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School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science

WORK

Overview

WORK is the software package used for the design of low temperature (sub-ambient) processes. Low temperature processes require heat rejection to refrigeration systems. The result is that the operating costs for such processes are usually dominated by the cost of power to run the refrigeration system. For large-scale systems, multiple levels of refrigeration, cascaded systems and mixed refrigerants are used. Such complex refrigeration systems can be analysed using WORK. Cascade and mixed refrigerant systems can be analysed. For mixed refrigerants, WORK can be used to optimise refrigerant composition.

Targeting Low Temperature Systems

WORK can target minimum shaftwork for simple and complex refrigeration cycles. Targets are based on rigorous thermodynamic calculations and have high accuracy when compared with rigorous simulation.

Optimisation of Refrigeration Levels

When using multiple refrigeration levels, there are usually trade-offs between the temperature of the levels and their load. As the temperature of each level is adjusted it not only affects its own shaftwork requirement, but that of the other levels also. Multiple levels of refrigeration must be optimised simultaneously. WORK allows this to be done based on its high accuracy shaftwork predictions.

Simulation of Refrigeration Systems

WORK allows simulation of simple and complex refrigeration systems. These may have multiple heat levels and multiple compressors. The refrigerant heat loads and temperature levels can be optimised relative to the background process to minimise shaftwork requirement.

Optimisation of Mixed Refrigeration Systems

WORK can optimise the composition of mixed refrigerants to minimise shaftwork requirements. This is achieved by optimising the composition of the refrigerant to match the cooling profile.

Graphical Representation

WORK allows visual representation of the shaftwork losses in refrigeration cycles. All aspects of the losses can be represented, including both mechanical and thermal losses. This provides the designer with insights that could not be obtained otherwise.

For further information contact the software team.