CHE 410
Module 3
Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium Using ASPEN Plus (I)
A. Isothermal Flash
Objectives:
After the completion of this module, the students will have:
1. Reviewed and expanded the chemistry and chemical engineering knowledge of
vapor liquid equilibrium and its applications.
2. Learned to use Aspen Plus to perform flash vaporization.
Prerequisite Engineering & Science Skills
Knowledge of Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium of a mixture of chemicals.
PROBLEM DESCRIPTION
A 100 kmol/h feed consisting of 10, 20, 30 and 40 mole% of propane, n-butane, n-
pentane and n-hexane, respectively, enters a flash drum at 105 psia and 200˚F. The flash
drum operates at 100 psia and 200˚F. Compute the compositions of the exit streams
using the RK-Soave property method.
SIMULATION APPROACH USING ASPEN PLUS
Step 1 Open the Aspen Plus user interface and choose template; OK. When the window
appears, choose with English units. This opens the Aspen Plus window.
Step 2 Enter the components: propane, n-butane, n-pentane and n-hexane as shown in
Fig. 1.
Step 3 Specify the property method in the methods tab. Choose SRK in the base
method. Then the program has to be specified which database has to be used for
the binary interaction parameters in the SRK. Generally default database is used.
Select property/Parameters/Binary and click all the red boxes to accept them.
Step 4 Specifications for properties are completely defined now. This can be confirmed
by the message on the left –bottom of the screen as shown in Fig 2.
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Fig 1: Components specification
Fig 2: Method specification
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Step 5 Click on the Simulation to enter the Main Flow-sheet window. From the model
Palette below choose separator section in which the flash (phase separation) unit
appears. Among the five in built models, select Flash2 and place this on the
window.
Step 6 Clicking on the ‘material’ highlights three red connection points. Add the input
and output streams. The appearance of red arrow means the flow-sheet is not
properly connected and an input or output stream is required to be connected in
the flow-sheet. It has to be fixed before proceeding further. Rename the streams
and block. Once the flow-sheet is complete “Required input incomplete”
appears in red on the bottom left corner of the screen instead of “Flow-sheet
incomplete”. The result should appear something like Fig 3.
Step 7 The boxes on the left that are red indicate that still the information is needed to
be supplied. Start at the top and work down, turning the red boxes into blue
boxes by filling the values in the required input forms.
Step 8 In the list at the left, choose streams by clicking on it or the + in the front of it.
Inside the folder, there are two or more folders, one for each stream. Choose the
input stream (F) by clicking on it. Insert the temperature, pressure and flow rates
of every component as shown the Figure 4. There is no need to provide any data
for product streams L and V because these streams are asked to simulate in the
present problem. This is the reason that only feed stream has the red mark.
Step 9 In the list at the left, choose block (Flash). Choose specifications, and insert the
operating temperature and pressure of the flash drum. This will change the status
from ‘required input incomplete’ to ‘Required input complete’ in the bottom
left corner of the screen.
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Fig 3: Main flow-sheet specification
Fig 4: Data specification for streams and blocks
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Running the Simulation and Checking the Results:
Step 10 Run the simulation by clicking ‘Next’ or using shortcut F5. Be sure to check
your results for both convergence and run status by viewing the Control Panel.
Control Panel shows progress of the simulation. It presents all warnings, errors,
and status messages as shown in Fig. 5.
Step 11 In doing so, it will be noticed that a system warning that arises due to changes
in the simulation that was made. Follow the suggestions presented by Aspen
and change to the STEAMNBS method as recommended (Hint: the change is
under the properties tab). Reinitialize and re-run the simulation after making
this change.
Step 12 Once the calculation is completed without any error, click the Results box and
look at results/streams. On clicking stream table, the results will be reproduced
on the screen as shown in Fig. 6.
Copy the sketch of the process in M.S. Word/Excel file. Copy the results of Stream
table by clicking on the upper left box. And copy in Excel format. Your written report
should include more than the process sketch and stream table. You still need to explain
what problem you have solved and how you solved it, focusing on the chemical
engineering information, not the detailed steps on the computer screen. You can
generate the report of the simulation by clicking the report on the ‘Report’ tab.
To create a detailed report of the work that is done including Summary, System
information, etc., select Export (Ctrl+E) from the File dropdown menu. Then Save the
work as a report file. A detailed report will be generated. Subsequently, open the saved
report file in MS Word to view the report.
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Fig 5: Control Panel view
Fig 6: Results Summary
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CLASS PROBLEM
PROBLEM 1: Computation of the Bubble Point
Compute the bubble point temperature at 18 bar of the following hydrocarbon mixture:
Component Mole fraction
C1 0.05
C2 0.1
C3 0.15
i-C4 0.1
n-C4 0.2
i-C5 0.25
n-C5 0.15
Assume the mixture inlet temperature of 25 °C, pressure of 19 bar and flow rate of 120
kmol/[Link] SRK property method.
Solution: Bubble Point 37.68°C.
PROBLEM 2: Computation of the Dew Point
Compute the dew point temperature at 1.5 bar of the following hydrocarbon mixture:
Component Mole fraction
C1 0.05
C2 0.1
C3 0.15
i-C4 0.1
n-C4 0.2
i-C5 0.25
n-C5 0.15
Assume the mixture inlet temperature of 25°C, pressure of 5 bar and flow rate of 120
kmol/h. Using SRK property method.
Solution: Dew Point 22.17°C.
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PRACTICE PROBLEMS
PROBLEM 1
A liquid mixture, consisting of 60 mole % benzene and 30 mole % toluene, and 10 mole
% xylene is flashed at 1 atm and 110°C. The feed mixture with a flow rate of 100 kmol/h
enters the flash drum at 1 atm and 80°C. Using SYSOP0 property method,
(a) Compute the amounts of liquid and vapour outlets and their compositions
(b) Repeat the calculations when the flashed drum is operated at 1.5 atm and 120°C
and then at 1100C. Compare the results.
PROBLEM 2
The stream from an ammonia reactor comes out at 7000F and 3000 psia. The flow rates
are given below.
Component Mole flow (lb mol/hr)
Nitrogen 143.3
Hydrogen 450.4
Ammonia 221.6
Carbon dioxide 1.8
If the temperature is reduced to 600F in a flash unit, keeping the same pressure,
determine the flow rate of each species in the vapor and the liquid stream and their
composition. Use RKSWS method.
PROBLEM 3
Compute the bubble point and dew point pressure at 40°C of the following hydrocarbon
stream:
Component Mole fraction
C1 0.05
C2 0.1
C3 0.15
i-C4 0.1
n-C4 0.2
i-C5 0.25
n-C5 0.15
Use SRK thermodynamic model and consider the inlet temperature of 30°C, pressure
of 4.5 bar and flow rate of 100 kmol/h. Make relevant comment on the results.
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LITERATURE CITED:
1. Finlayson B.A (2012), Introduction to Chemical Engineering Computing
2. R. Elliott and C. T. Lira, Introductory Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics,
Prentice Hall PTR (2012).
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