METSIM is a comprehensive process simulation software developed by PROWARE (also associated with Metsim International LLC), primarily used in the mining, metallurgical, and chemical industries. It enables engineers to perform detailed mass and energy balances for complex flowsheets, supporting plant design, capital cost estimation, technical evaluations, and process optimization. The software originated as a metallurgical simulator but has expanded to include heat balances, chemistry modeling, process controls, equipment sizing, and cost analysis.
Key features include:
- Unit Operations: Over 200 predefined operations (e.g., SAG/ball milling, gold cyanidation/precipitation, crushers, flotation cells), plus generic tools like stream splitters and phase separators.
- Computational Methods: Uses a combination of algorithms for efficient balancing, written in the APL programming language for flexibility and rapid updates.
- Modular Structure: Sold in modules (e.g., basic mass balance, energy balance, chemistry), allowing customization based on user needs. A USB Sentinel key is required for full functionality; without it, only a limited demo mode is available.
- Applications: Widely used for simulating extractive metallurgy processes, environmental modeling, and chemical engineering workflows.
