Unique data, physicalproperties and simulation software innovations tackle complex water chemistry-based challenges in oil & gas, water treatment, mining, power generationand chemicals operations.
OLI Systems, Inc. has a rich history of delivering actionable insights for process design and analysis of complex and capital-intensive industrial processes. OLI’s rigorous and accurate electrolyte chemistry-based process modeling solutions portfolio, successful track record of R&D innovation, skilled subject matter experts, deep domain expertise and technology partner ecosystem have made it the trusted advisor for industrial water chemistry applications. Over 500 clients across multiple industrial companies and research institutions in over 35 countries rely on OLI to predict phenomena such as corrosion, scaling, chemical equilibria and phase changes in industrial water chemistry and electrolyte applications.
The OLI solution is a unique combination of material properties, models and software that uses first- principles based thermodynamic and electrochemical modeling, The OLI property database of over 6,000 species covers over 80 elements of the periodic table. OLI also delivers specialized technical support, education, training, consulting, data validation services and conducts sponsored research and Joint Industry Programs (JIPs) for water chemistry applications.
Today, we are excited to announce the latest set of portfolio innovations in the new OLI Platform V10. This release includes ten new chemistries and data parameters, ten new and enhanced software features and fourteen software quality improvements targeted to five solution areas. This release is designed to deliver more effective process modeling capabilities that help to optimize material selection, enhance process efficiency, reduce equipment downtime, comply with environmental regulations and make process modeling teams more productive.
Many of the new capabilities in V10 are unique to OLI and enable OLI to continue to deliver the highest level of rigor and accuracy in our model predictions.
Upstream oil & gas
OLI Platform V10 brings improved calcite and barite parameters for high pressure, high temperature (HPHT) environments needed for accurate scale prediction in deep wells and extreme production environments. The improved and extended iron carbonate chemistry and the complexation of iron with acetate and malonate enable flow assurance engineers and production chemists to accurately model scaling and corrosion for this system. OLI has expanded the scope of its simulation capabilities for corrosion-resistant alloys (CRAs) to predict general, localized corrosion and stress corrosion cracking in highly corrosive oil and gas environments for four new CRAs – S13Cr, S15Cr, S17Cr, 2550. Existing corrosion model predictions for 5 alloys – 625, 825, 22, 276, and 2205h have been enhanced. V10 also includes more comprehensive autoclave simulation capabilities for corrosion testing.
Downstream oil & gas
OLI’s flagship “chemistry in refining overheads” capability has been augmented with new capabilities in V10 to aid in the elimination of toxic contaminants and comply with environmental regulations. In particular, OLI’s simulation of the ammonia desulfurization process has been significantly enhanced through better predictions for aqueous mixtures of ammonia and sulfur dioxide to comply with regulations like the Clean Air Act and IMO regulations for low sulphur marine fuels. Finally, the addition of selenium chemistry in all valence states enables more effective simulation of the treatment of the desalter wash water in crude distillation units to comply with regulatory requirements including National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits.
Industrial water treatment
A key OLI mission is to become the best simulation resource for industrial water treatment. Towards that end, we have introduced selenium in all valence states in v10 which followed the addition of arsenic and struvite chemistry in v9.6 Also, OLI developed an approach to model organic acids in natural environments – tannic, humic, fulvic and gallic acids – and the complexes of these acids with natural and pollutant cations. This capability enables more effective removal of contaminants with more accurate simulations. In addition, ammonia and sulfur dioxide improvements for flue gas desulfurization chemistry bring rigor and accuracy to the simulation of flue gas treatment including sour water stripping. These capabilities are all available in OLI Flowsheet: ESP, an electrolyte process simulator that delivers the chemistry, phenomena and special units needed for industrial water treatment.
Lithium and rare earth elements mining
The lithium chemistry introduced in V9.6 has been significantly enhanced in V10 with mixtures of lithium chloride, sulfate, nitrate and carbonate salts that can be simulated in the presence of the Na, K, Ca, Mg, NH4, Ni, and Co cations; cobalt chloride and sulfate chemistry have also been added. This makes OLI the only solution provider that can predict phase behavior to the degree of accuracy required to effectively design extraction techniques for lithium salts from briny ponds and other mineral resources, battery recycling and other hydrometallurgical processes including lithium ion battery production.
With the growing economic importance of rare earth elements in a broad range of products including electronics, computers, mobile phones and storage devices and bottlenecks in their supply, it is essential to improve their supply and recycling via efficient aqueous-based processes. The new rare earth fluoride chemistry in aqueous environments and various classes of anhydrous solids (chlorides, bromides, iodides, iodates, sulfates, sulfites, selenites, oxychlorides, sulfides, molybdates, nitrides, and nitrates) in V10 enable the accurate prediction of the behavior of rare earths in complex, aqueous systems to accurately design extraction and separation processes. OLI is the only software provider that can accurately predict the behavior of rare earths in complex, concentrated aqueous systems.
Other noteworthy advancements
The new uranium fluoride and iron fluoride chemistries in V10 help to enhance simulation of nuclear fuel production and waste processing as well as hydrometallurgy by predicting uranium and other actinides in high-concentration mixtures.
Software Platform capabilities
The new ionic input feature makes water analysis in OLI Flowsheet: ESP easier and more robust. The virtual stream support increases user productivity. The option to automate calculation of hardness, TDS and pH at 25°C and 1 atm saves time. OLI Studio has better configuration with first-run setup capability (also available in OLI Flowsheet: ESP) along with hardness, TDS and corrosion updates
The OLI platform V10 will be generally available in late October 2019. Click here for information on how you can access a beta version, review the key features and capabilities or demo the OLI platform. You can also sign up for an application assessment or speak to an OLI expert by visiting us online — and follow OLI Systems on LinkedIn, join our Simulation Group or follow us on Twitter for up-to-the- minute news and updates.
OLI Platform V10 extends V9.6 capabilities
V10 complements many notable innovations in V9.6 introduced last year. These include the MSE-SRK thermodynamic model, thermodynamic parameters and CRA chemistries for scaling and corrosion prediction in HPHT environments for upstream oil & gas. Arsenic and struvite chemistry models were introduced to optimize water treatment along with the Reverse Osmosis (RO) membrane simulation and the rigorous prediction of the surface complexation phenomena. In addition, new lithium and potash chemistries were introduced for more effective simulation to optimize production yields for lithium and potash mining.