FlowExchange 2.0

The FlowExchange package provides CAPE-OPEN based unit operations to import and export material stream data from CAPE-OPEN compliant flowsheet environments. Applications include: Exchange of material stream data between flowsheet simulations of the same flowsheet simulator package, Exchange of material stream data between flowsheet simulations of different flowsheet simulator packages, Importing software-generated material stream data from non-flowsheet software applications via an XML format, Exporting flowsheet simulation generated material stream data via an XML format to non-flowsheet software applications, Archiving flowsheet simulation generated material stream data in XML format to a database.

The FlowExchange package consists out of two unit operations:
The XFlowSaver Unit operation: this unit operation can be used in a product stream or intermediate stream in a flowsheet. Its main purpose is to save an XFlow file.
The XFlowLoader Unit operation: this unit operation can be used to define a feed stream in a flowsheet. Its main purpose is to read an existing XFlow file and define the product stream.

The XFlow file format is an open, XML based, file format designed to exchange material stream data between flowsheet simulators. XFlow files are written by the XFlowSaver unit operation and read by the XFlowLoader unit operation, but any 3rd party application can easily parse or write XFlow files. The level of detail that are saved in an XFlow file by the XFlowSaver is configurable. The .XFlow file format specification is available here; also see this example .XFlow file content.

The FlowExchange package includes a stand-alone viewer and comparison tool for XFlow files.

The FlowExchange package is written in Visual Studio 2015, using the .NET 4.5.1 platform. The source code is available, and is included in the FlowExchange package installer.

The FlowExchange package is open-source and free-of-charge.