New computer software for the selection of solid/liquid separation equipment

The paper details new Windows® based computer software for the selection of solid/liquid separation equipment. The software interprets information obtained from databases through an inference engine to generate numerically ranked equipment selection whilst maintaining a balance between ease of use, level of knowledge conveyed and comprehensibility. The software facilitates the integration of additional information for special process requirements, solid and liquid phase properties as well as access to text and pictorial descriptions of equipment types. Hyperlinks with databases provide access to equipment manufacturer details. Facility for other user definable hyperlinks is also provided to access information sources on the world wide web via the internet. It is shown how the software for equipment selection will ultimately be integrated with software for equipment scale-up and simulation.