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PART V
Simulation Practical Classes

Introduction to Aspen Plus

Javier R. Viguri
Department of Chemistry and Process & Resources Engineering
University of Cantabria
vigurij@unican.es

Introduction to Aspen Plus

Part 1 : Introduction
Part 2 : Properties analysis, Process simulation
Part 3 : Properties analysis:
3.1. Setup (optional)
3.2. Components
3.3. Methods
Part 4 : Process simulation
4.1. Flowsheet
4.2. Streams: Compositions, pressure,
temperature, vapor frac.
4.3 Simple Units: Example
4.4. Running
4.5. Reactors and Distillation Units
Modelado y simulacin en Ingeniera Qumica. Manuel Rodrguez

Part 1. Introduction
Aspen Plus is a market-leading process modeling tool for conceptual
design, optimization, and performance monitoring for the chemical,
polymer, specialty chemical, metals and minerals, and coal power
industries.

What Aspen Plus provides:

Physical Property Models
Worlds largest database of pure component and phase equilibrium
data for conventional chemicals, electrolytes, solids, and polymers.
Regularly updated with data from U.S. National Institute of Standards
and Technology (NIST).
Comprehensive Library of Unit Operation Models
Addresses a wide range of solid, liquid, and gas processing
equipment.
Extends steady-state simulation to dynamic simulation for safety and
controllability studies, sizing relief valves, and optimizing transition,

PROPERTIES ANALYSIS
Properties of pure component and mixtures (Enthalpy, density,
viscosity, heat capacity,etc).
Phase equilibrium (VLE, VLLE, azeotrope calculationetc).
Parameters estimation for properties models (UNIFAC method for
binary parameters, Joback method for boiling pointsetc).
Data regression from experimental data.
PROCESS SIMULATION
Pump, compressor, valve, tank, heat exchanger, CSTR, PFR,
distillation column, extraction column, absorber, filter, crystallizer
etc

What course Aspen Plus can be employed for

MASS AND ENERGY BALANCES

PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING THERMODYNAMICS
CHEMICAL REACTION ENGINEERING
UNIT OPERATIONS
Modelado y simulacin en Ingeniera Qumica. Manuel Rodrguez
PROCESS DESIGN

Part 2. Properties analysis, Process

simulation

Basic Input---Summary
The minimum required inputs to run a
simulation are:
Setup
Components
Properties
Streams
Blocks

Property Analysis

Process Simulation

Data Browser

The Data Browser is a sheet and form viewer with a

hierarchical tree view of the available simulation input, results,
and objects that have been defined.
Modelado y simulacin en Ingeniera Qumica. Manuel Rodrguez

Modelado y simulacin en Ingeniera Qumica. Manuel Rodrguez

Part 3: Properties analysis

Set up
Setup

Modelado y simulacin en Ingeniera Qumica. Manuel Rodrguez

Components

Modelado y simulacin en Ingeniera Qumica. Manuel Rodrguez

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Methods

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Property Method Selection

General Rule

EOS:
Equati
on of
State

WaterBenzene

BenzeneToluene

Modelado y simulacin en Ingeniera Qumica. Manuel Rodrguez

Typical Equation of State

Peng Robinson (PR) EOS

Redlich-Kwong (RK) EOS

Haydon o`Conell (HOC) EOS

Modelado y simulacin en Ingeniera Qumica. Manuel Rodrguez

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Typical Activity Coefficient Mod

Non-Randon-Two Liquid Model (NRTL)

Uniquac Model

Unifac Model

Modelado y simulacin en Ingeniera Qumica. Manuel Rodrguez

Review Databank
Data

Pure Component Temperature-Dependent

Properties

Pure Component TemperatureDependent Properties

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Pure Component Temperature-Dependent

Properties

Modelado y simulacin en Ingeniera Qumica. Manuel Rodrguez

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Overview of Property
Analysis
Use This form

To generate

Pure
Tables and plots of pure component properties as a
function of temperature and pressure
Binary
Txy, Pxy, or Gibbs energy of mixing curves for a
binary system
Residue
Residue curve maps
Ternary
Ternary maps showing phase envelope, tie lines, and
azeotropes of ternary systems
Azeotrope This feature locates all the azeotropes that exist
among a specified set of components.
Ternary Maps
Ternary diagrams in Aspen Distillation
Synthesis feature: Azeotropes, Distillation boundary, Residue
curves or distillation curves, Isovolatility curves, Tie lines, Vapor
curve, Boiling point
Modelado y simulacin en Ingeniera Qumica. Manuel Rodrguez

Part 4: Process simulation

DATA BROWSER

4.1. SIMULATION

Options

MAIN FLOWSHEET
Type
of
strea
ms

Model library

DATA BROWSER

Process stream definition (to be defined in the main flowshett area main flowsheet- normally)
Process blocks definition (to be defined in the work area main flowsheet- normally)
Reactions definition, if exits in the process
Numerical method convergence options: Methods and parameters.
Flowsheeting options (design specifications,...)
Sensitivity, optimization, constraint, data fit...
Equation Orienthed Method to solve mass and energy balances
Run status, convergence, streams, CO2 emissions, costs...

Indicates COMPLETE item

Indicates NOT COMPLETE item

4.2. STREAMS

Click Materials and then click again

on the flowsheet window

When moving the mouse on the arrows, some description appears.

Red arrow (Left) Feed

(Required; one ore more if
mixing material streams)

Cliking the right

side of the mouse
on the stream

Red arrow (Right): Product

(Required; if mixing
material streams)

Blue arrow: Water

decant for Free water
of dirty water.

Specifying Feed Condition

Streams: S1

4.3. OPERATION UNITS

SIMPLE UNITS: MIXER
SPLITTER
PRESSURE CHANGER
SEPARATOR
EXAMPLES
Generally speaking, the user put in the software the
information related with the feed streams and the units
and the software give to the user the information related
with the intermediate streams and product streams and
information related with units. It is not necessary to

introduce the information related with intermediate

streams. Only in some situations it is necessary to put
information in one of the intermediate streams.

4.4. RUNNING
Run
Start or continue calculations
Step
Step through the flowsheet one block at
a time
Stop
Pause simulation calculations
Reinitialize/Reset
Purge ONLY simulation results
Message
Means
NOT INPUTS
Results available The run has completed normally, and results
are present.
Results with warnings
Results for the run are present.
Warning messages were generated during the calculations. View
the Control Panel or History for messages.
Results with errors
Results for the run are present. Error
messages were generated during the calculations. View the Control
Panel or History for messages.
Input Changed
Results for the run are present, but you have
changed the input since the results were generated. The results
may be inconsistent with the current input.

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4.5. Reactors and Distillation Units

Reactors

Modelado y simulacin en Ingeniera Qumica. Manuel Rodrguez

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Distillation Units

Modelado y simulacin en Ingeniera Qumica. Manuel Rodrguez