A new flash computational strategy based on a semi-discrete simulated annealing algorithm

摘要

A new strategy in solving the flash problem is proposed based on a simulated annealing algorithm. Due to its stochastic nature this strategy docs not rely upon special analitical or algebraic properties of the Gibbs free energy surface. Thus this method is both robust and reliable being very casy adaptable to various types of restrictions. Examples showing its ability to find the global minimul of the total Gibbs free energy of a system (i.e. the stable solution to the phase equilibrium problem) are provided and results arc compared with other methods currently used in such calculations.