Research on simulation of complex distillation system for biomass fuel ethanol based on virtual assembly

Virtual assembly was introduced in the chemical process simulation, and the method of virtual assembly for common chemical process was studied. The process of biomass fuel ethanol was analyzed which is combined by the first-grade distillation system in industrial ethanol production and the salt-added extractive distillation system in fuel ethanol production, and the scene graph structure was established. According to the assembly characteristics of the chemical process, the assembly equipment model was designed and constructed. The assembly points were added, and the assembly, simulation and transitive properties of the assembly points were defined. The "1+1"and "1+n" universality assembly method was proposed. By choosing unit equipment freely to assembly, the complex distillation system was realized. Results have shown that the assembly effect was good and accuracy, the method was proved correct and feasible. It is of great significance in the visual design of chemical process, digital construction of chemical plant and development of three-dimensional (3D) chemical process simulation technology.