NeqSim Python

NeqSim Python is part of the NeqSim project. NeqSim Python is a Python interface to the NeqSim Java library for estimation of fluid behavior and process design for oil and gas production. NeqSim Python toolboxes (eg. thermoTools and processTools) are implemented to streamline use of neqsim in Python. Examples of use are given in the examples folder.

Releases

NeqSim Python is distributed as a pip package. Please read the Prerequisites.

End-users should install neqsim python with some additional packages by running

pip install neqsim

Getting Started

See the NeqSim Python Wiki for how to use NeqSim Python via Python or in Jupyter notebooks. Also see examples of use of NeqSim for Gas Processing in Colab. Learn and ask questions in Discussions for use and development of NeqSim.

Process Simulation

NeqSim Python provides multiple ways to build process simulations:

1. Python Wrappers (Recommended for beginners)

Simple functions with a global process - great for notebooks and prototyping:

from neqsim.thermo import fluid
from neqsim.process import stream, compressor, separator, runProcess, clearProcess

clearProcess()
feed = fluid('srk')
feed.addComponent('methane', 0.9)
feed.addComponent('ethane', 0.1)
feed.setTemperature(30.0, 'C')
feed.setPressure(50.0, 'bara')
feed.setTotalFlowRate(10.0, 'MSm3/day')

inlet = stream('inlet', feed)
sep = separator('separator', inlet)
comp = compressor('compressor', sep.getGasOutStream(), pres=100.0)
runProcess()

print(f"Compressor power: {comp.getPower()/1e6:.2f} MW")

2. ProcessContext (Recommended for production)

Context manager with explicit process control - supports multiple independent processes:

from neqsim.thermo import fluid
from neqsim.process import ProcessContext

feed = fluid('srk')
feed.addComponent('methane', 0.9)
feed.addComponent('ethane', 0.1)
feed.setTemperature(30.0, 'C')
feed.setPressure(50.0, 'bara')

with ProcessContext("Compression Train") as ctx:
    inlet = ctx.stream('inlet', feed)
    sep = ctx.separator('separator', inlet)
    comp = ctx.compressor('compressor', sep.getGasOutStream(), pres=100.0)
    ctx.run()
    print(f"Compressor power: {comp.getPower()/1e6:.2f} MW")

3. ProcessBuilder (Fluent API)

Chainable builder pattern - ideal for configuration-driven design:

from neqsim.thermo import fluid
from neqsim.process import ProcessBuilder

feed = fluid('srk')
feed.addComponent('methane', 0.9)
feed.addComponent('ethane', 0.1)
feed.setTemperature(30.0, 'C')
feed.setPressure(50.0, 'bara')

process = (ProcessBuilder("Compression Train")
    .add_stream('inlet', feed)
    .add_separator('separator', 'inlet')
    .add_compressor('compressor', 'separator', pressure=100.0)
    .run())

print(f"Compressor power: {process.get('compressor').getPower()/1e6:.2f} MW")

4. Direct Java Access (Full control)

Explicit process management using jneqsim - for advanced features see neqsim java API:

from neqsim import jneqsim
from neqsim.thermo import fluid

feed = fluid('srk')
feed.addComponent('methane', 0.9)
feed.addComponent('ethane', 0.1)
feed.setTemperature(30.0, 'C')
feed.setPressure(50.0, 'bara')

# Create equipment using Java classes
inlet = jneqsim.process.equipment.stream.Stream('inlet', feed)
sep = jneqsim.process.equipment.separator.Separator('separator', inlet)
comp = jneqsim.process.equipment.compressor.Compressor('compressor', sep.getGasOutStream())
comp.setOutletPressure(100.0)

# Create and run process explicitly
process = jneqsim.process.processmodel.ProcessSystem()
process.add(inlet)
process.add(sep)
process.add(comp)
process.run()

print(f"Compressor power: {comp.getPower()/1e6:.2f} MW")

Choosing an Approach

Use Case	Recommended Approach
Learning & prototyping	Python wrappers
Jupyter notebooks	Python wrappers
Production applications	ProcessContext
Multiple parallel processes	ProcessContext
Configuration-driven design	ProcessBuilder
Advanced Java features	Direct Java access

See the examples folder for more process simulation examples, including processApproaches.py which demonstrates all four approaches.

Prerequisites

Java version 8 or higher (Java JDK) needs to be installed. The Python package JPype is used to connect Python and Java. Read the installation requirements for Jpype. Be aware that mixing 64 bit Python with 32 bit Java and vice versa crashes on import of the jpype module. The needed Python packages are listed in the NeqSim Python dependencies page.

Contributing

Please read CONTRIBUTING.md for details on our code of conduct, and the process for submitting pull requests.

Discussion forum

Questions related to neqsim can be posted in the github discussion pages.

Versioning

NeqSim use SemVer for versioning.

Licence

NeqSim is distributed under the Apache-2.0 licence.

Acknowledgments

A number of master and PhD students at NTNU have contributed to development of NeqSim. We greatly acknowledge their contributions.