METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SIMULATING AND OPTIMIZING A PLANT MODEL

The present invention is directed to a method for simulating and optimizing a plant model. The plant model having a multiplicity of equipment models for a desired processing plant and a multiplicity of local property models for the material components within the plant includes providing a set of initial values for each property model in a data storage area. A first set of coefficients in each property model is determined. A set of equations representing the equipment models and property models, wherein the property models having a complementarity formulation, are executed simultaneously by the digital processor by using the first set of coefficients to determine a second set of coefficients in each property model. The second set of coefficients are stored in the data storage area. The set of equations representing the equipment models and property models are executed simultaneously by the digital processor by utilizing the second set of coefficients from the data storage area to determine values of the processing plant model. The determined values of the processing plant model are stored in the data storage area. The method can also be used for simulating a dynamic plant model.