A radically different formulation and solution of the single-stage flash problem

Abstract A new algorithm has been developed for performing multi-component, single-stage flash calculations. The algorithm is based on a combination of concepts which makes it capable of solving wide-boiling, narrow-boiling, and highly non-ideal systems and which reduce the computational load associated with enthalpy and equilibrium ratio evaluations. These concepts involve the choice of iteration variables, the form of the describing equations, and the convergence procedure. The performance of the algorithm is demonstrated using a number of example problems involving both moderately and highly non-ideal systems, as well as nearly ideal wide- and narrow-boiling systems.