Abstract: A simulation tool executing a simulation model and a generating an automated dialog associated therewith. The automated dialog comprises a bot configured for interacting with a user, wherein the dialog is displayed to the user. The bot is integrated with a set of rules that are referenced as a function of input received from the user for furthering the dialog and making a recommendation about the process simulation. In certain embodiments, the simulation tool is configured to select a thermodynamic method for use in a process simulation as a function of the set of rules and the user input.

Abstract: A device for controlling a liquid flow in a vertically extending pipe is disclosed which includes a plate member horizontally disposed in the pipe for receiving the liquid flow thereon and having an opening to permit the liquid received on the plate member to pass therethrough, a tubular guide downwardly inwardly extending from the periphery of the opening and terminating to form a liquid outlet, and a plurality of partition plates disposed on the tubular guide. Each partition plate has an upper end upwardly protruding from the periphery of the opening and a lower end obliquely downwardly extending from the periphery of the opening along the wall of the tubular guide member, so that a plurality of discrete passages are defined on the tubular guide. A cover plate is provided to cover the passages so that the liquid received on the plate member flows through the passages and is discharged from the liquid outlet of the tubular guide to form a vortex flow.

Abstract: A gas separation process and a unit therefor. The process comprises the steps of: introducing a gas consisting of two or more components into an adsorption system in which adsorbent particles circulate in a fluidized state, thereby to allow, at atmospheric pressure or an elevated pressure, the adsorbent particles to adsorb a gas component to be separated from the gas; transferring the adsorbent particles adsorbing the gas component to a desorption system; and then desorbing the gas component from the adsorbent particles in the desorption system which is regulated to have either a lower pressure or a lower pressure and a higher temperature than the adsorption system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a purification process for removing lipophilic impurities coined in an aqueous crude ethanol solution, in particular, for efficiently removing impurities consisting of C.sub.3 -C.sub.4 alcohols. The process involves (a) a first extraction step wherein the aqueous crude ethanol solution is extracted with an extractant for removing the lipophilic impurities, except for the C.sub.3 -C.sub.4 alcohols, contained in the aqueous crude ethanol solution by subjecting the aqueous crude ethanol solution to extraction with the extractant in a pressurized state containing carbon dioxide in a liquidized state or carbon dioxide gas in a supercritical state; (b) a concentration-distillation step wherein a raffinate obtained in the first extraction step is fed to a distilling column to thereby obtain a highly concentrated aqueous ethanol solution from a top of the distilling column and withdraw fraction containing C.sub.3 -C.sub.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for the separation of impurities from a crude ethanol aqueous solution, comprising of; (i) extracting lipophilic impurities within the crude ethanol aqueous solution into an extracting solvent phase by treating the crude ethanol aqueous solution with an extracting solvent comprising carbon dioxide in a liquid state or carbon dioxide in a super-critical state under conditions wherein a ratio of the weight of the extracting solvent to the weight of the crude ethanol aqueous solution is 2 or higher; and (ii) recovering ethanol entrained with the extracting solvent or ethanol and methanol entrained with the extracting solvent into an aqueous phase by contacting the extracting solvent phase resulting after extracting the impurities to with water in a countercurrent manner under pressures in a ratio of the weight of water to the weight of the extracting solvent of 0.3 or lower.