Modeling and simulation of reactive distillation operations

Important aspects related to modeling and simulation of reactive distillation processes are presented. Reactive distillation processes are system specific and are subject to the sensitivity of the model parameters. The sensitive model parameters have been identified as those belonging to the models describing the physical and/or chemical equilibrium of the reactive system. The influence of the sensitive model parameters on simulation/design is highlighted through a systematic analysis of the models typically employed for steady-state and dynamic simulations of reactive distillation operations. For reliable and consistent simulation and design of reactive distillation operations, a necessary first step is a systematic analysis of the model parameters and the design/operational variables. Validated numerical results from test problems involving two reactive systems are presented.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Ex-post evaluation of European energy models

Various energy-modelling activities are pursued by public authorities, private companies and research institutes with the aim to provide energy forecasts and to assess the impact of energy and environmental policies. Nevertheless, no ex-post evaluations of the results of these modelling activities have been carried out at the European Community level. This paper investigates and compares the assumptions and the results from a European study carried out in the middle of the eighties with the combination of the so-called Modèle de prospective de la demande énergétique a long terme (MEDEE) and Energy flow optimization (EFOM) models with the targeted year of 2000 as presented in the "ENERGY 2000" study. Concretely, assumptions and forecasts are compared with real statistical data. In this way, an evaluation of quantitative tools and model results can be established. The aim of this paper is not to evaluate the quantitative tools themselves but their results and their policy relevance within a frame of 15 years.