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Installation

Requirements

  • DWSIM version 8.x or later (Windows desktop)
  • .NET Framework 4.8 runtime (included with Windows 10/11)

Installation Steps

1. Download the Plugin

Download the compiled DLL file:

DWSIM.UnitOperations.MultiStreamHeatExchanger.dll

2. Locate the DWSIM Unit Operations Folder

The external unit operations folder is located at:

C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\DWSIM\unitops

Check your DWSIM installation settings for the custom path. The unitops folder should be in the same directory as the main DWSIM installation.

Finding AppData

Type %localappdata%\DWSIM in the Windows Explorer address bar to navigate directly to the DWSIM local data folder.

3. Copy the DLL

Copy DWSIM.UnitOperations.MultiStreamHeatExchanger.dll into the unitops folder.

4. Restart DWSIM

Close and reopen DWSIM. The Multi-Stream Heat Exchanger will appear in the External Unit Operations section of the object palette.

Verification

To verify the installation:

  1. Open DWSIM and create a new flowsheet
  2. In the Object Palette, expand External Unit Operations
  3. Look for Multi-Stream Heat Exchanger
  4. Drag it onto the flowsheet
MSHX in object palette
Figure 1. The Multi-Stream Heat Exchanger appears in the External Unit Operations section after installation.

Connecting Streams

The MSHX has 6 inlet ports and 6 outlet ports. Connect material streams as follows:

  1. Create inlet material streams with defined temperature, pressure, flow rate, and composition
  2. Connect each inlet stream to an inlet port on the MSHX
  3. Create outlet material streams and connect them to the corresponding outlet ports
  4. Port pairing: Inlet port i and outlet port i correspond to the same process stream

Minimum Streams

At least 2 streams (each with both inlet and outlet connected) are required for the MSHX to calculate. Streams without both connectors attached are ignored.

Quick Start Example

  1. Add an MSHX to the flowsheet
  2. Create a hot water stream: T = 90°C, P = 1 atm, flow = 1 kg/s
  3. Create a cold water stream: T = 20°C, P = 1 atm, flow = 1 kg/s
  4. Connect both to ports 1 and 2 respectively (with outlet streams)
  5. Open the MSHX editor, select UA mode, set UA = 1000 W/K
  6. Run the simulation

The MSHX will calculate both outlet temperatures and display the composite curves.