On December 17, 2017 the ChemSep authors have released an update to ChemSep™ v7: update 30.
This intermediate release presents as new feature the ability to directly write a COFE flowsheet file from within ChemSep™ used as a stand-alone application.
Should a user want to expand such a flowsheet in COFE, the user will be able to start immediately from a flowsheet that contains both the thermodynamic model already defined within ChemSep™ (using the fact that ChemSep thermodynamic server appears as a CAPE-OPEN Property Package, i.e. using CS/COPP) and ChemSep™ as a Unit Operation. It means that a user well versed in ChemSep™ configuration, both in terms of thermodynamic and unit operation modelling, does not need to learn how to define thermodynamics in COFE from AmsterCHEM. Such a user will easily add unit operations to the flowsheet without bothering with defining the thermodynamic modelling.
ChemSep™ authors believe this is important as especially the setup of components+thermodynamic modelling has been perceived as complex by many users (such a perception is different for each individual), while with the easy and intuitive-to-follow methods in ChemSep™ they hope to enable a lot of people to enter the realms of CAPE-OPEN simulations.
The exportation of a COFE flowsheet document from ChemSep™ is not relying directly on the CAPE-OPEN standards. Still the ability given to ChemSep thermodynamic server to appear as a CAPE-OPEN Property Package and to ChemSep itself to appear as a CAPE-OPEN Unit Operation, are the main enablers of this added functuonality.
CO-LaN welcomes this new feature that takes advantage of the outcome of the consultancy service provided to ChemSep. CO-LaN also welcomes the objective advocated by ChemSep authors through this new feature, i.e. to develop the use of process simulations relying on CAPE-OPEN technology,