From Simulation Models to AI-Assisted Industrial Workflows
Quick Start | Use Cases | AI / MCP | Java | Python | Contribute | Docs
NeqSim (Non-Equilibrium Simulator) is a comprehensive Java library for fluid property estimation, process simulation, and engineering design. It covers the full process engineering workflow, from thermodynamic modeling and PVT analysis through equipment sizing, pipeline flow, safety studies, and field development economics.
Developed at NTNU and maintained by Equinor, NeqSim is used for real-world oil & gas, carbon capture, hydrogen, and energy applications.
Use it from Java, Python, Jupyter notebooks, .NET, MATLAB, or let an AI agent drive it via natural language.
| Domain | What NeqSim provides |
|---|---|
| Thermodynamics | 60+ equation-of-state models (SRK, PR, CPA, GERG-2008, and more), flash calculations (TP, PH, PS, dew, bubble), phase envelopes |
| Physical properties | Density, viscosity, thermal conductivity, surface tension, diffusion coefficients |
| Process simulation | 33+ equipment types: separators, compressors, heat exchangers, valves, distillation columns, pumps, reactors |
| Pipeline & flow | Steady-state and transient multiphase pipe flow (Beggs & Brill, two-fluid model), pipe networks |
| PVT simulation | CME, CVD, differential liberation, separator tests, swelling tests, saturation pressure |
| Safety | Depressurization/blowdown, PSV sizing (API 520/521), source term generation, safety envelopes |
| Standards | ISO 6976 (gas quality), NORSOK, DNV, API, ASME compliance checks |
| Mechanical design | Wall thickness, weight estimation, cost analysis for pipelines, vessels, wells (SURF) |
| Field development | Production forecasting, concept screening, NPV/IRR economics, Monte Carlo uncertainty |
See the full documentation, Java Wiki, or ask questions in Discussions.
A Python wrapper is available on pip. Install using pip install neqsim.
See neqsim-python for more details.
Maven Central (simplest - no authentication needed):
<dependency>
<groupId>com.equinor.neqsim</groupId>
<artifactId>neqsim</artifactId>
<version>3.12.0</version>
</dependency>import neqsim.thermo.system.SystemSrkEos;
import neqsim.thermodynamicoperations.ThermodynamicOperations;
SystemSrkEos fluid = new SystemSrkEos(273.15 + 25.0, 60.0);
fluid.addComponent("methane", 0.85);
fluid.addComponent("ethane", 0.10);
fluid.addComponent("propane", 0.05);
fluid.setMixingRule("classic");
ThermodynamicOperations ops = new ThermodynamicOperations(fluid);
ops.TPflash();
fluid.initProperties();
System.out.println("Density: " + fluid.getDensity("kg/m3") + " kg/m3");@solve.task hydrate formation temperature for wet gas at 100 bara
The agent scopes the task, builds a NeqSim simulation, validates results, and generates a Word + HTML report with no coding required.
Calculate fluid properties
from neqsim import jneqsim
fluid = jneqsim.thermo.system.SystemSrkEos(273.15 + 15.0, 100.0)
fluid.addComponent("methane", 0.90)
fluid.addComponent("CO2", 0.05)
fluid.addComponent("nitrogen", 0.05)
fluid.setMixingRule("classic")
ops = jneqsim.thermodynamicoperations.ThermodynamicOperations(fluid)
ops.TPflash()
fluid.initProperties()
print(f"Density: {fluid.getDensity('kg/m3'):.2f} kg/m3")
print(f"Molar mass: {fluid.getMolarMass('kg/mol'):.4f} kg/mol")
print(f"Phases: {fluid.getNumberOfPhases()}")Simulate a process flowsheet
from neqsim import jneqsim
fluid = jneqsim.thermo.system.SystemSrkEos(273.15 + 30.0, 80.0)
fluid.addComponent("methane", 0.80)
fluid.addComponent("ethane", 0.12)
fluid.addComponent("propane", 0.05)
fluid.addComponent("n-butane", 0.03)
fluid.setMixingRule("classic")
Stream = jneqsim.process.equipment.stream.Stream
Separator = jneqsim.process.equipment.separator.Separator
Compressor = jneqsim.process.equipment.compressor.Compressor
ProcessSystem = jneqsim.process.processmodel.ProcessSystem
feed = Stream("Feed", fluid)
feed.setFlowRate(50000.0, "kg/hr")
separator = Separator("HP Separator", feed)
compressor = Compressor("Export Compressor", separator.getGasOutStream())
compressor.setOutletPressure(150.0, "bara")
process = ProcessSystem()
process.add(feed)
process.add(separator)
process.add(compressor)
process.run()
print(f"Compressor power: {compressor.getPower('kW'):.0f} kW")
print(f"Gas out temp: {compressor.getOutletStream().getTemperature() - 273.15:.1f} C")Predict hydrate formation temperature
from neqsim import jneqsim
fluid = jneqsim.thermo.system.SystemSrkEos(273.15 + 5.0, 80.0)
fluid.addComponent("methane", 0.90)
fluid.addComponent("ethane", 0.06)
fluid.addComponent("propane", 0.03)
fluid.addComponent("water", 0.01)
fluid.setMixingRule("classic")
fluid.setMultiPhaseCheck(True)
ops = jneqsim.thermodynamicoperations.ThermodynamicOperations(fluid)
ops.hydrateFormationTemperature()
print(f"Hydrate T: {fluid.getTemperature() - 273.15:.2f} C")Run pipeline pressure-drop calculations
from neqsim import jneqsim
fluid = jneqsim.thermo.system.SystemSrkEos(273.15 + 40.0, 120.0)
fluid.addComponent("methane", 0.95)
fluid.addComponent("ethane", 0.05)
fluid.setMixingRule("classic")
Stream = jneqsim.process.equipment.stream.Stream
PipeBeggsAndBrills = jneqsim.process.equipment.pipeline.PipeBeggsAndBrills
feed = Stream("Inlet", fluid)
feed.setFlowRate(200000.0, "kg/hr")
pipe = PipeBeggsAndBrills("Export Pipeline", feed)
pipe.setPipeWallRoughness(5e-5)
pipe.setLength(50000.0) # 50 km
pipe.setDiameter(0.508) # 20 inch
pipe.setNumberOfIncrements(20)
pipe.run()
outlet = pipe.getOutletStream()
print(f"Outlet pressure: {outlet.getPressure():.1f} bara")
print(f"Outlet temp: {outlet.getTemperature() - 273.15:.1f} C")More examples
Explore 30+ Jupyter notebooks in examples/notebooks/:
- Phase envelope calculation
- TEG dehydration process
- Vessel depressurization / blowdown
- Heat exchanger thermal-hydraulic design
- Production bottleneck analysis
- Risk simulation and visualization
- Data reconciliation and parameter estimation
- Reservoir-to-export integrated workflows
- Multiphase transient pipe flow
LLMs reason well but hallucinate physics. NeqSim is exact on thermodynamics but needs context. Together, they form a complete engineering system. The LLM reasons. NeqSim computes. Provenance proves it.
The NeqSim MCP Server lets any MCP-compatible client (VS Code Copilot, Claude Desktop, Cursor, etc.) run real calculations. Install in seconds:
# Docker (no Java needed)
docker pull ghcr.io/equinor/neqsim-mcp-server:latest| Ask the LLM | MCP Tool |
|---|---|
| "Dew point of 85% methane, 10% ethane, 5% propane at 50 bara?" | runFlash |
| "How does density change from 0 to 50 C at 80 bara?" | runBatch |
| "Phase envelope for this natural gas" | getPhaseEnvelope |
| "Simulate gas through a separator then compressor to 120 bara" | runProcess |
Every response includes provenance metadata (EOS model, convergence, assumptions, limitations). See the MCP Server docs and setup guide.
@solve.task TEG dehydration sizing for 50 MMSCFD wet gas
The agent creates a task folder, runs NeqSim simulations, validates results, and generates a Word + HTML report with no coding required. See the tutorial or workflow reference.
<dependency>
<groupId>com.equinor.neqsim</groupId>
<artifactId>neqsim</artifactId>
<version>3.12.0</version>
</dependency>The Quick Start above shows the core pattern (create a fluid, run a flash, and read properties). For process simulation, add equipment to a ProcessSystem and call run(); see the Java Getting Started Guide for full examples.
GitHub Packages setup (latest snapshots)
- Configure authentication in your Maven
settings.xml:
<servers>
<server>
<id>github</id>
<username>YOUR_GITHUB_USERNAME</username>
<password>${env.GITHUB_TOKEN}</password>
</server>
</servers>- Add to your
pom.xml:
<repositories>
<repository>
<id>github</id>
<url>https://maven.pkg.github.com/equinor/neqsim</url>
</repository>
</repositories>Learn more: Java Getting Started Guide | JavaDoc | Wiki | Colab demo
pip install neqsimNeqSim Python gives you direct access to the full Java API via the jneqsim gateway. All Java classes are available, including thermodynamics, process equipment, PVT, standards, and more.
from neqsim import jneqsim
# All Java classes accessible through jneqsim
SystemSrkEos = jneqsim.thermo.system.SystemSrkEos
ProcessSystem = jneqsim.process.processmodel.ProcessSystem
Stream = jneqsim.process.equipment.stream.Stream
# ... 200+ classes availableExplore 30+ ready-to-run Jupyter notebooks in examples/notebooks/.
| Language | Repository |
|---|---|
| Python | pip install neqsim |
| MATLAB | equinor/neqsimmatlab |
| .NET (C#) | equinor/neqsimcapeopen |
git clone https://github.com/equinor/neqsim.git
cd neqsim
./mvnw install # Linux/macOS
mvnw.cmd install # Windows./mvnw test # all tests
./mvnw test -Dtest=SeparatorTest # single class
./mvnw test -Dtest=SeparatorTest#testTwoPhase # single method
./mvnw checkstyle:check spotbugs:check pmd:check # static analysisThe repository includes a ready-to-use dev container; just open the repo in VS Code with container support:
git clone https://github.com/equinor/neqsim.git
cd neqsim
code .graph TB
subgraph core["NeqSim Core (Java 8+)"]
THERMO["Thermodynamics<br/>60+ EOS models"]
PROCESS["Process Simulation<br/>33+ equipment types"]
PVT["PVT Simulation"]
MECH["Mechanical Design<br/>& Standards"]
end
subgraph access["Access Layers"]
PYTHON["Python / Jupyter<br/>pip install neqsim"]
JAVA["Java / Maven<br/>Direct API"]
MCP["MCP Server (Java 21+)<br/>LLM integration"]
AGENTS["AI Agents<br/>VS Code Copilot"]
end
PYTHON --> THERMO
PYTHON --> PROCESS
JAVA --> THERMO
JAVA --> PROCESS
MCP --> THERMO
MCP --> PROCESS
AGENTS --> MCP
AGENTS --> PYTHON
| I want to... | Use | Requires |
|---|---|---|
| Quick property lookup via LLM | MCP Server + any LLM client | Java 21+ (or Docker) |
| Python scripting / Jupyter notebooks | pip install neqsim |
Python 3.9+, JVM |
| Embed in a Java application | Maven dependency | Java 17+ (default) or Java 8+ (use the -Java8 artifact) |
| Full engineering study with reports | @solve.task agent in VS Code |
VS Code + GitHub Copilot |
| .NET / MATLAB integration | Language bindings | See linked repos |
| Component | Java Version | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NeqSim core library | 17+ (default) | Default neqsim artifact targets Java 17 bytecode |
NeqSim core library (-Java8) |
8+ | Java 8 compatible artifact built from pomJava8.xml |
| MCP server | 21+ | Quarkus-based; thin wrapper around core |
| Python users | No Java coding | JVM bundled via jpype |
| Running prebuilt MCP jar | 21+ | Download from releases |
| Module | Package | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Thermodynamics | thermo/ |
60+ EOS implementations, flash calculations, phase equilibria |
| Physical properties | physicalproperties/ |
Density, viscosity, thermal conductivity, surface tension |
| Fluid mechanics | fluidmechanics/ |
Single- and multiphase pipe flow, pipeline networks |
| Process equipment | process/equipment/ |
33+ unit operations (separators, compressors, HX, valves, ...) |
| Chemical reactions | chemicalreactions/ |
Equilibrium and kinetic reaction models |
| Parameter fitting | statistics/ |
Regression, parameter estimation, Monte Carlo |
| Process simulation | process/ |
Flowsheet assembly, dynamic simulation, recycle/adjuster coordination |
For details see docs/modules.md.
We welcome contributions of all kinds: bug fixes, new models, examples, documentation, and notebook recipes. AI-assisted PRs are first-class contributions; see CONTRIBUTING.md.
New here? Three commands to get started:
git clone https://github.com/equinor/neqsim.git && cd neqsim
pip install -e devtools/ # one-time: registers the `neqsim` command
neqsim onboard # interactive setup (Java, Maven, build, Python, agents)Tip: Using a virtual environment (
python -m venv .venvthen activate it) avoids PATH issues on all platforms. See devtools/README.md ifneqsimis not found, or usepython -m neqsim_clias a fallback.
Or skip local setup entirely: Open in GitHub Codespaces, with everything pre-installed in the browser.
Then explore and contribute:
neqsim try # interactive playground - experiment with NeqSim instantly
neqsim contribute # guided wizard - picks the right path for you
neqsim doctor # quick diagnostic if something isn't working- CONTRIBUTING.md - Code of conduct, PR process, AI-assisted contributions
- VISION_AGENTS.md - What belongs in the agentic system (core vs. community)
- Developer setup guide - Build, test, and project structure
- Contributing structure - Where to place code, tests, and resources
Skills are markdown files containing engineering knowledge (code patterns, design rules, troubleshooting tips) that AI agents load automatically when solving related tasks. Contributing a skill is the easiest way to make the agentic system smarter, with no Java required.
| # | First Contribution | Difficulty | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Contribute a skill | Easy | Write a SKILL.md with domain knowledge - neqsim new-skill "name" (guide, example skill) |
| 2 | Add a NIST validation benchmark | Easy | Compare NeqSim flash results to NIST data in docs/benchmarks/ |
| 3 | Create a Jupyter notebook example | Medium | Add a worked example to examples/notebooks/ |
| 4 | Add an MCP example to the catalog | Easy | Add a new entry in ExampleCatalog.java |
| 5 | Fix a broken doc link | Easy | Search docs/**/*.md for dead links and fix them |
| 6 | Add a unit test for existing equipment | Medium | Add tests under src/test/java/neqsim/ |
Browse and install community-contributed skills, or publish your own:
neqsim skill list # browse the catalog and discovered repositories
neqsim skill install <name> # install a skill
neqsim skill publish user/repo-name # publish yours (creates a draft PR)Browse and install community-contributed agents separately from skills:
neqsim agent list # browse installable agent workflows
neqsim agent search hydrate # search by name, tag, description, or required skill
neqsim agent install <name> # install an agent definition
neqsim agent validate <name-or-path> # validate an installed or local agent package
neqsim agent schema # show the supported agent.yaml fieldsThe catalog can list individual skills directly and can also point to public
multi-skill GitHub repositories. When a repository is listed under
repositories: in community-skills.yaml, neqsim skill list reads the online
repo catalog first and falls back to scanning matching SKILL.md files, so new
skills can appear without adding one entry per skill to the NeqSim repo.
Agents follow the same discovery model through community-agents.yaml, but they
are kept as a separate install type. Skills are reusable engineering knowledge;
agents are role/workflow definitions that can declare required_skills and are
installed to ~/.neqsim/agents/. Agent packages can include an agent.yaml
manifest with supported domains, inputs, outputs, MCP tool requirements, human
review policy, and trust level. Installing an agent downloads and validates the
definition only; execution is an explicit action in the AI tool that uses it.
The shared public home for reusable community skills is equinor/neqsim-community-skills. The shared public home for reusable community agents is equinor/neqsim-community-agents. Put skills there when they are public, reproducible, useful beyond one project, and do not need to live in NeqSim core. Good candidates include educational screening workflows, public validation helpers, open engineering checklists, agent guidance around existing NeqSim workflows, and examples with synthetic or public data. Keep proprietary methods, plant data, private tag names, internal URLs, company standards, and project-specific design bases out of the public community repos; use private skill or agent catalogs for those.
See the Skills Guide for the full walkthrough, community-skills.yaml and community-agents.yaml for the catalogs, and .github/skills/README.md for the quick contribution guide.
All tests and ./mvnw checkstyle:check must pass before a PR is merged.
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| User documentation | equinor.github.io/neqsim |
| Benchmark gallery | docs/benchmarks/ - validation against NIST, published data |
| Reference manual index | REFERENCE_MANUAL_INDEX.md (350+ pages) |
| MCP tool contract | MCP_CONTRACT.md - stable API for agent builders |
| JavaDoc API | JavaDoc |
| Jupyter notebooks | examples/notebooks/ (30+ examples) |
| Discussion forum | GitHub Discussions |
| Releases | GitHub Releases |
| NeqSim homepage | equinor.github.io/neqsimhome |
Even Solbraa (esolbraa@gmail.com), Marlene Louise Lund
NeqSim development was initiated at NTNU. A number of master and PhD students have contributed to its development, and we greatly acknowledge their contributions.
