Non-traditional characterization of petroleum mixtures in terms of selected components

A non-traditional method of characterization of petroleum mixtures in terms of selected real components is described which stems from the results of t he mixture analysis and from some of distillation curves - best of all, EFV curve. On the basis of mathematical modelling of the process of obtaining the EFV curve, it is possible to find the composition of a substitute mixtu re consisting of a lower number of real components of the original mixture. This substitute mixture exhibits very similar vapour-liquid equilibrium be haviour as the original multicomponent mixture, which makes it possible to simplify the calculation of, e.g., a rectification column. At the same time , the need disappears of estimating the thermodynamic data of single mixtur e components on the basis of empirical relations subject usually to conside rable errors so as it is with the commonly employed method of pseudocompone nts.