Skip to content

DWSIM Tutorials

Welcome to the DWSIM tutorial collection. Each tutorial guides you through a complete simulation, with working code in FluentAPI (Python) and MCP Server (JSON-RPC) so you can automate every step.

How to Use These Tutorials

Every tutorial includes:

  • A process overview explaining the engineering context
  • A process flow diagram (Mermaid) showing the flowsheet layout
  • Step-by-step instructions with two automation paths:
    • FluentAPI (Python) for scripting and batch automation
    • MCP Server for AI-assisted simulation via JSON-RPC prompts
  • Screenshots showing what you should see in the DWSIM desktop application
  • Exercises to deepen your understanding

Tutorial Tracks

Fundamentals

The reasons behind the clicks: what a stream is, why a unit asks for the numbers it asks for, why a recycle iterates, how a thermodynamic model is chosen, where the usual mistakes come from, and the tools built for learning (Flowsheet Check, Explain Result, McCabe-Thiele, the Equation of State Explorer, the package and scenario comparisons, live sliders).

# Page Key Concepts
1 Streams, State and Balances Flash, phases, conservation, enthalpy reference
2 Degrees of Freedom Specifications against results, calculation modes
3 Recycles and Convergence Tear streams, estimates, tolerance, acceleration
4 Choosing a Thermodynamic Model Equations of state, activity coefficients, azeotropes, data
5 Units and Numbers SI inside, bases, reference states, decimal separators
6 Common Mistakes The findings of the Flowsheet Check, a checklist
7 The Learning Tools Where each teaching tool lives and what it answers

Beginner

Start here if you are new to DWSIM or process simulation.

# Tutorial Key Concepts
1 Your First Simulation Creating a flowsheet, adding compounds, choosing a property package
2 Mixer Basics Material streams, mixer, solving, reading results
3 Heater and Cooler Energy streams, heat duty, temperature specification
4 Simple Flash Drum Two-phase flash, vapor fraction, separator

Intermediate

For users comfortable with basics, ready to explore complex operations.

# Tutorial Key Concepts
1 Distillation Column Rigorous column, stages, condenser/reboiler specs
2 Heat Exchanger Design LMTD, UA, counter-current exchange
3 Reaction Systems Conversion, equilibrium, and Gibbs reactors
4 Recycle Loops Tear streams, convergence strategies
5 Phase Envelope PT diagrams, bubble/dew curves, critical point

Advanced

Complete industrial process simulations.

# Tutorial Industrial Process
1 Refrigeration Cycle Propane (R-290) vapor-compression refrigeration
2 Ammonia Synthesis Haber-Bosch: compression, equilibrium reactor, separator
3 Benzene/Toluene Separation Binary aromatic distillation
4 Natural Gas Processing Multi-component dew point control
5 Ethanol Plant Fermentation and purification
6 Reverse Osmosis Membrane desalination
7 Methanol Synthesis Syngas-to-methanol with recycle

Operator Training

A complete course on the Operator Training Simulator (DWSIM Patreon Classic, level 3): the plant model, the instructor station, malfunctions, scored scenarios, the operator panel and screens, alarms, interlocks, OPC UA, remote stations and the pressure-flow network.

# Page Key Concepts
1 The Plant Model Holdups, Kv valves, stream specifications, initial state
2 The Instructor Station Start, freeze, step, speed, snapshots, journal
3 Malfunctions and Transmitters The fault catalogue, severity, ramp, sensor failures
4 Scenarios, Objectives and Scoring Scheduled faults, objective kinds, the report
5 Operator Panel and Faceplates Tiles, manual mode, journaled actions
6 Operator Screens Designer P&ID-like screens, pipes, ISA bubbles, trends, flags
7 Alarms Limits, acknowledgement, the summary
8 Interlocks (SIS) Conditions, delay, latching, actions, reset, bypass
9 Trends and OPC UA Trend recorder, OPC UA address space
10 Separate Stations Instructor and operator on different PCs
11 Pressure-Flow Network Junction pressures solved every step
12 Running a Training Course Lesson plan, session routine, exercise design

New Features

Explore DWSIM's latest capabilities.

Tutorial Feature
Techno-Economic Analysis CAPEX, OPEX, NPV, IRR, payback period
Life Cycle Assessment GWP, acidification, eutrophication
AI Assistant Natural-language simulation assistance
Phase Envelope PT/PH/TS diagrams and lookups

Prerequisites

  • DWSIM installed (v10.0+)
  • Python 3.9+ with the FluentAPI package, OR an MCP-compatible client (Claude Code, etc.)
  • Basic knowledge of chemical engineering (experiment-level understanding is enough)

Reference