The chemical engineering research team at Tianjin University uses advanced methods and technologies to help upgrade domestic software

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On March 13, in the computer labs of the teaching buildings at the Beiyangyuan campus of Tianjin University, a class on \"Computer Simulation of Chemical Processes\" was in progress. Students majoring in molecular science, enrolled in the class of 2023 at Tianjin University’s School of Chemical Engineering, worked independently under the guidance of their instructors to develop the processes involved in chemical reactions, set the relevant parameters, and carry out simulations. On the screen, parameters such as the flow rates of gas and liquid at various stages inside a distillation column, as well as their molar fractions, are displayed in real time. What underpins all this is a software developed with entirely independent intellectual property rights – the domestic process simulation software OPEN, along with the intelligent technologies integrated into it. Process simulation software is a core tool for modern chemical production, process design, process optimization, and digital transformation; however, the market has long been dominated by foreign software. Against the backdrop of the \"dual carbon\" goals and the accelerated advancement of industrial digitalization, this situation not only hinders the independent development of industrial software in China but also poses a threat to the technological security of key industries. In June 2025, the OPEN software, developed under the leadership of Sinopec Yingke Information Technology Co., Ltd., passed the acceptance test by Sinopec Group Corporation, filling a gap in this field in China. In this **highly significant research project, the Chemical Process Systems Engineering team from the School of Chemical Engineering at Tianjin University utilized the robust distillation simulation technology developed by the National Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and Low-Carbon Technologies. This technology was successfully integrated into various multi-stage separation unit modules within the OPEN software, providing it with efficient and reliable simulation capabilities. Due to its complex mechanisms, strong non-linearity, high degree of coupling, and diverse process configurations, the distillation process has long been a key focus and challenge in process simulation, and it also represents a critical bottleneck restricting the development of domestic process simulation software. Focusing on this challenge, the Chemical Process Systems Engineering team led by Professor Luo Yiqing from Tianjin University, building on the decades of expertise of Academician Yu Guocong and Professor Yuan Xigang in distillation technology and process systems engineering, has innovatively developed a virtual transient extended robust distillation simulation technique for the accurate simulation of complex distillation processes. This approach overcomes the limitations of traditional algorithms, which rely heavily on initial conditions and struggle to converge. These research achievements have significantly improved the computational stability and solution success rate of models for complex refinery towers, quench water/oil towers, reactive distillation columns, etc., enabling breakthroughs in this field over mainstream foreign process simulation software. “Previously, all the simulation software used in classes was foreign-based, and the underlying models and algorithms were a ‘black box’ to us. ”Lecturer Zhang Huisu explained, “What we are using now is the ‘China Heart’ system with entirely independent intellectual property rights. Students can ‘open’ the black box of this software and directly understand the working mechanisms such as the selection of thermodynamic methods, the calculation of tray efficiency, and optimization calculations, thus truly mastering the principles of distillation.” ”The team also applied robust distillation simulation techniques to an important project under the **key research and development program titled “Key Technologies for Process Simulation Software in Ethylene Production.”** Multiple new breakthroughs were achieved in key technical challenges such as flash calculation, distillation model construction, and solution algorithm development, which significantly improved the efficiency and reliability of the process simulation software for ethylene production. The convergence success rate for some complex distillation processes exceeded that of mainstream foreign software, demonstrating the strong momentum of domestic software in continuously catching up to and surpassing international standards in key technical areas. While the robust distillation simulation technology has been successfully applied in OPEN and ethylene process simulation software, the team has also delved deeper into the broader field of chemical process simulation and optimization that includes distillation processes. Technical breakthroughs have been achieved in various aspects; a series of computational programs and algorithm modules have been developed for tasks such as the optimization of distillation sequences, the integration and optimization of low-carbon technologies driven by green energy, dynamic simulation and control, digital twins, the integration of data and physical models, as well as scheduling. These tools have been thoroughly tested in numerous large-scale separation process development projects both domestically and internationally. Relevant technologies are expected to drive the development and systematic construction of chemical technology software across the entire value chain in our country in the future, helping domestic industrial software move from isolated breakthroughs toward true system autonomy. Today, the OPEN software has been fully put into use for testing, validation, and industrial application at various design and research institutes affiliated with Sinopec. It has also been introduced into chemical engineering courses at universities such as Tianjin University, allowing students to operate domestic process simulation software from their undergraduate years onward. At the same time, more domestic industrial software designed for the entire chemical processing chain is also being developed and promoted at an accelerated pace. Behind this arrangement lie more profound considerations: by having students use domestic software from the moment they enroll, and by encouraging them to trust and support such software as well as to feel pride in it, they will, upon leaving school, become the most dedicated promoters and most skilled users of domestic industrial software. Domestic software is not just lines of code; it represents decades of continuous innovation and effort. It is the ever-pulsing \"Chinese heart\" that drives China’s journey from a major chemical producer to a powerful nation. (Qu Zhaogui, China Chemical Industry News; Correspondent: Dong Yanbin)