PROFILER is a rate-based process simulator for homogeneously and heterogeneously catalysed reactive separations. PROFILER provides the longitudinal profiles of process variables like component concentrations, temperatures, pressure, flow and reaction rates, etc. These data allow a user to design, size and optimise reactive separation columns.
The rate-based modelling approach implies that actual rates of mass transport, heat transport and chemical reaction are taken into account, providing a better accuracy and physical relevance as compared to the traditional equilibrium stage models.
PROFILER development is based on ASPEN Custom Modeler (ACM) by ASPEN Tech. The main reasons for the selection of ACM are the large database, flexibility of the tool, its spread and general acceptance by most of the partners. A graphical user interface including the option of flow sheet simulations (with pre-defined models) is a comfortable extension as compared to previous equation-oriented systems. The link to ASPEN Tech's PROPERTIES Plus provides a large physical properties database.
Three different modelling depth are realised: the equilibrium-based modelling and the rate-based modelling with both effective diffusivities and the Maxwell-Stefan equations. A large database is offered for the selection of various catalytic and non-catalytic internals for the simulations. User-friendly forms, tables and graphs are available to facilitate the simulation input and output.