A numerical dynamic simulation study of licorice concentration process / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective Taking the concentration process of liquorice extract as the research object, the dynamic simulation process of concentration of Chinese materia medica (CMM) was constructed by combining experimental analysis with theoretical simulation, which provided the model support and theoretical analysis basis for the process research and equipment development of concentration process of CMM. Methods The corresponding relationship between boiling point and saturated vapor pressure of liquorice solution was determined by dynamic method. The experimental data were fitted by thermodynamic model to obtain relevant parameters. On this basis, the simulation process of liquorice water extract concentration was constructed by using ASPEN PLUS. According to the simulation of dynamic process, the effects of heating power, feed rate, and vacuum degree on liquorice solution concentration process in an external thermal concentrator were discussed. Finally, the equations about concentration time and heating power were obtained by simulation. Results The results of parameter fitting were Aij = 1.63, Aji = 2.32, Bij = 336.38, Bji = 792.00, and Cij = 0.5. Finally, the functional equation for the concentration time and heating power was t = 2 329 c1H/c0Q. Conclusion In this study, the effects of different process parameters on the concentration process of TCM were analyzed by simulation and related theories, and a simple prediction of the concentration process was realized. It also perfected and optimized the process simulation data, filled the relevant scientific research gap, and was of great significance to industrial guidance. Firstly, the relevant experimental data was obtained by fitting the thermodynamic model with the relevant experimental data. Then, under the ideal process conditions, the influencing factors of liquorice concentration process were analyzed and discussed by dynamic simulation. It was concluded that heating power was the key factor affecting the concentration process, and the concentration time gradually decreased with the increase of heating power. However, their functional relationship was non-linear. At the same time, the functional equation can be used to roughly predict the concentration time of CMM. To a certain extent, this fills in the gap between the related theoretical research and data of chemical thermodynamics, which provides theoretical support for the process research and equipment development of the concentration process of CMM.