Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus Basic Input
Basic Input
Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus
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Lesson Objectives
• Introduce the basic input required to run an Aspen Plus
simulation
Aspen Plus References:
User Guide, Chapter 3, Using Aspen Plus Help
User Guide, Chapter 5, Global Information for Calculations
User Guide, Chapter 6, Specifying Components
User Guide, Chapter 7, Physical Property Methods
User Guide, Chapter 9, Specifying Streams
User Guide, Chapter 10, Unit Operation Models
User Guide, Chapter 11, Running Your Simulation
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Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus Basic Input
Aspen Plus Interface
• Graphical User Interface
– Use Menus to specify program options and commands,
Toolbars for direct access to certain popular functions, and the
Model Library to build the process flowsheet
• Data Browser
– Used to navigate the folders, forms, and sheets
– Can be moved, resized, minimized, maximized or closed
– Contains Object Managers, which allow for manipulation of
discrete objects of information
– Next Button: Checks if the current form is complete
and moves to the next form which requires input
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Data Browser (1)
• The Data Browser is a hierarchical tree structure view of
the available simulation input, results, and objects that
have been defined. It is used to navigate the folders,
forms, and sheets
Folders • Refers to the root items in the Data Browser
• Contain forms and/or other folders or object
managers
Forms • Used to enter data and view results
• Can be comprised of a number of sheets
• Are located in folders
Sheets • Make up forms
• Are selected using tabs at the top of each
sheet
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Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus Basic Input
Data Browser (2)
Previous
Go Back Sheet
Parent Go Next Comments
Button Units View Sheet Resource
Forward List Status Link Tool
Next
Menu
Tree
Status Description
Area Area
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Functionality of Forms
• When you click the left mouse button to select a field on
a form, the Description area gives you information about
that field. Use this content to help with data entry
• Click the drop-down arrow in a field to bring up a list of
possible input values for that field
– Typing a letter will bring up the next selection on the list that
begins with that letter
• The Tab key will take you to the next field on a form
• In tables, Aspen Plus always adds a single row below
the last entry
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Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus Basic Input
Help
• Help Topics
– Select Help Topics from the Help menu to launch online help:
• Contents: Browse through the documentation, including User Guides
and Reference Manuals
• Index: Search for help on a specific topic using the index entries
• Find: Search for a help on a topic that includes any word or words
• “What’s This?” Help
– Click the “What’s This?” toolbar button and then click any area
to get help for that item
• F1 Help
– With the cursor in the desired field, press the <F1> function key
to bring up help for field and/or sheet
©2005 AspenTech. All Rights Reserved.
Basic Input
• The minimum required inputs to run a simulation are:
– Setup
– Components
– Properties
– Streams
– Blocks
• Enter data on the input forms in the above order by
clicking the Next button
• Or, these input folders can be located quickly using the
Data menu or the Data Browser toolbar buttons
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Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus Basic Input
Status Indicators
• Colors and shapes are used to describe the current
status of input and results:
Symbol Status
Input for the form is incomplete.
Input for the form is complete.
No input for the form has been entered. It is optional.
Both input and results exist in this form.
Results for the form exist.
Results for the form exist, but there were calculation errors.
Results for the form exist, but there were calculation warnings.
Results for the form exist, but input has changed since the
results were generated.
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Cumene Production Conditions
RECYCLE
REACTOR
COOL
FEED
SEP
REAC-OUT COOL-OUT P = 1 atm
T = 220°F Q = 0 Btu/hr
P = 36 psia Q = 0 Btu/hr T = 130°F
Benzene: 40 lbmol/hr Pdrop = 0 psi Pdrop = 0.1 psi
Propylene: 40 lbmol/hr PRODUCT
C6H6 + C3H6 C9H12
Benzene Propylene Cumene (Isopropylbenzene)
90% Conversion of Propylene
Use the RK-SOAVE Property Method Filename: [Link]
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Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus Basic Input
Setup
• Most of the commonly used Setup information is entered
on the Setup Specifications Global sheet
– Flowsheet title to be used on reports
– Run type
– Input and output units
– Valid phases (i.e., vapor-liquid or vapor-liquid-liquid)
– Ambient pressure
• Stream report options are located on the Setup Report
Options Stream sheet
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Setup Specifications Form
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Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus Basic Input
Setup Run Types
Run Type Description
Flowsheet Standard flowsheet runs can contain property estimation, assay data
analysis, and/or property analysis calculations. These same options can
be executed standalone without a flowsheet as described below.
Assay Data Use Assay Data Analysis to analyze assay data and generate
Analysis pseudocomponents for use in the Aspen Plus flowsheet.
Data Use Data Regression to fit physical property model parameters required
Regression by Aspen Plus to measure pure component, VLE, LLE, and other mixture
data. Data regression can contain property estimation and property
analysis calculations.
Properties Use Properties Plus to prepare a property package for use with Aspen
Plus Custom Modeler or Aspen Pinch, with third-party commercial engineering
programs, or with your company's in-house programs.
Property Use Property Analysis to generate property tables, PT-envelopes, residue
Analysis curve maps, and other property reports. Property Analysis can contain
property estimation and assay data analysis calculations.
Property Use Property Estimation to estimate property parameters when you do
Estimation not want to perform a flowsheet simulation in the same run.
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Setup Units
• Units in Aspen Plus can be defined at three different
levels:
1. Global Level (“Input Data” and “Output Results” fields on the
Setup Specifications Global sheet)
2. Object level (“Units” field in the top of any input form of an
object such as a block or stream
3. Field Level
• Users can create their own units sets using the Setup
Units Sets Object Manager. Units can be copied from
an existing set and then modified
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Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus Basic Input
Components
• Use the Components Specifications form to specify all
the components required for the simulation
• If available, physical property parameters for each
component are retrieved from databanks
• Pure component databanks contain parameters such as
molecular weight, critical properties, etc. The databank
search order is specified on the Databanks sheet
• The Find button can be used to search for components
• The Electrolyte Wizard can be used to set up an
electrolyte simulation
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Components Specifications Form
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Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus Basic Input
Entering Components
• The Component ID is used to identify the component in
simulation inputs and results
• Each Component ID can be associated with a databank
component as either:
– Formula: Chemical formula of component (e.g., C6H6)
• A suffix is added to formulas when there are isomers, e.g., C2H6O-2
– Component Name: Full name of component (e.g., BENZENE)
• Databank components can be searched for using the
Find button
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Find
• Search using component name, formula, component
class, molecular weight, boiling point, or CAS number
All components
containing
specified items
will be listed
• Find performs an AND search when more than one
criterion is specified
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Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus Basic Input
Pure Component Databanks (1)
• Parameters missing from the first selected databank
will be searched for in subsequent selected databanks
Databank Contents Uses
PURE13 Data from the Design Institute for Physical Primary component
Property Data (DIPPR) and AspenTech databank in Aspen Plus
AQUEOUS Pure component parameters for ionic and Simulations containing
molecular species in aqueous solution electrolytes
SOLIDS Pure component parameters for strong Simulations containing
electrolytes, salts, and other solids electrolytes and solids
INORGANIC Thermochemical properties for inorganic Solids, electrolytes, and
components in vapor, liquid, and solid states metallurgy applications
PURE12 Databank delivered with Aspen Plus 12.1 For upward compatibility
PURE11 Databank delivered with Aspen Plus 11.1 For upward compatibility
PURE10 Databank delivered with Aspen Plus 10.1-2 For upward compatibility
PURE93 Databank delivered with Aspen Plus 9.3 For upward compatibility
PURE856 Databank delivered with Aspen Plus 8.5-6 For upward compatibility
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Pure Component Databanks (2)
Databank Contents Uses
AQU92 Aqueous databank compatible with Aspen For upward compatibility
Plus 9.2
ETHYLENE Pure component and binary interaction Ethylene process
parameters for components typically found in simulation
ethylene processes for use with the SRK
property method
ASPENPCD Databank delivered with Aspen Plus 8.5-6 For upward compatibility
COMBUST Pure component parameters for components Simulations containing
typically found in combustion products, combustion products
including free radicals
POLYMER Chains of repeating monomer units Polymers processes
SEGMENT Individual monomer groups or segments Polymers processes
FACTPCD FACT species (components referenced in a Pyrometallurgical
specific pure or solution phase for use only processes
with the Aspen/FACT/Chemapp interface in
Aspen Plus)
PPDS Physical Property Data System databank of Link to PPDS databank
the National Engineering Laboratory
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Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus Basic Input
Properties
• Use the Properties Specifications form to specify the
physical property methods to be used in the simulation
• Property methods are a collection of models and
methods used to describe pure component and mixture
behavior
• Choosing the correct physical properties is critical for
obtaining reliable simulation results
• Selecting a Process Type will narrow the number of
methods available
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Properties Specifications Form
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Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus Basic Input
Streams
• Use Stream Input forms to specify feed stream
conditions, including two of the following:
– Temperature
– Pressure
– Vapor Fraction
• Plus, for stream composition either:
– Total stream flow and component fractions
– Individual component flows
• Specifications for streams that are not feeds to the
flowsheet are used as estimates
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Streams Input Form
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Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus Basic Input
Blocks
• Each Block Input or Block Setup form specifies operating
conditions and equipment specifications for the unit
operation model
• Some unit operation models require additional
specification forms
• All unit operation models have optional information forms
(e.g., Block Options form)
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Block Form
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Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus Basic Input
Starting the Run
• Select Control Panel from the View menu or press the
Next button to be prompted
– Execute the simulation when all required forms are complete.
If you are unsure, use the Next button to take you to any
incomplete forms
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Control Panel
• The Control Panel consists of a:
– Message window showing the progress of the simulation by
displaying the most recent messages from the calculations
– Status area showing the hierarchy and order of simulation
blocks and convergence loops executed
– Toolbar that you can use to control the simulation
Run Start or continue calculations
Step Step through the flowsheet one block at a time
Stop Pause simulation calculations
Reinitialize Purge simulation results
Results Check simulation results
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Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus Basic Input
Reviewing Results
• History file or Control Panel Messages
– Contains any generated errors or warnings (Select History or
Control Panel on the View menu to display the History file or
the Control Panel)
• Stream Results
– Contains stream conditions and compositions (For all streams,
click Results Summary/Streams; for individual streams, click
the stream name in the Streams folder, then select the Results
form)
• Block Results
– Contains calculated block operating conditions (In the Blocks
folder, click the block, then select the Results form)
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Benzene Flowsheet Conditions Workshop (1)
• Objective: Add the process and feed stream conditions to
a flowsheet. Start with the Benzene Flowsheet
([Link])
VAP1
COOLER
FL1 T = 100°F
FEED COOL VAP2
P = 500 psia
Feed T = 200°F
T = 1000°F Pdrop = 0
FL2 P = 1 atm
LIQ1
P = 550 psia Q=0
Hydrogen: 405 lbmol/hr
Methane: 95 lbmol/hr LIQ2
Benzene: 95 lbmol/hr
Toluene: 5 lbmol/hr
Use the PENG-ROB Property Method When finished, save as
filename: [Link]
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Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus Basic Input
Benzene Flowsheet Conditions Workshop (2)
• Results
– What is the heat duty of the COOLER block? _________
– What is the temperature in the FL2 block? _________
• Note: Answers for all of the workshops are located in the
back of the course notes in Appendix C
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