Several recent software releases show major progress in CAPE-OPEN implementation and support: COMSOL, ProSim SA and SimSci-Esscor represent significant examples of such progress.

COMSOL
A new partner in the CO-LaN Network is COMSOL, producer of the COMSOL Mutliphysics® software. In chemical engineering applications, they are leaders in the simulation of reacting systems involving fluid dynamics and heat and mass transfer. Specifically, they have a product that studies the chemical kinetics of such systems, as well as another that simulates such systems’ space and time-dependencies in 1D, 2D, 2D axisymmetry and 3D.

COMSOL Multiphysics version 3.5, released on September 19th, features a CAPE-OPEN thermodynamic and physical properties interface, enabling its products to access property calculations from CAPE-OPEN compliant physical property packages. This supports both CAPE-OPEN Thermo 1.1 and CAPE-OPEN Thermo 1.0 standards.

“The interface will allow increased accuracy in models based around the physics of flow, heat and mass transfer, where they can also include chemical reaction kinetics”, says VP of Applications, Dr. Ed Fontes. “We are very excited to be part of CO-LaN, and to increase the ability for its partners to really simulate their chemical processes.”

ProSim SA
Since its first release in 2004, Simulis Thermodynamics integrates the standardized CAPE-OPEN interfaces ("Thermodynamic plug" and "Thermodynamic socket"). Simulis Thermodynamics is a thermophysical properties calculation server available as an MS-Excel add-in, a MATLAB toolbox or as a module pluggable in any other software that requires quality thermophysical properties. It generates "Property Packages" that can be used with other simulation applications that are CAPE-OPEN compliant. Furthermore, you can use third party thermodynamic packages in Simulis Thermodynamics. One of the major upgrade provided to customers in the first semester 2008 was the implementation of CAPE-OPEN Thermo 1.1.

ProSim is also about to launch a new release of ProSimPlus, the steady state process simulator, which also supports both CAPE-OPEN 1.1 and CAPE-OPEN 1.0 standards. As Simulis Thermodynamics is actually embedded in ProSimPlus, it implements the thermodynamic plug and socket, providing the software with advanced thermodynamic capabilities. In addition, the CAPE-OPEN Unit Socket was also implemented in ProSimPlus enabling the user to integrate CAPE-OPEN compliant unit operations (using CAPE-OPEN thermo Material Object 1.0 or 1.1) from third parties in the flowsheet and expand the capabilities of the software. These capabilities were successfully demonstrated using COUSCOUS (AmsterCHEM) and Xist (HTRI). An interesting use case of this new feature is that it makes it possible to use a CAPE-OPEN thermo property package 1.0 within a CAPE-OPEN unit operation only compliant with CAPE-OPEN Thermo 1.1. ProSimPlus and Simulis Thermodynamics act as bridges to ensure this compatibility.

ProSim is a long time active member of the CO-LaN and actively supports the CAPE-OPEN standard development, not only through its integration in its software but also through the creation of various tools used for testing (PPDB, SMST CO-Testers…) and for development (Fortran Unit Wizards), through conferences in specialized congresses. The next conference is scheduled at the AIChE Annual Meeting 2008 (November 19th in Philadelphia / United States) and will explain the additional capabilities of ProSim’s software enabled by the implementation of CAPE-OPEN 1.1.

SimSci-Esscor
Since the inception of the CAPE-OPEN initiative, Simsci-Esscor®, a division of Invensys Process Systems (IPS), has participated in the development of CAPE-OPEN standards and implemented software that meets those standards. The first phase of CAPE-OPEN support began with PRO/II® 6.0 in June of 2003, and over the last five years, IPS has enhanced its capability to support most third-party CAPE-OPEN unit operations and property packages.

The PRO/II 8.2 release in July 2008 marks amazing progress on PRO/II’s CAPE-OPEN support. This has been achieved through close working relationships with the CAPE-OPEN Laboratories Network (CO-LaN) and many of our customers. IPS has continued its visibility and participation in CO-LaN, which maintains several special interest groups (SIGs) for the maintenance and development of the CAPE-OPEN standards. As a member of the Refinery Reactors SIG, several CO-LaN members, including IPS, are working to extend the CAPE-OPEN standard by defining and prototyping new interfaces that can be used to integrate refinery reactor technology into a simulation environment like PRO/II.

IPS developer and CAPE-OPEN expert, David Jerome, authored an article entitled “Plug and Play” (which discusses CAPE-OPEN), and it will be published in the October 2008 issue of Hydrocarbon Engineering. On November 19th, PRO/II Product Manager, Joseph McMullen, will be presenting at the 5th US CAPE-OPEN Conference on PRO/II recent technical advances.