Survey of Highly Structured, General Purpose, Steady State Chemical Process Simulation Software Packages.

As a FY 93 task under the SERDP Project to Develop Clean, Agile, Manufacturing Technology for PEP Materials, a survey was conducted which evaluated features and capabilities of what are felt to be the three leading PC-based chemical process flowsheet simulation software packages commercially available today-PROII, ASPEN PLUS, and CHEMCAD. A list of 24 characteristicsattributes common to each package including cost was developed and used a a framework around which to gather information. Information was obtained from the open literature, as well as directly from the software vendors through technical manuals, office visits, phone conversations, and demonstrations by technical sales personnel. Each feature was described in narrative form and an attempt was then made to compare and rate each of the three packages using a structured evaluation matrix. Based on this methodology, ASPEN PLUS was seen to have the most highly rated capabilities. However, when cost was factored in, CHEMCAD was shown to give the best value for the money. With regard to incorporating as a detailed process simulator within a larger life cycle modeling system, each of the packages would function acceptably assuming a file linking program was in existence to provide a structured data interface. In this regard PROII might cause some unique problems because of its functional dependency on a Windows environment and CHEMCAD might offer some advantage because of its underlying C code foundation. jg