ASPEN PLUS® User Guide

936 Pages·2000·7.59 MB·English

Aspen Plus
®

Aspen Plus User Guide

Version 10.2

Part Number: Aspen Plus® 10.2
February 2000

Copyright (c) 1981-2000 by Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved.

Aspen Plus®, Aspen Properties®, Aspen Engineering Suite, AspenTech®, ModelManager, the aspen leaf logo and Plantelligence
are trademarks or registered trademarks of Aspen Technology, Inc., Cambridge, MA.

BATCHFRAC and RATEFRAC are trademarks of Koch Engineering Company, Inc.

All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

This manual is intended as a guide to using AspenTech's software. This documentation contains AspenTech proprietary and
confidential information and may not be disclosed, used, or copied without the prior consent of AspenTech or as set forth in the
applicable license agreement. Users are solely responsible for the proper use of the software and the application of the results
obtained.

Although AspenTech has tested the software and reviewed the documentation, the sole warranty for the software may be found in
the applicable license agreement between AspenTech and the user. ASPENTECH MAKES NO WARRANTY OR
REPRESENTATION, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THIS DOCUMENTATION, ITS
QUALITY, PERFORMANCE, MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

Corporate
Aspen Technology, Inc.
Ten Canal Park
Cambridge, MA 02141-2201
USA
Phone:
[phone]
Fax:
[phone]
URL:
http://www.aspentech.com

Division
Design, Simulation and Optimization Systems
Aspen Technology, Inc.
Ten Canal Park
Cambridge, MA 02141-2201
USA
Phone:
[phone]
Fax:[phone]

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Contents

About This Manual.......................................................................................................... xxi

For More Information .................................................................................................. xxii
Technical Support .......................................................................................................xxiii

1
The User Interface.....................................................................................................1-1

Starting Aspen Plus ......................................................................................................1-2
Connecting to the Aspen Plus Host Computer............................................................1-3
The Aspen Plus Main Window .....................................................................................1-4
The Process Flowsheet Window ...................................................................................1-5
The Model Library.........................................................................................................1-6
The Data Browser .........................................................................................................1-8
Displaying Forms and Sheets in the Data Browser .............................................1-9
Status Indicators...................................................................................................1-11
Using Next ............................................................................................................1-11
Using the Previous and Next Sheet Buttons ......................................................1-12
Using the Go Back and Go Forward Buttons .....................................................1-12
Using the Object Manager..........................................................................................1-13
Deleting Objects and Clearing Forms .................................................................1-14
Using the Expert System When You Make Changes................................................1-14
Using Shortcut Keys ...................................................................................................1-15
General Shortcut Keys .........................................................................................1-16
Shortcut Keys for Working with Blocks and Streams........................................1-17
Shortcut Keys for Editing ....................................................................................1-17
Shortcut Keys for Working with Files.................................................................1-18
Shortcut Keys for Working with Flowsheets ......................................................1-18
Shortcut Keys for Help.........................................................................................1-19
Shortcut Keys for Plotting....................................................................................1-19
Shortcut Keys for Working with Regions............................................................1-20
Shortcut Keys for Running Simulations .............................................................1-20
Shortcut Keys for Viewing ...................................................................................1-21
Supplying Comments..................................................................................................1-21

2
Creating a Simulation Model..................................................................................2-1

Process Simulation Using Aspen Plus .........................................................................2-1
Creating a New Run......................................................................................................2-2
Starting Aspen Plus and Creating a New Run.....................................................2-2
Creating a New Run in Aspen Plus.......................................................................2-3
Selecting a Template.....................................................................................................2-4
Selecting a Run Type ....................................................................................................2-5
Completing Input Specifications for a Run .................................................................2-6

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Completion Status for the Flowsheet ....................................................................2-7
Completion Status on Forms..................................................................................2-7
About the Templates .....................................................................................................2-9
About the General Template................................................................................2-10
About the Petroleum Template............................................................................2-13
About the Gas Processing Template....................................................................2-16
About the Air Separation Template.....................................................................2-18
About the Chemicals Template............................................................................2-19
About the Electrolytes Template .........................................................................2-20
About the Specialty Chemicals Template............................................................2-21
About the Pharmaceuticals Template .................................................................2-23
About the Hydrometallurgy Template ................................................................2-23
About the Pyrometallurgy Template ...................................................................2-25
About the Solids Template ...................................................................................2-26
Using the Online Applications Library......................................................................2-28
Accessing the Online Applications Library.........................................................2-29

3
Using Aspen Plus Help .............................................................................................3-1

Getting Help ..................................................................................................................3-1
About The Help Window.........................................................................................3-2
Hypertext Links ......................................................................................................3-3
Using the Back Button ...........................................................................................3-3
Searching for Help on a Topic.......................................................................................3-4
Displaying Help on Dialog Boxes, Forms and Sheets .................................................3-5
Displaying Help on Screen Elements...........................................................................3-5
Getting Step by Step Help ............................................................................................3-5
Getting Reference Information.....................................................................................3-6
Printing Help .................................................................................................................3-6
Improving Help..............................................................................................................3-7

4
Defining the Flowsheet ............................................................................................4-1

Creating a Process Flowsheet.......................................................................................4-1
Placing Blocks .........................................................................................................4-2
Placing Streams and Connecting Blocks...............................................................4-4
Using Heat and Work Streams.....................................................................................4-7
Using PseudoProduct Streams .....................................................................................4-7
Viewing The Flowsheet.................................................................................................4-8
Adjusting the Zoom Level.......................................................................................4-8
Using the Scrollbars ...............................................................................................4-9
Using the Data Browser to Find Blocks in a Large Flowsheet............................4-9
Using Bookmarks..................................................................................................4-10
Using Pan ..............................................................................................................4-10
Checking Flowsheet Completeness ............................................................................4-11
Modifying the Flowsheet.............................................................................................4-11
Changing Flowsheet Connectivity.......................................................................4-11
Improving the Appearance of the Flowsheet ......................................................4-15
About Flowsheet Sections ...........................................................................................4-23

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Creating a Flowsheet Section ..............................................................................4-23
Specifying the Current Section............................................................................4-24
Using the Section Toolbar....................................................................................4-24
Moving Blocks to a New Section..........................................................................4-25
Specifying the Stream Class for a Section ..........................................................4-25
Viewing the Current Section................................................................................4-26
Printing a Flowsheet ............................................................................................4-26

5
Global Information for Calculations.....................................................................5-1

About Global Information.............................................................................................5-1
Entering Global Specifications.....................................................................................5-2
Global Sheet............................................................................................................5-3
Description Sheet....................................................................................................5-6
Accounting Sheet ....................................................................................................5-7
Diagnostic Sheet .....................................................................................................5-8
Setup Simulation Options.............................................................................................5-8
Calculations Sheet..................................................................................................5-9
Flash Convergence Sheet.....................................................................................5-13
System Sheet.........................................................................................................5-15
Limits Sheet..........................................................................................................5-16
Units of Measure .........................................................................................................5-16
Selecting Units of Measure ..................................................................................5-16
Report Options ............................................................................................................5-20
Customizing the Stream Report ..........................................................................5-22

6
Specifying Components............................................................................................6-1

About Databanks...........................................................................................................6-2
Specifying Components from a Databank ...................................................................6-3
Specifying Non-Databank Components.......................................................................6-7
Using the User Defined Component Wizard.........................................................6-8
Adding a Component...................................................................................................6-14
Inserting a Component.........................................................................................6-14
Renaming a Component..............................................................................................6-14
Deleting a Component ................................................................................................6-15
Reordering the Component List.................................................................................6-15
Generating Electrolyte Components and Reactions .................................................6-16
Generating the List of Components.....................................................................6-16
Identifying Solid Components....................................................................................6-20
Conventional Solids..............................................................................................6-20
Nonconventional Solids........................................................................................6-21
About Component Attributes .....................................................................................6-21
Assigning Attributes to Conventional Components ...........................................6-22
Assigning Attributes to Nonconventional Components .....................................6-23
Specifying Supercritical (HENRY) Components.......................................................6-24
Specifying UNIFAC Groups .......................................................................................6-25
Defining Component Groups......................................................................................6-26

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7
Physical Property Methods .....................................................................................7-1

What Is a Property Method?.........................................................................................7-1
Available Property Methods .........................................................................................7-2
Choosing a Property Method ........................................................................................7-5
Recommended Property Methods for Different Applications ..............................7-6
Guidelines for Choosing a Property Method .......................................................7-10
Specifying the Global Property Method ..............................................................7-12
Specifying a Property Method for a Flowsheet Section......................................7-13
Specifying a Local Property Method....................................................................7-14
Defining Supercritical Components ...........................................................................7-15
Using Free Water Calculations ..................................................................................7-16
Specifying Properties for the Free-Water Phase.................................................7-16
Special Method for K-Value of Water in the Organic Phase..............................7-17
Specifying Electrolyte Calculations............................................................................7-18
Modifying Property Methods ......................................................................................7-18
Modifying a Built-in Property Method ................................................................7-19
Making Advanced Modifications to a Property Method .....................................7-20
Property Methods for Nonconventional Components ...............................................7-21
Specifying the Models for Nonconventional Components..................................7-22

8
Physical Property Parameters and Data.............................................................8-1

About Parameters and Data .........................................................................................8-1
Determining Property Parameter Requirements........................................................8-2
Parameter Requirements for Mass and Energy Balance Simulations................8-3
Parameter Requirements for Henry's Law ...........................................................8-3
Parameter Requirements for Thermodynamic Reference State..........................8-4
Retrieving Parameters from Databanks......................................................................8-5
Retrieving Pure Component Parameters ..............................................................8-5
Retrieving Equation-of-State Binary Parameters ................................................8-6
Retrieving Activity Coefficient Binary Parameters..............................................8-7
Retrieving Henry’s Law Constants........................................................................8-8
Retrieving Electrolyte Binary and Pair Parameters ............................................8-9
Entering Property Parameters.....................................................................................8-9
Forms for Entering Property Parameters ...........................................................8-10
How to Enter Property Parameters.....................................................................8-10
Entering Pure Component Constants .................................................................8-11
Entering Pure Component Correlation Parameters...........................................8-12
Entering Parameters for Nonconventional Components ...................................8-14
Entering Scalar Binary Parameters....................................................................8-16
Entering Temperature-Dependent Binary Parameters .....................................8-17
Entering Binary Parameters from DECHEMA ..................................................8-19
Estimating Binary Parameters for Activity Coefficient Models ........................8-20
Entering Electrolyte Pair Parameters.................................................................8-20
Entering Ternary Parameters..............................................................................8-22
Using Tabular Data and Polynomial Coefficients.....................................................8-24
How Aspen Plus Uses Your Tabular Data and Polynomial Coefficients...........8-26
Entering Tabular Data .........................................................................................8-27

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Entering Polynomial Coefficients for the General Polynomial Model ..............8-29
Adjusting Reference States for Tabular Data and Polynomials........................8-30
Adjusting Tabular Data or Polynomials for the Effect of Pressure...................8-31
Using Property Data Packages...................................................................................8-32
Using a Data Package ..........................................................................................8-33
Ammonia-Water Data Package............................................................................8-33
Ethylene Data Package ........................................................................................8-33
Using Electrolyte Amines Data Packages...........................................................8-33
Flue Gas Treatment Data Package .....................................................................8-35
Formaldehyde-Methanol-Water Data Package ..................................................8-35
Glycol Dehydration Data Package.......................................................................8-36
Pitzer Data Packages............................................................................................8-36
Methyl-amine Data Package................................................................................8-37
Using Other Electrolyte Data Packages..............................................................8-38

9
Specifying Streams....................................................................................................9-1

Specifying Material Streams ........................................................................................9-2
Entering Specifications for Streams......................................................................9-2
Possible Stream Thermodynamic Condition Specifications.................................9-4
Mass-Balance-Only Calculations .................................................................................9-4
Entering Stream Composition......................................................................................9-5
Specifying Particle Size Distribution...........................................................................9-8
Specifying Component Attribute Values .....................................................................9-8
About Stream Property Analysis................................................................................9-10
Analyzing Stream Properties .....................................................................................9-11
Generating PT-Envelopes...........................................................................................9-14
Creating a PT-Envelope from a Stream..............................................................9-14
About Stream Classes .................................................................................................9-17
Using Predefined Stream Classes .......................................................................9-18
Creating or Modifying Stream Classes................................................................9-18
Specifying a Global Stream Class........................................................................9-20
Specifying Stream Classes for Flowsheet Sections.............................................9-20
Specifying Stream Classes for Individual Streams ............................................9-21
Defining New Substreams..........................................................................................9-21
About Particle Size Distributions...............................................................................9-22
Changing Particle Size Distribution Intervals ...................................................9-23
Creating New Particle Size Distributions...........................................................9-23
Specifying Heat Streams ............................................................................................9-24
Specifying Work Streams............................................................................................9-24
Using PseudoProduct Streams...................................................................................9-26
About Stream Libraries ..............................................................................................9-27
Accessing Stream Libraries..................................................................................9-27

10 Unit Operation Models ...........................................................................................10-1

Choosing the Right Unit Operation Model................................................................10-1
Mixers and Splitters....................................................................................................10-3
Mixer......................................................................................................................10-4

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FSplit .....................................................................................................................10-4
SSplit .....................................................................................................................10-4
Separators....................................................................................................................10-5
Flash2 ....................................................................................................................10-5
Flash3 ....................................................................................................................10-6
Decanter ................................................................................................................10-6
Sep .........................................................................................................................10-7
Sep2 .......................................................................................................................10-7
Heat Exchangers .........................................................................................................10-7
Heater....................................................................................................................10-7
HeatX.....................................................................................................................10-8
MHeatX................................................................................................................10-12
HxFlux.................................................................................................................10-12
Hetran..................................................................................................................10-13
Aerotran...............................................................................................................10-13
HTRIIST..............................................................................................................10-14
Columns .....................................................................................................................10-14
DSTWU................................................................................................................10-15
Distl......................................................................................................................10-15
SCFrac .................................................................................................................10-16
RadFrac ...............................................................................................................10-16
MultiFrac.............................................................................................................10-21
PetroFrac.............................................................................................................10-22
RateFrac ..............................................................................................................10-25
Batch Distillation - BatchFracTM .......................................................................10-26
Extract .................................................................................................................10-26
Reactors......................................................................................................................10-27
RStoic...................................................................................................................10-27
RYield ..................................................................................................................10-28
REquil..................................................................................................................10-28
RGibbs .................................................................................................................10-28
RCSTR .................................................................................................................10-29
RPlug ...................................................................................................................10-29
RBatch .................................................................................................................10-29
Pressure Changers ....................................................................................................10-30
Pump....................................................................................................................10-30
Compr ..................................................................................................................10-30
MCompr...............................................................................................................10-30
Pipeline................................................................................................................10-31
Pipe ......................................................................................................................10-31
Valve ....................................................................................................................10-31
Manipulators..............................................................................................................10-32
Mult......................................................................................................................10-32
Dupl .....................................................................................................................10-32
ClChng.................................................................................................................10-32
Selector ................................................................................................................10-32
Solids ..........................................................................................................................10-33
Crystallizer..........................................................................................................10-33

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Crusher................................................................................................................10-34
Screen ..................................................................................................................10-34
FabFl....................................................................................................................10-34
Cyclone ................................................................................................................10-34
VScrub .................................................................................................................10-35
ESP ......................................................................................................................10-35
HyCyc ..................................................................................................................10-35
CFuge ..................................................................................................................10-35
Filter....................................................................................................................10-36
SWash..................................................................................................................10-36
CCD .....................................................................................................................10-36
User Models...............................................................................................................10-36
Fortran and Excel Unit Operation Models .......................................................10-37
CAPE-OPEN COM Unit Operation Models......................................................10-37
Aspen Modeler Flowsheets.................................................................................10-38
Hierarchy...................................................................................................................10-41
Specifying Unit Operation Models...........................................................................10-41
Overriding Global Specifications for a Block...........................................................10-42
Requesting Heating/Cooling Curve Calculations....................................................10-43

11 Running Your Simulation......................................................................................11-1

Running the Simulation Interactively.......................................................................11-2
Commands for Controlling Simulations..............................................................11-3
Changing Interactive Simulation Speed .............................................................11-4
Reinitializing Simulation Calculations ...............................................................11-4
Viewing the Status of the Simulation .................................................................11-5
Checking the Status of Calculations ...................................................................11-7
Checking the Simulation History ........................................................................11-8
Running the Simulation on the Aspen Plus Host Computer....................................11-8
Communicating with a Remote Aspen Plus Host Computer.............................11-9
Running a Simulation Batch (Background) ............................................................11-10
Running Aspen Plus Standalone..............................................................................11-11
Editing the Input File for Standalone Runs .....................................................11-11
Changing Run Settings and User Databanks .........................................................11-13
Interactively Load Results .................................................................................11-14
Activating and Deactivating Blocks.........................................................................11-14

12 Examining Results and Generating Reports ....................................................12-1

Viewing Simulation Results Interactively.................................................................12-1
Viewing Current Simulation Results ..................................................................12-2
Checking the Completion Status of a Run.................................................................12-2
Checking Completion Status in the Control Panel.............................................12-3
Checking Completion Status in the History File................................................12-4
Checking the Convergence Status of a Run ..............................................................12-4
Displaying Stream Results .........................................................................................12-6
Formatting Stream Results..................................................................................12-7
Displaying Heat and Work Stream Results........................................................12-8

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Generating a Report....................................................................................................12-8
Export a Report File .............................................................................................12-9
Viewing a Section of the Report.........................................................................12-10

13
Working with Plots..................................................................................................13-1

About Plots...................................................................................................................13-1
Step 1: Displaying the Data........................................................................................13-2
Step 2: Generating a Plot............................................................................................13-2
Using the Plot Wizard ..........................................................................................13-2
Generating a Plot by Selecting Variables............................................................13-6
Step 3: Customizing the Appearance of a Plot ..........................................................13-7
Adding and Modifying Annotation Text..............................................................13-7
Changing Plot Properties .....................................................................................13-9
Working with Plots....................................................................................................13-15
Updating Plots When Results Change ..............................................................13-15
Adding Data to Plots...........................................................................................13-16
Comparing Runs Using Plots.............................................................................13-16
Deleting Data Points and Curves from Plots ....................................................13-17
Displaying a Different Range of Data on a Plot................................................13-17
Changing Plot Defaults ......................................................................................13-18
Printing a Plot.....................................................................................................13-18

14 Annotating Process Flowsheets ...........................................................................14-1

Adding Annotations.....................................................................................................14-1
Adding Stream Tables ..........................................................................................14-2
Adding Graphics Objects......................................................................................14-3
Adding Text Objects..............................................................................................14-4
About Global Data.......................................................................................................14-5
Displaying Global Data ........................................................................................14-6
About PFD Mode .........................................................................................................14-7
Using PFD Mode to Change Flowsheet Connectivity.........................................14-7
Creating a Process Flow Diagram .......................................................................14-9
Grouping Objects.......................................................................................................14-10
Creating Temporary Groups ..............................................................................14-11
Creating Permanent Groups..............................................................................14-11
Aligning Objects in Flowsheets..........................................................................14-12
Attaching Objects to the Flowsheet...................................................................14-13
Printing ......................................................................................................................14-13
Using Page Setup................................................................................................14-14
Printing a Flowsheet...........................................................................................14-15
Printing a Section of Flowsheet .........................................................................14-15
Printing Large Flowsheets .................................................................................14-16

15 Managing Your Files ...............................................................................................15-1

File Formats in Aspen Plus ........................................................................................15-2
Document Files ( *.apw) .......................................................................................15-2
Backup Files (*.bkp) .............................................................................................15-3

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Template Files (*.apt)...........................................................................................15-4
Input Files (*.inp) .................................................................................................15-5
Report Files (*.rep) ...............................................................................................15-5
Summary Files (*.sum) ........................................................................................15-6
Run Messages Files (*.cpm) .................................................................................15-6
History Files (*.his) ..............................................................................................15-7
Opening Aspen Plus Files...........................................................................................15-7
Using the Favorites List.......................................................................................15-8
Saving a Run ...............................................................................................................15-8
Exporting Aspen Plus Files ........................................................................................15-9
Importing Aspen Plus Files ........................................................................................15-9
Deciding How to Store a Simulation Problem Definition.......................................15-11
Managing Files in a Client-Server Environment....................................................15-11
Specifying the Working Directory on the Host Computer ...............................15-12
Saving Files.........................................................................................................15-12
View History .......................................................................................................15-12

16 Customizing Your Aspen Plus Environment ....................................................16-1

Choosing Settings for the Current Run .....................................................................16-1
Customizing Settings for All Runs.............................................................................16-2
Choosing View Options ........................................................................................16-3
Using Toolbars ......................................................................................................16-4
Specifying Default Options.........................................................................................16-5
Using the General Tab .........................................................................................16-7
Using the Component Data Tab ..........................................................................16-8
Using the Results View Tab...............................................................................16-12
Using the Flowsheet Tab....................................................................................16-13
Using the Grid/Scale Tab ...................................................................................16-15
Using the Plots Tab ............................................................................................16-15
Using the Run Tab..............................................................................................16-17
Using the Startup Tab........................................................................................16-18
Using the Window Menu ..........................................................................................16-18
Using Workbook Mode........................................................................................16-19
Customizing Application Template Files.................................................................16-20
About User Model Libraries .....................................................................................16-21
Creating and Manipulating User Libraries ......................................................16-22
Adding Models to User Model Libraries............................................................16-24
Changing Icons for Models in User Libraries...................................................16-30

17
Convergence .............................................................................................................17-1

Flowsheet Recycles and Design Specifications..........................................................17-1
Convergence Options ..................................................................................................17-2
Specifying Tear Convergence Parameters ..........................................................17-3
Specifying Default Methods.................................................................................17-5
Specifying Sequencing Parameters .....................................................................17-6
Specifying Convergence Method Parameters .....................................................17-7
Specifying Tear Streams.............................................................................................17-8

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Initial Estimates for Tear Streams......................................................................17-9
Specifying User-Defined Convergence Blocks.........................................................17-10
Convergence Methods ...............................................................................................17-11
WEGSTEIN Method ...........................................................................................17-11
DIRECT Method .................................................................................................17-13
Secant Method.....................................................................................................17-13
BROYDEN Method.............................................................................................17-14
NEWTON Method...............................................................................................17-16
COMPLEX Method .............................................................................................17-17
SQP Method ........................................................................................................17-18
Specifying Convergence Order .................................................................................17-19
Specifying the Calculation Sequence .......................................................................17-19
Using Initial Guesses ................................................................................................17-21
Flowsheet Sequencing...............................................................................................17-21
Obtaining Final Convergence Sequence............................................................17-22
Adding Special Options to the Sequence...........................................................17-23
Viewing the Sequence.........................................................................................17-23
Checking Convergence Results.................................................................................17-26
Control Panel Messages............................................................................................17-28
Strategies for Flowsheet Convergence.....................................................................17-30
Tear Convergence Suggestions .......................................