New Software Release

Product overview

Symmetry™ process simulation software helps users model process workflows in a single collaborative environment, while integrating pipelines, pipe networks, facilities models, and flare systems to enable consistent thermodynamics and fluid characterization across the whole system. With Symmetry software, users can switch between steady-state and dynamic modeling, optimize processes in upstream, midstream, downstream, and new energy sectors, and maximize the total value of the asset. 

Symmetry 2024.3 features enhancements in accuracy and usability that bring added value to your simulations. Highlights include the ability to model rate-based tower separation performance for physical systems, a snapshot manager utility to capture and restore relevant moments in a simulation, an upgraded chemical reaction environment in Amines 2, and much more.

Model rate-based tower separation performance for physical systems 

A new rate-based option in tower unit operations offers high-fidelity calculations that capture the behavior of complex systems where equilibrium method assumptions are not valid. This advanced modeling of multistage separation processes incorporates heat and mass transfer limitations for both tray and packed towers, yielding more accurate predictions at extrapolated operating conditions. The ability to define multiple sections within a tower enables modelling of equipment with variations in diameters and internals, including multiple packing types or even a mixture of trays and packing.;

Match amine data faster with new reaction customization workflows

The newly introduced chemical reaction environment in the Amines 2 property package has been enhanced to provide an upgraded user experience. Input validation helps users catch mistakes early and boost confidence, this is aided by visual confirmation, that reactions are stoichiometrically balanced, as well as evaluation of the equilibrium constant at a range of temperatures. Workflows to add, delete, and clone reactions have been simplified, and features to view and edit reaction parameters have been added. The time to define reactions is also reduced with an option to add ions that are missing in the reaction’s stoichiometry, if already available in the Symmetry software database. These enhancements enable users to achieve better accuracy in their amine simulations with less effort, enabling more effective studies.  

Capture every moment and travel across simulation time with ease 

The new snapshot manager utility offers flexible management of automatic save points taken during dynamics or unattended digital twin runs. Flexible settings enable snapshots to be taken on a periodic basis, or every time conditions change in a steady-state flowsheet. Integration with the scheduler utility also enables the taking of snapshots at a specific point in time or upon a set condition. The history of snapshots is available for navigation, with the selection of any snapshot offering the option to restore dynamics values (or if applicable, the entire case) to the selected point in time. By using snapshots, users can safeguard their simulation runs and fast-track access to key moments during troubleshooting, what-if, and optimization studies.

The bulk speed of sound is a critical property in flare and depressuring studies, but it can become challenging to predict its value in the typically dense phase regions encountered in CCS applications. Conventional estimation methods can become discontinuous or undefined in such thermodynamically complex areas. A new bulk speed of sound calculation method based on isentropic compressibility is now available, to provide consistent and reliable results for these scenarios. 

Predict air cooler performance when fan is off or at a given speed 

The air cooler unit operation is now able to predict cooling from natural convection when there is no fan air flow. This enables users to assess overcooling risks in edge or failure scenarios and explore risk mitigation strategies by modeling the impact of changes in equipment, process, and/or control scheme design. Additionally, the ability to specify fan speed as an alternative to air flow facilitates studies of operations in both steady-state and dynamics.