Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus Aspen OSE Workbook

Aspen OSE Workbook

Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus

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Lesson Objectives
• Improve model deployment via the Aspen OSE
Workbook

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Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus Aspen OSE Workbook

Overview of Aspen OSE Workbook

• Aspen OSE Workbook is an Excel Add-in tool which links
process simulation models to Microsoft Excel
• No programming knowledge is required to use this tool
• Aspen OSE Workbook contains tools to link simulation
variables and process tags to Excel worksheets
– Assemble tables from lists of tags and model variables, then
drop these as tables in Excel
– Automatic formatting can be applied to the tables
– Additional tools to select and run a model

• Aspen OSE Workbook makes it easier to deploy models

in Excel and offers performance benefits over previous
methods such as OLE links and VBA

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Aspen OSE Workbook

• Support all core simulation products – same look and
feel for Aspen Plus, Aspen HYSYS, ACM...
• Aspen OSE Workbook is one
of several components to be
included in the Open Simulation
Environment – it is NOT a
stand-alone product
Aspen OSE Workbook is an offline model
deployment tool delivered with OSE Base

• Release 2004 – Desktop

• Release 2006 – Web based

• Aspen OSE Workbook requires an additional license

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Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus Aspen OSE Workbook

Aspen OSE Base Components

• Aspen OSE Base 2004 includes Aspen OSE Workbook;
other components are still in the development phase
• Aspen OSE Base will expand to include additional
features, as shown below:
Aspen OSE Base 2004
OSE OSE Open
Workbook CaseTools Simulation
Environment
Model
Model Analysis & Execution &
Deployment Management Interoperability

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Aspen OSE Workbook: Making it Easier to

Deploy Models to a Wider Group of Users
Engineers and
Other Users in the
Field

It is possible to
use OLE and VBA to
link models to Excel,
Aspen OSE
Visual Basic but this is time
Workbook
/ OLE consuming and
requires additional
expertise

Simulation Expert
in R&D Center

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Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus Aspen OSE Workbook

Workflow to Link a Model to Excel with Aspen

OSE Workbook
Develop model Populate the Create tables Add equations,
using Aspen Plus Organizer with with Organizer apply formats,
or Aspen HYSYS model variables table wizard – set protection, etc.
to be included drop into Excel using standard
in Excel features of Excel

Link Excel to Pull tags into Map tags to Create plant

Plant Data Tags the Organizer model variables data tables to
using IP21/PI/… drop into Excel

Note: The variable Organizer puts a layer between your model links
and the cells in Microsoft Excel. This helps to prevent you
from accidentally deleting links.

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MethylChlorate Column Example (1)

Original model:
Inputs and results
scattered across
many forms in the
Aspen Plus GUI
Results difficult to
display directly on
PFD schema

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Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus Aspen OSE Workbook

MethylChlorate Column Example (2)

Automation
via Controls

Workbook
Functions
Aspen OSE:
Inputs and
results are
consolidated
into a small
area and can be
dropped onto a
PDF schematic

Note: Many calculations are done in Excel

instead of using Calculator blocks in Aspen Plus
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MethylChlorate Column Example (3)

• Sample Aspen OSE Workbook Results

Results from several unit operation models can

be consolidated into one set of charts and tables
Plant data from tags can be plotted over model
predictions, as shown
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Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus Aspen OSE Workbook

MethylChlorate Column Example (4)

• Running Play / stop buttons
to run the model
the Aspen
Plus model Control panel messages
are stored in the log file
from Excel
Hourglass shows model
is currently running

Model takes new inputs, runs, and

updates all the results

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Automation Features Available

• Aspen OSE Workbook adds new Functions and Macros
to Microsoft Excel
– Functions to activate models, make visible, run…
– Functions to echo simulation status (print status in a cell)

• Allows you to further automate your sheets

– Add buttons to run the model, etc
– Display information about the model in cells

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Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus Aspen OSE Workbook

Aspen OSE Workbook Example (1)

• Assemble a Microsoft Excel interface for the cumene
flowsheet using Aspen OSE Workbook:
RECYCLE

REACTOR

COOL
FEED
REAC-OUT COOL-OUT SEP 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

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Aspen OSE Workbook Example (2)

• When completed, the interface should appear as:

Aspen OSE Aspen OSE

Workbook Workbook
functions macros
Excel
forms

Aspen
Plus
model Autoformat
variables Table

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Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus Aspen OSE Workbook

Aspen OSE Workbook Toolbars

Design Toolbar Run Toolbar
Open the Insert Toggle Refresh Activate/ Make View
Variable Process Auto- Excel with Deactivate Stop model Message
Organizer Icons Update Simulation model Model visible Logs

Enable/ Import Lock/Unlock Select Run Reinitialize Update

Disable OSE Tags into Design Simulation Model Model Tags
Workbook Organizer Mode Case

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Aspen OSE Workbook Drop-Down Menu

• All of the functions of Aspen OSE Workbook are also
available from the drop-down menu

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Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus Aspen OSE Workbook

The Model Variable Organizer

Organizer Toolbar: Shortcuts
to perform common tasks Variable Properties
Pane: View all
properties of
selected variable;
modify properties

Navigation Variable Grid: Sort/View/

Pane: Select Modify Variable Properties,
which task select variables for tables,
to perform add/delete variables

Data Control: Navigate to a variable

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Aspen OSE Workbook Toolbar

Quick table
Fit Expand Collapse Create from
Activate/ Columns All Groups All Groups table from template or Open
Deactivate in Variable in Variable in Variable selected define new variable
model Grid Grid Grid variables templates browser

Enable/ Make Show Column Clear Show/Hide Delete Paste Publish

Disable model Customization Column Variable selected variables variables
OSE visible List (sorting) Groups Properties variables
Workbook pane

Workbook Functions

Organizer Functions

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Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus Aspen OSE Workbook

Developing the Interface

1. Attach a model to Microsoft Excel
2. Select model variables
– Using the simulation graphical user interface
– Using the Variable Browser

3. Create and add tables

4. Add OSE Workbook and Excel functions, macros, and
automation, etc.

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Attach a Model to Microsoft Excel (1)

1. Develop a robust model using Aspen Plus,
Aspen HYSYS, Aspen Custom Modeler, etc.
2. Create a new Microsoft Excel sheet
– You may need to make the Aspen OSE Workbook toolbars
visible. If so, select View/Toolbars from the menu bar.

3. Enable the Aspen OSE Workbook

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Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus Aspen OSE Workbook

Attach a Model to Microsoft Excel (2)

4. Choose Edit List from the dropdown to attach a
simulation file

Click Open to
link to specified
simulation case

Click Browse… Valid file types are specified

to open browser in a configuration file

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Select Model Variables (1)

Using the simulation Graphical User Interface:
1. Activate simulation
2. Make simulation visible
3. Navigate to variable using simulator’s native GUI
4. Select variable and
copy (Ctrl-C)
Model variables are
linked to worksheet
cells using the
Variable Organizer

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Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus Aspen OSE Workbook

Select Model Variables (2)

5. Return to Excel and open the Organizer
6. Right-click and select “Paste…” or use the Paste
toolbar button
Variables can be copied
from the simulation GUI
and pasted into the
Organizer (as shown here)
or
Within the Organizer, you
can navigate to model
variables using the
Variable Browser (shown
on the next slide)

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Select Model Variables (3)

Using the Variable Browser:
1. Within the Organizer, click the Variable Browser
icon on the
Organizer toolbar
2. Select variable
from the browser
and click
Add Selected
button to get
variable into
the Organizer

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Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus Aspen OSE Workbook

Create Tables (1)

1. Select the variables to add to new table
2. Right-click and select Create Table… or click

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Create Tables (2)

3. Select location to insert table in Excel worksheet
The table wizard leads you
through steps to define the table

4. Set up table
look and feel
(title, borders,
styles)

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Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus Aspen OSE Workbook

Create Tables (3)

5. Define table attributes
in the Columns sheet
6. Preview table in the
Rows sheet

• You can also use the Quick

Tables button ( ) to make or
use an OSE Table Template.

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Edit Tables

Use standard Excel

tools to apply cell
formatting and borders

To edit an existing table:

– Right-click over the table and
select OSE Tables
– From the submenu, select
Modify Table…
This brings up the Table wizard

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Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus Aspen OSE Workbook

Aspen OSE Workbook fx Functions

=OSESimulationPath("")
=OSESimulationAttribute("","Status")

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Aspen OSE Workbook Macros

• Automate
OSE Workbook
functions using
Excel forms
– Add a button
– Right-click and
choose Assign
OSE Macro…
– Choose the OSE
Macro type and
click OK

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Process Modeling Using Aspen Plus Aspen OSE Workbook

Other Aspen Workbook OSE Functions

• Change units of measurement for model variables in Microsoft Excel
• Add process icons to develop a PFD in Microsoft Excel
• Deactivate some features (model viewing, editing, etc.) before
publishing the model for the end user
• Use Parameters to expose Calculator variables allowing them to be
manipulated by other objects in the simulation
• Use your plant information software (i.e., Aspen InfoPlus.21) and
Excel add-in tools to map plant tags to model variables
• Integrate Equation-Oriented models into Excel

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