Splitter Unit Op Enhancement Request

[wmconlon]

I would find it convenient at times to specify a mass or mole flow out one port of a splitter. This would allow me to maintain some specified reaction products/energy on the specified mass flow. Then the other port would just follow the mass balance.

As it stands, upstream changes to the inlet stream flow rate impact my reactor.

[jasper]

One way would be to control the split factor by measuring the flow rate on the desired product stream. This requires:

- the splitter
- exposing the splitter's split fraction as a virtual information inlet port
- a measure unit in the splitter's product
- exposing the flow rate from the measure unit
- a controller
- connect the controlled variable of the controller with an information stream to the split fraction
- connect the measured variable of the measure unit with an information stream to the controller
- set the set point of the controller to the desired flow rate
- provide an initial guess for the split factor on the controlled information stream

You could wrap all of this up in an embedded flowsheet to make it a single unit operation.

Another way to do it is to use for example an Excel, Matlab or Scilab unit operation. Or write one from scratch.

[jasper]

If this is to maintain the flow rate in a recycle, check out the make-up mixer. In this case the split fraction of the purge can simply be the desired split rate and the feed is variable (from a surplus feed, the remainder of which is purged)

[wmconlon]

Thanks for the ideas.

I am actually splitting off some feedstock for combustion and want to maintain the Heat Release Rate as I vary feedstock flow rate to understand how the rest of the process is optimized.

I've yet to successfully implement a feedback controller in COCO, but I gave it a shot with your guidance. In the end I went back to off-line calculation of the split ratio after having no luck getting convergence.

[jasper]

Is there any way you can send me the fsd (or a simplified version thereof) so that I can have a look?