Thermodynamics and Machine Learning Based Approaches for Vapor–Liquid–Liquid Phase Equilibria in n-Octane/Water, as a Naphtha–Water Surrogate in Water Blends

Abstract

The prediction of phase equilibria for hydrocarbon/water blends in separators, is a subject of considerable importance for chemical processes. Despite its relevance, there are still pending questions. Among them, is the prediction of the correct number of phases. While a stability analysis using the Gibbs Free Energy of mixing and the NRTL model, provide a good understanding with calculation issues, when using HYSYS V9 and Aspen Plus V9 software, this shows that significant phase equilibrium uncertainties still exist. To clarify these matters, n-octane and water blends, are good surrogates of naphtha/water mixtures. Runs were developed in a CREC vapor–liquid (VL_Cell operated with octane–water mixtures under dynamic conditions and used to establish the two-phase (liquid–vapor) and three phase (liquid–liquid–vapor) domains. Results obtained demonstrate that the two phase region (full solubility in the liquid phase) of n-octane in water at 100 °C is in the 10⁻⁴ mol fraction range, and it is larger than the 10⁻⁵ mol fraction predicted by Aspen Plus and the 10⁻⁷ mol fraction reported in the technical literature. Furthermore, and to provide an effective and accurate method for predicting the number of phases, a machine learning (ML) technique was implemented and successfully demonstrated, in the present study.