Process simulation

Overview

Process simulation is planned as an add-on that calculates a chemical or process plant: streams, mixers, heaters, pumps, flash drums, heat exchangers, reactors and distillation columns, linked to the P&ID drawing so the two stay in step. It is planned (rows CH.1 to CH.4). The calculation engine behind it is written and tested in the repository, and the P&ID add-on already links to it, but this add-on has no panels of its own yet. It is a study aid, not an engineering approval.

Who it’s for

• Process engineers who want a mass and energy balance that follows the drawing.
• Students and teachers of chemical engineering.
• Developers of add-ons that need process numbers, such as pressure vessels and consequence modelling.

What you can do

• Today: the P&ID add-on can link a process model, run it and put a stream table on the sheet. That is described in the P&ID listing.
• Planned (CH.1 to CH.4): a Process workspace for flowsheets, thermodynamics, columns and reactors, with the flowsheet, P&ID and 3D plant sharing one model.

Methods and standards

The engine in the repository uses Peng-Robinson and Soave-Redlich-Kwong equations of state, the NRTL, UNIQUAC and Wilson activity models, a flash calculation, unit models, shortcut and rigorous columns, conversion, equilibrium and kinetic reactors, and a sequential-modular flowsheet solver with automatic tear streams. Written from published equations; the binary interaction parameters are never shipped as the parameters of a pair and are supplied by the person with their source.

Data and sources

A table of 21 components is built into the engine. It was typed from textbook tables without the books open, so every value still has to be compared with the source by an engineer before use in design. Binary parameters, utility prices and a cost index are yours to supply.

Verification

node tools/process-test/test.mjs: 122 passed, 0 failed on 2026-10-28 (session process_PART_3). node tools/process-test/test-link.mjs: 139 passed, 0 failed on the later run (session process-link_PART_3). Checks use published constants, closed forms and balance identities. Not yet checked: a worked flash, column and reactor example with a printed answer from a textbook.

Limits

Planned, and not a finished add-on. The engine has no CoolProp pure-fluid backend and no three-phase flash. Columns have no inside-out acceleration and no partial condenser. No host has a Process workspace yet, and there is no PFD drawn from the flowsheet. Costs are 2001 base-year numbers until you supply an index. The component data are unchecked against the books.

Files and formats

Reads and writes flowsheets as plain JSON. The P&ID add-on keeps the linked process model in the drawing and reads process.json files.

Get started

1. Nothing to add here yet. This add-on is planned.
2. To use the process link that exists, switch on the P&ID add-on in CadCraft and use PIDPROC.
3. Watch this listing for the Process workspace.

Languages

No languages are listed for this add-on yet. Its maker may add some.

Works in

Comes with

Adding it brings these too. Engines are shared: each downloads once for every add-on that uses it.

Needed by: Chemical and process engineering, Food and beverage process engineering, Hydrogen and emerging fuels, Petroleum and refining engineering, Pharmaceutical and bioprocess engineering, Pinch and heat integration, Process dynamics and batch.

Versions

Licence and maker

CadCraft (CadCraft, first-party). Licence: Apache-2.0. Dependencies carry their own licences, listed on their pages.