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When working with the Activated Energy Analysis environment in simulation, all of these areas are
addressed automaticallyanother reason why we recommend users to start with the flowsheet. After,
you want to perform activation and continue from there. This is a much simpler workflow for the retrofit
functionality.
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Q: How would you size the exchanger using EDR with no material streams?
A: Within Aspen Plus, for the heat exchanger model, you can use a HEATX model to represent a heater
or cooler, with one side as material streams and the other side as utilities (such as cooling water or any
component based utility stream). Additionally, you can still use the EDR to size it.
Q: After implementing an automatic quick check of possible solutions to improve the process, is it
possible for the software to also apply those possible solutions?
A: Yes, it is possible, but we have to discover all the different scenarios as they are not always practical.
For instance, in the case of this webinar demonstration, if you involve the reboiler and condensed
streams, we have to find a way to expose those internal streams in order to implement a new heat
exchanger.
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Q: Is there a way to show where the heat exchangers should be placed in order to achieve target
heating and cooling?
A: This is exactly what the energy optimization is trying to do. When you analyze the energy optimization
solution, it is beneficial to see the duties in the savings potential form to tell you why the optimization is
trying to add or relocate a heat exchanger to a specific location. In this webinar demonstration, if you look
at why the optimization is trying to remove the low pressure (LP) steam in the reboiler and compare it to
the cross pinch, you will see that the reboiler is below the pinch but it is using the heat which is incorrect
for a cross-pinch analysis point of view.
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Q: Is there a way to optionally cool down a stream for energy savings so its not required, but
allowed?
A: Energy analysis automatically decides the optimal changes on heat recovery to save cost.
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Q: Regarding this webinar demonstration, can you use the reboiler of column A as the reboiler of
column B?
A: From this webinar demonstration you could, with some modifications. We provide multiple energy
optimization solutions, so that if the best option from the energy analysis point of view is not the most
feasible, you can select the next one. For example, using the reboiler of column A as the reboiler of
column B.
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Q: When adding streams manually, do you need to write and
separately or is
enough?
A: If you want to use the automatic retrofit functionality, you must specify the flow rate and therefore
is not enough. However, if you only want to do the energy targeting calculations,
is enough.
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Q: What temperature delta does Activated Energy Analysis use, and do you adjust the
temperature delta after the economical consideration?
A: Based on the scenario, Activated Energy Analysis will assign a temperature delta based on a rule of
thumb database. Additionally, if the user cannot find a scenario or would like to customize it, they can
manually set the temperature approach. Aspen Energy Analyzer can calculate the optimal heat recovery
temperature approach based on the trade-off of energy target and capital cost target.
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Q: Are the utility costs calculation and economic analysis similar to Aspen Process Economic
Analyzer?
A: Aspen Process Economic Analyzer also uses utility costs, which should be consistent with Activated
Energy Analysis.
Q: How is the cost calculated without asking the user about materials of construction? How
accurate is the cost estimation?
A: Currently, Activated Energy Analysis includes a default cost rule for the heat exchangers. In a project,
we recommend going to the cost correlations to develop the detailed cost correlations used in other tools,
such as Aspen Capital Cost Estimator. It is suggested to assign the cost rule for different matches to get
a more reasonable and accurate cost, therefore it is up to the user to polish the correlations in their
projects. Additionally, the next step in the workflow after implementing your changes from your Activated
Energy Analysis solutions is to run Activated Economics in order to get a complete picture of the capital
cost of the alternatives.
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Q: Cost can be reduced by increasing the number of exchangers; however that can increase
equipment costs. Does Activated Energy Analysis address this cost balance?
A: Compared to the traditional cross-pinch method, Activated Energy Analysis automatically generates
ideas of changes and tries to produce the most economically optimized solution, taking into consideration
tradeoffs of capital cost expenditures to the energy cost savings. Finding this tradeoff is why the cost
information is absolutely critical for the optimal solution.
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Q: Is it possible to work with Activated Energy Analysis in the equation-oriented approach in
Aspen Plus?
A: Yes, Activated Energy Analysis supports the EO model in Aspen Plus.