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Equations of the flash model

One problem to consider is to develop a model of index zero or one. Using total content
of the vessel as state variables (instead of content of each phase separately) is the key in
avoiding higher index.
Equations are written only for one feed and two outlets, one vapor and one liquid.
Extension to multiport is quite straightforward.

VAPOR F v
T, P, hv ,
y, rho v

FEED F
Tf , Pf, h f,
z, rho f

Energy, E,Q
Temperature, T
Pressure, P
Volume, V
Mole Holdup, Mc
Equilibrium constant,
K

LIQUID Fl
T, P, h l,
x, rho l

Feed conditions
n

zi = 1
i
hf = f(Tf, Pf, z)
RHO f = f(Tf,Pf,z)
dp = Pf - P
M ater ial balance
dMci
= F.zi - FV.yi - FL.xi
dt
Mci = Mv .yi + Ml.xi
Ener gy balance
dE
= F.hf - FV.hv - FL.hl + Q
dt
E = Mv .hv + Ml.hl - P.V
hv = f(T, P, y)
hl = f(T, P, x)

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L V Equilibrium
yi = Ki.xi
n
xi = 1
i
n
yi = 1
i
K = f(T, P, x, y)

This is the fugacity equality

Geometr ic constr aints

Ml = Vl.RHO l
Mv = Vv .RHO v
V = Vl + Vv
RHOl = f(T, P, x)
RHOv = f(T, P, y)

Implementation
As we want to use Properties PLUS physical properties procedures for the property
evaluation (density, enthalpy and K values), we need to adopt the library conventions and
variable types.
The table gives the list of variables and the variable types used.
Symbol
dp
E
F
FL
FV
hf
hl
hv
Ki
Mci
Ml
Mv
P
Pf
Q

Var iable type

press_diff
holdup_heat
flow_mol
flowrate
flowrate
enth_mol
enth_mol_liq
enth_mol_vap
k_value
holdup_mol
holdup_mol
holdup_mol
pressure
pressure
enthflow

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Descr iption
feed and flash pressure difference
flash internal energy (state)
feed flowrate
flash liquid outlet flowrate
flash vapor outlet flowrate
feed enthalpy
flash liquid enthalpy
flash vapor enthalpy
liquid vapor equilibrium coefficie nts
components global holdups (state)
flash liquid molar holdup
flash vapor molar holdup
flash pressure
feed pressure
heat duty on the flash

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rhof
rhol
rhov
T
Tf
V
Vl
Vv
x
y
z

dens_mol
dens_mol_liq
dens_mol_vap
temperature
temperature
volume
volume
volume
molefraction
molefraction
molefraction

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feed density
flash liquid density
flash vapor density
flash temperature
feed temperature
flash volume
flash liquid volume
flash vapor volume
flash liquid composition
flash vapor composition
feed composition

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Thermodynamic properties calculations

We will use the following procedures:
call (hl) = pEnth_Mol_Liq (T, p, x);
call (hv) = pEnth_Mol_vap (T, p, y);
call (Rhol) = pDens_Mol_Liq (T, p, x);
call (Rhov) = pDens_Mol_Vap (T, p, y);
call (K) = pKValues (T, p, x, y);

The same approach could be used for feed streams. However, using a flash procedure for
feed stream is efficient (i.e., fast) and robust (i.e., converges with poor initial values),
while for a dynamic flash, the procedure approach would be less efficient (i.e., slower).
Code of the flash model is given below. Again, this code could be improved in many
ways.
MODEL LVflash
p_in
liq
vap

as INPUT LVPort;
as OUTPUT LVPort;
as OUTPUT LVPort;

Mc(componentlist)
Ml
Mv
E
Vl
Vv
V
K(componentlist)
Q

as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as

holdup_mol (initial);
holdup_mol;
holdup_mol;
holdup_heat (initial);
volume;
volume;
volume (fixed);
k_value;
INPUT enthflow (fixed);

T
p
rhol
rhov
hl
hv
x(componentlist)
y(componentlist)
dp_in

as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as

temperature;
pressure;
dens_mol;
dens_mol;
enth_mol;
enth_mol;
molefraction;
molefraction;
press_diff;

// pressure inlet
p - p_in.p = dp_in;
// Material balance
$Mc = p_in.F*p_in.z- liq.F*x - vap.F*y;
Mc = Ml*x + Mv*y;
// Energy balance
$E = p_in.F*p_in.h - liq.F*hl - vap.F*hv + Q;
E = Ml*hl + Mv*hv - 1e-4*p*V;
call (hl) = pEnth_mol_liq (T, p, x);
call (hv) = pEnth_mol_vap (T, p, y);

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// LV equilibrium
y = K*x;
call (K) = pKvalues (T, p, x, y);
SIGMA(x) = 1;
SIGMA(y) = 1;
// Geometry
Ml = rhol*Vl;
Mv = rhov*Vv;
V = Vl + Vv;
call (rhol) = pDens_mol_liq (T, p, x);
call (rhov) = pDens_mol_vap (T, p, y);
// Stream properties
liq.T
= T;
liq.p
= p;
liq.h
= hl;
liq.vf = 0;
liq.rho = rhol;
liq.z
= x;
vap.T
vap.p
vap.h
vap.vf
vap.rho
vap.z
END

=
=
=
=
=
=

T;
p;
hv;
1;
rhov;
y;

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