Functionality and Implementation of a Knowledge-Based Flowsheet-Oriented User Interface for the Dynamic Process Simulator DIVA

Abstract

A knowledge-based simulation model editor for the dynamic process simulator DIVA allows flowsheet generation guided by object-oriented, hierarchically structured knowledge about process-units, and by rules ensuring the consistency of parameters and connections between process-units. A physical property interface helps the user to choose from various calculation methods offered by the simulator's library. Parameters for the substances at hand are retrieved from inhouse and commercially available physical property databases. The tight integration of facilities for experiment control and flowsheet animation will be the basis for future studies in knowledge-based process optimization and process control.