DWSIM Pro: A Complete Guide to the Commercial Chemical Process Simulator
DWSIM Pro is the commercial counterpart to the widely recognized open-source DWSIM chemical process simulator. Developed by Daniel Wagner Oliveira de Medeiros, it provides an industrial-grade environment for modeling, simulating, and evaluating chemical processes with additional professional support and cloud-based features. What is DWSIM Pro?
While the standard DWSIM is a free, open-source tool used globally in academia and research, DWSIM Pro is designed for professional engineers and enterprises that require a more robust, supported, and feature-rich simulation environment. It maintains full compatibility with CAPE-OPEN standards and excels in both steady-state and dynamic simulations. Key Features and Extensions
Introduced with Version 7 of the software, the "Pro" version expands upon the foundational features of the open-source version with several high-value additions:
Extended Unit Operations (UO): Access to more complex and specialized unit operations not available in the free version.
Advanced Property Packages: Additional thermodynamic models and property packages that enhance calculation accuracy for specific industrial fluids.
Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA): Tools for estimating capital (CAPEX) and operational (OPEX) costs, and calculating economic indicators like the Minimum Ethanol Selling Price (MESP).
Cloud Hosting and Support: Hosted in the cloud with private, professional support for troubleshooting and complex process modeling.
Customization and Plugins: Supports creating custom unit operations using Visual Basic and C#. DWSIM Pro vs. Commercial Competitors dwsim pro
DWSIM Pro is frequently cited as a cost-effective alternative to "big-name" commercial simulators like Aspen Plus or PRO-II. DWSIM Pro - Simulate 365
DWSIM Pro, the commercial version of the open-source DWSIM simulator, includes a dedicated Solids Manager
designed specifically to handle solid compounds and particle size distribution (PSD). While the open-source version has basic solid-liquid equilibrium capabilities, DWSIM Pro offers advanced tools for modeling and tracking how solid particles behave throughout a process flowsheet. Key Solids Management Features in DWSIM Pro Solids Manager
environment provides specialized tools for industries where solid material characteristics are critical to production: Particle Size Distribution (PSD) Handling Generation
: You can create PSDs using standard probability distributions such as Normal, Log-Normal, Weibull, and Skewed Generalized T. Import/Export
: Easily move PSD data in and out of the simulation for use with external data. Stream Association
: PSDs can be directly assigned to solid compounds within material streams and specific unit operations. Property Calculations The software automatically calculates the Mean Particle Size Particle Size Standard Deviation within your material streams. DWSIM Pro allows you to change the enthalpy of formation
for pure solid compounds through the Pure Compound Property Viewer to refine thermodynamic accuracy. Visualization and Analysis Comparative Tools DWSIM Pro: A Complete Guide to the Commercial
: Use built-in charts and data tables to compare PSDs across different streams or unit operations.
: Visualize how significant properties like mean particle size evolve across the flowsheet using interactive heat maps. Comparison: DWSIM Pro vs. Open-Source Open-Source DWSIM Solids Manager Not available Dedicated environment for PSD PSD Support Limited manual entry Automated generation & tracking Standard flowsheet views Advanced property-based heat maps Basic reports Detailed Excel and datasheet exports DWSIM Pro is hosted on the Simulate 365 platform
, which also provides a cloud-based dashboard for managing simulation files and version control. ScienceDirect.com or how the PSD heat maps are generated? Solids Manager in DWSIM Pro | Simulate 365 28 Nov 2024 —
DWSIM Pro: Bridging Open-Source Simulation and Enterprise-Grade Analytics
Process simulation has long been dominated by high-cost, proprietary software suites. However, the rise of DWSIM, an open-source chemical process simulator, has shifted the landscape by providing a free, CAPE-OPEN compliant alternative. While the standard version is robust for academic and fundamental engineering tasks, DWSIM Pro serves as its commercial, enterprise-focused extension, offering advanced features for deep industrial analysis. Core Capabilities of DWSIM Pro
DWSIM Pro builds upon the open-source foundation created by Daniel Medeiros, adding critical tools for commercial process development. Key features include:
Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA): Users can evaluate capital costs (CAPEX) and operating expenses (OPEX), essential for determining the financial viability of new chemical or biological processes.
Sensitivity Analysis: Advanced modules allow engineers to assess how varying parameters—such as feed flow rates or temperature—impact overall process efficiency and profitability. Go to Insert > External Unit Operation
Advanced Unit Operations: Pro features specialized tools like PPBDesigner for modeling discrete flow systems and liquid-liquid extraction columns using detailed population balances.
Cloud Accessibility: Hosted on Simulate365.com, the Pro version provides a cloud-based environment with private technical support, making it easier for distributed teams to collaborate. A Cost-Effective Competitor to Industry Giants
This is a game-changer for creating custom unit operations.
One of DWSIM Pro’s biggest selling points is its pricing strategy, which is radically different from traditional vendors.
| License Type | Price (Approx.) | Duration | Who Is It For? | |--------------|----------------|----------|----------------| | Academic Pro | $99/year | Annual | PhD students, university research labs | | Professional (Single User) | $599/year | Annual | Freelance engineers, small consultancies | | Professional (Perpetual) | $2,999 | One-time | Independent engineers, small EPCs | | Enterprise | Custom quote | Annual (multi-seat) | Large engineering firms, oil & gas |
Compare this to an ASPEN Plus single user license, which can exceed $20,000/year. Even the perpetual DWSIM Pro license is cheaper than one year of ASPEN.
However, the caveat: DWSIM Pro is not yet ISO-certified for safety-critical simulations (e.g., relief valve sizing per API 520). For those tasks, many enterprises keep a legacy simulator and use DWSIM for scoping and feasibility.