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SEQUENTIAL MODULAR
APPROACH
A. SARATH BABU
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Basic Philosophy of Sequential Modular
Approach
Given the input stream values and values
for equipment parameters, each unit module
is written to calculate the exit stream values
Recycle stream values will be the iterated
variables
Adavantages: Well defined, no ambiguity
Disadvantage: Can not handle design calculations
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Flowsheet
Input Output ??
Operating
conditions
Equipment
Parameters
What to do if we want to maintain some
specification w.r.t. the output stream?
Sequential Modular Approach
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General layout of unit operation model
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Control Blocks and Nonstandard streams
Means to permit the user to put
specifications on intermediate or output
stream variable values
A nonstandard stream is a means to
transfer information from one unit to
another
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Example: We want to maintain a certain
product purity in the top stream of a
distillation column
This could be accomplished by adjusting an
appropriate equipment parameter to a
value to meet the specification
The equipment parameter could be either
reflux ratio or D/F
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DISTILLATION
Equipment parameter
IMPLICIT BLOCK
Is y
3
= set point ?
Input Stream Output Stream
Information Stream
New
Specification y
3
Example: User specification y
3
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Algorithm:
1. Given input and
2. Calculate y
3
3. Compare y
3
to set point
(a) If not equal , adjust and goto (2)
(b) If equal, Stop
Is it Explicit / implicit loop of calculation?
How to adjust ?
Can we use a root finding method ?
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Write f( ) = y
3
- sp = 0
Use any root finding method to find that
satisfies the above equation
Alternately
) (
1
1

=
+ + =
n n D
n
i
i I n p n
E E k E k E k
The manipulated variable should have an
effect on y
3
i.e., there should be cause and
effect for the loop to terminate
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Convergence of tear streams
Mixer Reactor Flash
Product
Recycle
Tears for the flowsheet:
1. Recycle stream
2. Flash calculation
Implicit
Block
y
i
- x
i
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Algorithm I
1. Guess recycle vapor stream
2. Calculate mixer
3. Calculate reactor
4. Calculate flash (converge y
i
- x
i
to
zero by adjusting = V/ F)
5. Compare calculated recycle stream
values to those guessed
(a) If not equal, iterate from (2)
(b) Otherwise continue
6. Stop
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Algorithm - II
1. Guess recycle vapor stream and
2. Calculate mixer
3. Calculate reactor
4. Calculate flash once to get new values
for recycle and error
5. Compare calculated recycle stream
values to those guessed and also
check if error is zero
(a) If not converged, iterate from (2)
(b) Otherwise continue
6. Stop
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Even the loop for can also be converged
in a similar fashion
Intermediate stream
specification
Adjustable variables
Inlet T to Reactor Feed Temperature
Outlet cooling water T Cooling water flow rate
Product purity from flash Feed flowrate
Fraction recovery of C in Flash Pressure drop in valve
Outlet pressure for compressor Pressure increase in compressor
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Mixer Reactor Flash
Product
Implicit
Block
Inlet T to Rea.
Feed T
Cooler Valve
Splitter Compressor
Implicit
Block
Feed Flowrate
Conversion in Reactor
P Valve
Product purity
Product flow
Frac. Rec. of C
Flowsheet with several specifications
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Use of control blocks & information streams
are necessary to handle specifications
Each one of the specifications will lead to
an implicit loop of calculations
First they should be converted into explicit
loops
Simultaneous convergence of loops is better
than sequential convergence
Sequential convergence could lead to
instability and more iterations
Conclusions
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ANY QUESTIONS ??
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THANK YOU . . .