DWSIM as a Free Alternative to ChemCAD - Comparison of Simulation Software Tools

Abstract

This thesis examines whether DWSIM can be used as a free alternative to ChemCAD for chemical process simulation. For this purpose, both programs were compared using selected case studies carried out under the same operating conditions. The study focused on how similar the simulation results were, how easily the models could be built, and how stable the calculations were in each software. The results showed that DWSIM can produce comparable results in many cases, especially for simpler simulations, but ChemCAD was generally more stable in more demanding calculations. At the same time, the comparison showed that the choice of thermodynamic model and the way each software handles calculations have a strong effect on the final results. Overall, the thesis concludes that DWSIM is a useful and accessible tool for academic use and initial process studies, even though ChemCAD still offers some practical advantages.