Validación del cálculo de una red de aire comprimido, mediante el software de código abierto DWSIM y hojas de cálculo

Abstract

The purpose of this research work was to validate the calculation of a compressed air network, located in Guano, Chimborazo province, through the DWSIM software and spreadsheets, by means of the consumption parameters for each equipment and pressure losses recommended in the pipes. For which, the characteristics of the existing network were studied and later the design of the new network was carried out under the ATLAS COPCO manual and the air quality selected with the ISO 8573-1: 2010 Standard. The simulated compressed air generating plant process included a compressor, aftercooler, a separator, the distribution network, the pneumatic conditioning unit, and the utilization. The simulation was carried out under the thermodynamic model "Raoult's Law" and was governed under the conditions of steady state, adiabatic processes, mechanical equilibrium, and insignificant pressure losses in elements. Finding the mass flow of humid air (0.03323 kg / s), the real work of the compressor (14.6636 KW) and the exit heat in the aftercooler (14.4701 KW). In addition, diameters of 3” SCH-80 were selected for the main and distribution pipes, ¾” SCH-160 and 1” SCH-80 for the service pipes. The relative errors between the simulator and the manual calculation were less than 5% in significant variables, for real flows there were less than 3%, in real fluid velocities there were less than 2% and for pressures in each user there were less than 1%, interpreting the DWSIM simulator as suitable for simulating compressed air networks. It is advisable to use the appropriate thermodynamic model and not to compare the enthalpies of the simulator with those of the manual calculation, since they have different data processing.