AmsterCHEM REFPROP CAPE-OPEN v1.1

AmsterCHEM REFPROP CAPE-OPEN is a CAPE-OPEN (Computer-Aided Process Engineering – OPEN) compliant interface that brings the full power of NIST REFPROP (REference Fluid PROPerties) into any CAPE-OPEN compliant process simulator (e.g., DWSIM, COCO, Aspen Plus, HYSYS, Pro/II, gPROMS). REFPROP provides the most accurate thermodynamic and transport property equations available worldwide – for pure fluids and mixtures – using highly complex, multi-coefficient equations of state (EOS). Version v1.1 continues AmsterCHEM’s mission of making REFPROP’s unparalleled accuracy accessible to process engineers without requiring custom scripting or manual data transfer. Whether designing LNG plants, refrigeration systems, or high‑pressure gas processing facilities, the REFPROP CAPE-OPEN interface delivers world‑leading accuracy over the entire vapor, liquid, and supercritical regions.

⚙️ Primary Users

This professional thermodynamic property software is designed for:

  • Process Engineers & Chemical Engineers performing rigorous thermodynamic calculations in CAPE-OPEN compliant simulation environments.

  • Research Scientists & Thermodynamicists using NIST REFPROP’s highly accurate equations of state for pure fluids and mixtures.

  • LNG & Cryogenic Process Designers modeling natural gas liquefaction, separation, and transport.

  • Refrigeration & HVAC Engineers simulating refrigerant cycles with world‑most‑accurate property models.

  • Academic Researchers & Educators teaching thermodynamics with industry-standard reference properties.

⚡ Key Features & Capabilities

 

???? Thermodynamic Properties (Pure & Mixture)

REFPROP EOS (Highly Accurate Equations):

  • Helmholtz energy (fundamental) equations for pure components (GERG, Span-Wagner, etc.)

  • GERG-2008 / GERG-2012 (natural gas mixtures) – multi‑parameter mixture model

  • Extended corresponding states (ECS) for mixtures without full Helmholtz

Properties Calculated:

  • Density (ρ), enthalpy (h), entropy (s), internal energy (u), heat capacities (Cp, Cv)

  • Speed of sound (w), Joule‑Thomson coefficient (μJT), isentropic exponent (κ)

Transport Properties:

  • Viscosity (μ), thermal conductivity (λ), surface tension (σ)

????️ Valid Range

  • Entire vapor + liquid region (saturation – bubble/dew)

  • Supercritical region (no artificial phase boundary)

  • Upper temperature limit: near fluid decomposition

  • Upper pressure/density limit: freezing/melting line

  • Coverage: Many pure fluids (refrigerants, cryogenics, hydrocarbons, water, ammonia, CO₂) + thousands of binary/ternary mixtures

???? CAPE-OPEN Integration

Property Package:

  • Standard CAPE-OPEN Thermodynamic Property Package (version 1.1)

  • Provides: T(P, h), P(T, v), flash (TP, PH, PS, TV, PV, UV, VF)

Supported Simulators (CAPE-OPEN compliant):

  • DWSIM, COCO / COFE, Aspen Plus (via CAPE-OPEN), HYSYS (via CAPE-OPEN), Pro/II, gPROMS, Design II, ChemSep, Simulis

⚙️ Mixture Handling

  • Define composition (mole, mass) by user

  • Interaction parameters: GERG mixture model (kij, lij – temperature dependent)

  • User can enter custom binary interaction parameters from literature

???? What’s New in Version v1.1

  • REFPROP 10.0 Library Support – Latest NIST REFPROP version (2023 fluids: R‑1233zd(E), R‑1234yf, R‑1234ze(E), HFOs)

  • Flash Refinement – Improved robustness for near‑critical & two‑phase (small quality)

  • Property Derivative Availability – Heat capacity (∂h/∂T), Joule‑Thomson coefficient for dynamic simulation

  • CAPE-OPEN 1.1 Compliance – Fully compliant with CO-LaN standard (proof tested)

  • Unit System Selection – SI, Metric, Imperial, Custom (kPa, bar, psi, atm; kJ, kcal, BTU)

???? System Requirements

Software Requirements

  • Host: CAPE-OPEN compliant process simulator (e.g., DWSIM, COCO, Aspen Plus, HYSYS, Pro/II)

  • NIST REFPROP: Version 9.0, 9.1, 10.0 (requires separate license / installation)

  • OS: Windows 10/11 (64-bit)

???? Industry Applications

❄️ LNG & Cryogenic Gas Processing

  • Natural gas liquefaction (AP‑X, Cascade)

  • Nitrogen reject, helium recovery

  • High pressure (> 100 bar) & low temperature (< –160°C) accuracy

????️ Refrigeration & HVAC

  • Low-GWP refrigerants (HFO, HFC/HFO blends, hydrocarbons)

  • Cascade refrigeration, transcritical CO₂ cycles

  • Performance prediction (COP, capacity) with high accuracy

????️ Oil & Gas / Gas Processing

  • Dew point prediction (hydrocarbon, water)

  • Dense phase transport pipelines (UGR)

  • Joule‑Thomson cooling (valve, choke)

???? Research & Thermodynamic Reference

  • Equation of state validation (cubic vs. Helmholtz)

  • Binary interaction parameter regression

  • Transport property estimation (viscosity, conductivity)