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A Short Primer For Using Aspen Plus Process Simulation Software
A Short Primer For Using Aspen Plus Process Simulation Software
simulation software
There are many subprograms within the Aspen Tech family of software tools. This short
primer focuses on Aspen Plus, a process simulation tool. Many of the other tools
integrate into Aspen Plus while others are stand-alone systems. This first primer outlines
a simple flowsheet involving a distillation column. Hopefully it provides some useful
introduction to Aspen without involving unessential details.
I provide considerable editorial information in this primer that I hope is useful but that
makes it longer than necessary. The essential steps to completing this problem can be
executed by focusing on the numbered items only and ignoring the introductory
explanations and figures in each section. The entire process should take less than 15
minutes in this mode.
Getting Started
1. Navigate to the Aspen Plus User Interface program which will generally be found
under the following sequence of program menus Aspen Tech -> Aspen
Engineering Suite -> Aspen Plus 2004.1 -> Aspen Plus User Interface.
2. The first dialog box you encounter asks you to select either a new simulation or
choose among existing simulations saved to a disk, the latter choice including a
listbox of past simulations. Here we assume you are starting a new simulation.
You may choose either a blank simulation or a template. Here we assume you
want to choose a template. Select Template and OK. Figure 1 illustrates this
dialog box with some of the important selections discussed above highlighted
with red ovals.
Figure 1Opening dialog box in Aspen Plus
3. The next dialog box has two tabs one for simulations and one for refineries.
Choose the simulation tab for this primer. Also, the lower right corner has a drop-
down list box labeled Run Type. Choose Flowsheet for this primer (see Appendix
for other options). Finally, choose a process type and units in which you want to
work from the list of options in dialog box. Here we suggest a Generic Simulation
with English Units. All of these choices can be modified later in the program if
desired. The essential difference among the process types is that Aspen preselects
the thermodynamic models most appropriate for the given process. However, you
are able to override these pre-selected choices if you choose to do so. Figure 2
illustrates this dialog box with some of the important selections discussed above
highlighted with red ovals.
Figure 2Second dialog box in Aspen Plus with selection of process type and run type.
4. You should now have a blank process simulation window open. Also, there should
be series of unit operations choices called the Model Library along the bottom of
the dialog box. If the Model Library does not appear, select Model Library under
the View menu at the top of the page. This page is illustrated in Figure 3.
5. You are now ready to construct a simulation.
6. From this point on, you can step through the minimally required input fields by
selecting the Next button at the top of the page (an uppercase, blue N with a right-
pointing arrow highlighted with a red oval near the top of Figure 3). The Next
function can alternatively be accessed by pressing F4 or by selecting it from the
Tools menu. This will lead you through the various stages of setting up a
simulation.
7. Help files are available at any point from the help menu or, for context-sensitive
help, by pointing at the item with which you want help and pressing F1. However,
Aspen includes several separate help files. They are each accessible from the
same menu, but searches and lists of help topics in the help interface are limited to
the help file that is open. For example, the default help file for the flowsheet is the
Aspen Plus Help file. It contains few details beyond the name and typical
application for the thermodynamic models used within Aspen. For detailed
thermodynamic information (form of equations, temperature and pressure
dependence, etc.), you must select the Aspen Physical Property System Help file.
This (or any of several other help files) can be found by navigating to the Topics
tab in any help file and selecting the topmost choice (a document, not a folder)
labeled Accessing Other Help in the tree-structured illustration of the help file
found in the left panel. The right panel will then include links to all help files
loaded in your software.
Figure 3An example of a blank flowsheet, the starting point for process simulation, with several of
the items discussed above highlighted with red ovals.
B2
3. After connecting all streams select the Next button near the top of the screen (or
choose it by pressing F4 or by selecting it from the Tools menu). If all streams are
properly connected, a dialog box for the project title and default specifications
will open. Otherwise, an indication of a problem will appear.
Overall Specifications
At this point you should be in the Data Browser. This is probably the first time you have
encountered it, but it is central to the program. The insert prompt should be located in a
text box labeled Title and is asking for you to enter a name for the process you are
simulating. Any title (or no title) is fine here. This is possibly the only non-essential
portion of the series of entries the program will ask you to make using the Next button.
However, take a moment to get a feel for the Data Browser as it will be a major interface
to everything else that happens.
Along the left side of the Data Browser dialog box is a tree structure that organizes the
input and output data. The portions that have blue check boxes have all the information
they need but those with red half-full signs require additional input. The Next button will
step through these in a logical sequence, or you can go directly to them using the tree
view. The logical sequence is essentially the same as the order in which red (incomplete)
items appear in this tree view. That is, next you will be asked to specify the components
in the system, then the thermodynamic models you want to use, then the components in
individual streams, then you will skip the defaults for the flowsheet itself as these should
already be specified, then you will specify the concentration and condition (pressure,
temperature, phase, etc.) of components in feed streams, and the final required input will
be specifications for the equipment (blocks) in the process in this case a single
distillation column.
There are a great number of additional options that involve optimization, design, costs,
convergence, etc., but these are not discussed here. For now, the task at this stage is
simple
1. Enter a suitable name for this process
2. Press the Next button
Component Specification
You should now be in the Components Specification section of the Data Browser. In the
tree diagram at the left you can tell where you are by locating the highlighted portion of
the tree. Also, the title of the dialog box should indicate similar information.
There are four specifications for each component (chemical species) that you wish to use
in the calculation. The first is the ID, which is an arbitrary label of up to eight characters
and numbers. An ID that closely resembles the species name is highly preferred as this ID
is used in the output to indicate concentrations, etc. The type will, for now, always be
conventional (other types allow for solids, pseudo species, etc., but conventional is
suitable for any fluid liquid or gas material that is an actual chemical species likely to
be available in the extensive Aspen database). The component name is the name Aspen
databases use for this component. If the ID is the name, such as ACETONE or
ETHANOL, Aspen automatically fills in all remaining boxes for each component. If the
eight-character limit of the ID is too short for the actual name or if there are several
common names for the component, such as BUTANOL, you must help Aspen identify
what you mean. This can be done by typing in as much of the name as will fit in the ID
and choosing the correct species from the list Aspen automatically presents or by using
the Find button at the bottom of this dialog box, in which case Aspen offers several
suggestions based on what you enter and you are to select one. Note that only the species
entered in this dialog box are considered in any calculations specifically processes that
involve chemical reactions or equilibrium reactions only select from the choices entered
here.
In this case, we specify acetone, ethanol, n-butanol, and phenol as the components.
1. Enter IDs in the ID column
2. Complete specifications for any species Aspen does not recognize according to
instructions above.
3. Click the Next button
Streams
This section allows you to specify stream conditions (composition, temperature, pressure,
etc.). The stream for which data are being entered appears in the title of the dialog box
which, although prominent, is easily overlooked. It will have the same ID as it has on the
flowsheet. Generally, at least two of temperature, pressure, or fraction of vapor must be
specified, with the remaining parameter calculated from thermodynamics. The units for
the specifications are based on the default units selected at the beginning of the run but
can be changed locally if desired. The composition of the stream can be specified in a
variety of ways (mole fraction, mass fraction, flow rates, etc.). If you select an intensive
specification, then the total flow must also be specified.
In this case
1. Specify a saturated liquid (0 vapor fraction)
2. Specify14.7 psi
3. Specify an equimolar composition of 25 lb mols/hr flow rate for each of the four
components.
4. Press Next
Since the remaining streams in this simple simulation are all products, there are no more
specifications in the stream section and you should now be at the Block Setup dialog box.
Block Setup
Every type of unit operation has different specifiable parameters. In this case, we have a
distillation column. In this dialog box we indicate whether we want to use an
equilibrium-based model (by far the most common) or a rate-based model (in some
circles more respected and an increasingly important approach). We will use the
equilibrium approach here.
Next we specify the total number of stages. This should be distinguished from the number
of trays as the number of stages potentially includes the condenser (rarely only if it is a
partial condenser) and the reboiler (generally unless it is a total reboiler). We specify 9
in this case. The type of condenser is specified from among the several choices. We
choose a simple total condenser. We accept the defaults for everything else in the setup.
We next specify the operation. Generally two of the many potential specifications are
required. We choose a total distillate rate of 50 lb mols/hr and a reflux ratio of 5.
Pressing next takes us to the next tab in this specification where we indicate the feed
stage location, which we take as above the 5th stage.
Pressing next again takes us to the pressure specification where we specify the pressure at
the condenser. If no other pressure or pressure drop is specified, the entire column is
assumed to operate at this pressure.
Aspen can be used for design (calculating, for example, the reflux ratio needed to achieve
a target separation), optimization, cost accounting, etc. but its default use is as a simulator
and that is what is illustrated here. I will try to write another primer for design, etc. uses.
In this case
1. Accept the default equilibrium specification for the column
2. Specify 9 total stages in the column
3. Accept the defaults for the remaining flows setup parameters.
4. Specify a total distillate flow of of the inlet flow (50 lb mols/hr) and a reflux
ratio of 5.
5. Press Next
6. Specify that the feed is located above the 5th stage.
7. Press Next
8. Specify the column pressure is 1 atm (14.7 psi) at the condenser and no changes
across the stages (no entries in remaining boxes).
9. Press Next
This completes all of the specifications. Pressing next should pop up a dialog box that
tells you that Aspen knows enough to complete the simulation and ask you if you want to
further specify anything. If you select Run, Aspen predicts the resulting compositions,
temperatures, and pressures of the product streams, the stage-by-stage compositions of
vapor and liquid in the column, and all other details of the process.
Figure 5Summary of stream conditions and flow diagram for this simple Primer.
To examine more details of column performance, return to the block specifications and
click on the profiles button. Here the stage-by-stage compositions, temperatures, k-
values, etc. are displayed. As indicated, there are significant compositional changes
between every stage. These can be conveniently plotted within Aspen by running the Plot
Wizard found under the Plot menu in the Data Browser. For example, the gas and liquid
phase composition for the problem appear in Figure 6.
Block B2: Vapor Composition Prof iles
1
ACETONE
0.9
ETHANOL
BUTANOL
0.8
PHENOL
0.7
0.4 0.5 0.6
Y (mole f rac)
0.3
0.2
0.1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Stage
ACETONE
ETHANOL
BUTANOL
0.8
PHENOL
0.6
X (mole frac)
0.4 0.2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Stage
Figure 6Vapor (top) and liquid compositions on a stage-by-stage basis in the simple column used in
this primer. Stage 1 is at the top of the column and Stage 9 is the reboiler.
Appendix
Run Types
The following descriptions of alternative run types indicate the range of choices within
Aspen, including the Flowsheet (process simulator) choice.
Equations of State
Abbreviation Equation of State
Lee-based Methods
BWR-LS BWR Lee-Starling
LK-PLOCK Lee-Kesler-Plcker
Peng-Robinson-based Methods
PENG-ROB Peng-Robinson
PR-BM Peng-Robinson with Boston-Mathias alpha function
PRWS Peng-Robinson with Wong-Sandler mixing rules
PRMHV2 Peng-Robinson with modified Huron-Vidal mixing rules
Redlich-Kwong-based Methods
PSRK Predictive Redlich-Kwong-Soave
RKSWS Redlich-Kwong-Soave with Wong-Sandler mixing rules
RKSMHV2 Redlich-Kwong-Soave with modified Huron-Vidal mixing rules
RK-ASPEN Redlich-Kwong-ASPEN
RK-SOAVE Redlich-Kwong-Soave
RKS-BM Redlich-Kwong-Soave with Boston-Mathias alpha function
Other Methods
SR-POLAR Schwartzentruber-Renon
Activity Coefficient Methods
Abbreviation Liquid Activity Coefficient Vapor Fugacity Coefficient
Pitzer-based Methods
PITZER Pitzer Redlich-Kwong-Soave
PITZ-HG Pitzer Redlich-Kwong-Soave
B-PITZER Bromley-Pitzer Redlich-Kwong-Soave
NRTL-based Methods
ELECNRTL Electrolyte NRTL Redlich-Kwong
ENRTL-HF Electrolyte NRTL HF Hexamerization model
ENRTL-HG Electrolyte NRTL Redlich-Kwong
NRTL NRTL Ideal gas
NRTL-HOC NRTL Hayden-O'Connell
NRTL-NTH NRTL Nothnagel
NRTL-RK NRTL Redlich-Kwong
NRTL-2 NRTL (using dataset 2) Ideal gas
UNIFAC-based Methods
UNIFAC UNIFAC Redlich-Kwong
UNIF-DMD Dortmund-modified UNIFAC Redlich-Kwong-Soave
UNIF-HOC UNIFAC Hayden-O'Connell
UNIF-LBY Lyngby-modified UNIFAC Ideal gas
UNIF-LL UNIFAC for liquid-liquid systems Redlich-Kwong
UNIQUAC-based Methods
UNIQUAC UNIQUAC Ideal gas
UNIQ-HOC UNIQUAC Hayden-O'Connell
UNIQ-NTH UNIQUAC Nothnagel
UNIQ-RK UNIQUAC Redlich-Kwong
UNIQ-2 UNIQUAC (using dataset 2) Ideal gas
VANLAAR-based Methods
VANLAAR Van Laar Ideal gas
VANL-HOC Van Laar Hayden-O'Connell
VANL-NTH Van Laar Nothnagel
VANL-RK Van Laar Redlich-Kwong
VANL-2 Van Laar (using dataset 2) Ideal gas
WILSON-based Methods
WILSON Wilson Ideal gas
WILS-HOC Wilson Hayden-O'Connell
WILS-NTH Wilson Nothnagel
WILS-RK Wilson Redlich-Kwong
WILS-2 Wilson (using dataset 2) Ideal gas
WILS-HF Wilson HF Hexamerization model
WILS-GLR Wilson (ideal gas and liquid enthalpy Ideal gas
reference state)
WILS-LR Wilson (liquid enthalpy reference Ideal gas
state)
WILS-VOL Wilson with volume term Redlich-Kwong
Specialty Methods
Abbreviation K-value Method Application
AMINES Kent-Eisenberg amines model H2S, CO2, in MEA,
DEA, DIPA, DGA
solution
APISOUR API sour water model Sour water with NH3,
H2S, CO2
BK-10 Braun K-10 Petroleum
SOLIDS Ideal Gas/Raoult's law/Henry's law/solid activity Pyrometallurgical
coefficients
CHAO-SEA Chao-Seader corresponding states model Petroleum
GRAYSON Grayson-Streed corresponding states model Petroleum
STEAM-TA ASME steam table correlations Water/steam
STEAMNBS NBS/NRC steam table equation of state Water/steam