Mobatec Modeller is a clear and easy to use software tool that lets model builders construct dynamic (and steady-state) process models of any size in an amazingly short time - from single units to entire processing plants (resulting in more than 50.000 equations). Even beginning users can relatively quickly setup rather complex models that are transparent for others without much documentation.

A free demo-version of Mobatec Modeller can be downloaded from our website. This demo-version has full functionality with only a few exceptions.

>> Click here to go to our download page <<

Process Modelling

The modelling of physical, chemical and/or biological processes is one of the most important tasks of a process engineer. Mathematical models (static and dynamic) are used on a large scale for all kinds of engineering activities, such as process control, optimisation, simulation, operator training, process design and fundamental research.

As a result, there is a great need for process models of different accuracy and with different focus on details. Quick and correct modelling of processes is of central interest. The construction of dynamic process models is a difficult and very time consuming task, which is preferable handed over to a modelling expert.

Modelling Approach

The modelling of physcial-chemical-biological (PCB) processes is one of the most important activities in process engineering, since it constitutes the starting point of most other engineering operations, such as simulation, design or control. Modelling is a creative activity, which requires the use of all the basic principles of chemical engineering science, such as thermodynamics, kinetics, transport phenomena, etc. It should therefore be approached with care and thoughtfulness.
A (mathematical) model of a process is usually a system of mathematical equations, whose solutions reflect certain quantitatieve aspects (dynamic or static behaviour) of the process to be modelled.
A modelling approach (or modelling methodology) can be defined as an algorithmic procedure intended to lead from specific knowledge of physical and topological nature of a process to a mathematical model of that process. The methodology is based on the hierarchical decomposition of PCB processes (in which material and energy exchange are playing a predominant role during normal operation) into thermodynamic simple systems. The construction of a process model consists of the following steps:

• Break the process down into elementary systems that exchange extensive quantities through physical connections. In this way a physical topology of the process is constructed using only two building blocks, namely thermodynamic simple systems, which represent lumped capacities able to store extensive quantities, and connections, which represent the transfer of extensive quantities between these systems.
• Describe the distribution (partialy automated) of all involved chemical and/or biological species as well as their transformation into other species in the various parts of the process. In other words: A chemical species topology is laid over the physical topology.
• Write the balance equations for each elementary system and each fundamental extensive quantity that characterizes that system (automated by computer).
• Choose the transfer laws and kinetic laws that express the flow and production rates of the balance equations.
• Express the fundamental extensive variables that characterize each system as a function of intensive variables characterizing the same system.
• Look for dependencies between the intensive and geometrice variables that have been introduced and write these dependencies out as equations of state

For more information on the implementation of this modelling methodology in our computer-aided modelling tool Mobatec Modeller, please surf to our Products page.