process modeling

[soroshrad1]

Hi
Actually, I want to simulate a simple chemical process plant and then try to get information from its elements and use them by Matlab for Fault detection.
So I'm Electrical Eng. and I am not familiar with chemical process modeling softwares and their abilities.
If you can tell me which softwares can be used for this application and which can be worked with Matlab , I will really appreciated.

 

[PaoloPemi]

for my needs (simulation of simple compression packages, pipelines etc.) I am quite satisfied with Prode Properties (

http://www.prode.com)

and REFPROP (

http://www.nist.gov/srd/nist23.htm),

both these tools can work with MATLAB, Excel and different windows software, in my opinion for basic operations (as fluid properties, flash operations etc.) they represent a reasonable low cost (and simpler to use) alternative to much more expensive tools. However many process simulators can export/import data from Matlab and if you have acces to one of these you may investigate about this option.

 

[MortenA]

HYSYS can link via OLE to e.g. matlab.

Best regards

Morten

 

[dcasto]

so, how will you know what you are looking at in a simulation? If you are not a ChemE you won't have a clue on where to start with Refprop or prode.

OK, I'm not a EE, but Fault detection? Are you talking process limits and cause/effect diagrams?

 

[soroshrad1]

Thank you very much.
Actually,I want to simulate a simple process and try to develop its HAZOP matrix and then bye this matrix and its data try to train a neural network for fault detection and diagnosis and I will be happy if you tell me your opinion about this procedure because you are chemical eng.
Regards

 

[PaoloPemi]

HAZOP would require knowledge of process behaviour, I dont know how much complex your plant is (may be you can explain) but you may need a chemical engineer to simulate things as columns, reactors etc. the software is just a tool to get numerical results, you need good knowledge of process to define a suitable model and identify the critical conditions (with the software which you prefer), at that point you can create a link with Matlab, Excel or any other tool to get the results.

 

[dcasto]

A hazop matrix???? The matrix I use is a relative one based on experience. The probability to fail on a 1 to 5 and the consequence of a failure on a 1 to 5.

 

[soroshrad1]

Thank you very much.
Yes,HAZOP matrix!!!
Do you have any other idea?

 

[dcasto]

Most HAZOPS I've been in set the matrix and by experience or by quantifiable values. If a heat exchanger is in a service where past experience or where the vendor can supply mean time before failure data, that will set the probabillity. you could make 1 being 1 time per year and 5 being 1 time in 10^5 year.


The the consequence is experience or some calculated value based on a release. I've seen things like; the calculated realese in pounds of material and then the exposure radius of the chemical or the area of overpressure from and explosion.

This is a simple list, but all of these takes experience ChemE's or at least a good understanding of MTBF.

 

[mbt22]

soroshrad1,

What do you mean by a HAZOP matrix? What you seem to want does not correspond to what the rest of us are thinking of.

Regards,

Matt