ports of the unit (that is feeds/products of the column). All column operations give very similar numerical answers for the C3/C4 splitter test case. ChemSep LITE is now CAPE-OPEN and available for free. Interoperability of ChemSep-LITE and COCO was illustrated by simulation of a complete three column cryogenic Air Separation Unit with crude Argon production, using exclusively CAPE-OPEN unit operations and thermodynamics.

ChemSep-LITE is now CAPE-OPEN	December 2005
The new LITE version includes our CAPE-OPEN ChemSep User Operation model that allows you to include a ChemSep column simulation inside flowsheet simulators such as Aspen Plus (www.aspentech.com) or COCO (www.amsterchem.com) that have proper unit operation support via the Cape-Open protocol. The CAPE-OPEN version was developed in collaboration with AmsterChem. This new release also includes various bug-fixes and a new initialization routine that improves the convergence of the column simulators.

ChemSep v5.1 Released	August 2005
This new release includes valuable additions such as the Pure Component Data manager which allows you to add components to the database (also for LITE) and the parametric study analysis option enables you to study the effect of varying operational or hardware parameters on product purities or column dimensions. We also improved the automatic initialization method as well as the way we perform our simulations. The LITE version is available on the downloads page (the CACHE version will be available from September).

Chemsep CAPE-OPEN presented	February 2005
The CAPE-OPEN version of ChemSep was presented at the COLAN meeting in Como, Italy (presentation PDF and example PDF). Columns can be solved using the ChemSep nonequilibrium model inside flowsheets running under HYSYS (TM) or ASPEN Plus (TM), both products of AspenTech. The column simulator can use thermodynamic and physical properties as supplied by the flowsheeting package or the properties as supplied by the ChemSep libraries.

ChemSep-LITE Free Download	January 2005
A free, "lite" version of the new windows version of ChemSep (v5.0) is now available for download. The ChemSep-LITE version is limited in the number of stages and components and only includes the equilibrium column model but many text book examples can be solved with this lite version of ChemSep. Also total-reflux experiments can be simulated with this version. The ChemSep-LITE is free for all use (also commercial) and comes without any guarantee or support. You use it at your own risk.

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