question stringlengths 19 6.88k | answer stringlengths 38 33.3k |
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Problem Statement: How to simulate a Reactive Divided Wall Column (RDWC) and solve possible convergence issues. | Solution: ThisSolution illustrates how to simulate in Aspen Plus a Reactive Divided Wall Column (RDWC). An example file is also provided. The synthesis of Methyl Acetate and the reverse reaction, the hydrolysis of Methyl Acetate are popular test systems for studies of Reactive Distillation. The equilibrium reaction of ... |
Problem Statement: Can Aspen Plus simulations be run asynchronously through the ActiveX interface? | Solution: Yes. This can be accomplished with Release 10.1 of Aspen Plus and higher.
Visual Basic applications are not required to wait for Aspen Plus to complete its calculations after simulations are launched. For example, a Visual Basic application can launch an Aspen Plus simulation, perform other calculations and t... |
Problem Statement: How to import and export property data using the IK-CAPE neutral file (*.ikc) format. | Solution: Aspen Plus 10 and higher supports the IK-CAPE neutral file as a way to transfer select physical property parameters and data between different applications. Currently, only some scalar parameters are exported; however, some temperature-dependent parameters such as the DIPPR ideal gas heat capacity correlation... |
Problem Statement: I would like to program a CAPE-OPEN unit. Is there any help available? | Solution: Attached to thisSolution you will find a project wizard, to be used with Visual Basic 6.0 SP3.
To install the wizard:
1 - Unzip the attached archive to a temporary folder
2 - Start the setup.exe and follow the directions.
To use the wizard double-click on CAPE-OPEN Unit Operation Wizard.vbz in \Program Files\... |
Problem Statement: How is the new Hierarchy structure used? How can I get a large flowsheet into Hierarchy blocks? | Solution: Use Hierarchy blocks to provide hierarchical structure to complex simulations. Also, Hierarchy blocks may be added automatically when importing templates into a simulation. Hierarchy blocks may contain streams and other blocks (even other Hierarchy blocks), as well other features like design specifications an... |
Problem Statement: Why are specific heat results for mixtures that exhibit vapor phase association different from literature values ? | Solution: Aspen Plus always reports the specific heat including the reactive heat effects, while the literature data are referenced to the ideal-gas equivalent heat capacity, which in AspenPlus is called CPIG.
The attached ZIP archive contains a report based on pure acetic acid, showing quantitatively the discrepancies... |
Problem Statement: How to import and export property data using the CAPE-OPEN Property Package file (*.cota) format. | Solution: Aspen Properties (as well as Aspen Plus) 10.2 and higher supports the CAPE-OPEN Property Package file as a way to transfer physical property parameters and data between different applications. To enable this, Aspen Properties provides functions to import and export property data in this CAPE-OPEN (.cota) form... |
Problem Statement: DCOM (Distributed COM) allows creating objects (and executing methods, getting and modifying properties on them, catching events) on remote computers. This option could be used to:
Run Aspen Plus from a remote light client
Run the same file on several servers in parallel from the same client | Solution: The Visual Basic project attached to thisSolution is the simplest possible standalone client to demonstrate accessing Aspen Plus using the DCOM interface. The readme.doc document contains more information, including:
A simple description of the concepts involved in the DCOM technology
Some pointers to the Mic... |
Problem Statement: I have created a stream library, which I am using to retrieve stream data to use in my problem. Why is the data not being picked up when I run the problem? | Solution: Stream library values do not overwrite the user input so if the user has entered values in the input form, these will be used.
The stream should be cleared before loading the stream library values.
Keywords:
References: None |
Problem Statement: If you compute the heat capacity of liquid propane at 303.15 K using the DIPPR equation, the result will be 1.22519 E+05 J/(kmol K), but if you retrieve the parameter results and try to reproduce the computation using the form of the equation documented in the Aspen Plus 10.2 Physical Property Method... | Solution: The reason is because AspenPlus is using another form of the DIPPR equation for propane, as you can see by generating a text report for the simulation (Menu->View->Report->Simulation).
In this report, you can also have the THRSWT displayed. A thermoswitch (THRSWT) is a parameter that controls which form of an... |
Problem Statement: How do I figure out variable names in the Variable Explorer? For some reason, these names do not always have anything to do with the input language names? | Solution: Many of the Aspen Plus variable names are quite cryptic and others are all similar due to historical reasons. This can make it difficult to locate the variable of interest in the Variable Explorer when trying to develop a VB application.
In Aspen Plus 11.1 and higher, there is a Go To dialog in the variable e... |
Problem Statement: Potential savings on CAPEX, OPEX and Energy consumed by process plants, lost due to use of simple heat exchanger models in Aspen HYSYS flowsheets | Solution: Rigorous heat exchanger models incorporated in process flow sheets enhances the fidelity of the flowsheet enabling you to reduce CAPEX, OPEX and Energy consumed.
Aspen HYSYS enables you to develop rigorous heat exchanger models in just few clicks, from within the flowsheet.
Here we demonstrate how you can dev... |
Problem Statement: Is it possible to read the temperature profile in an RPLUG reactor into Microsoft Excel via VBA? | Solution: Below is the code fragment from the attached models. The basic premise is to sample the collection of temperature profile points from the RPLUG results. In this example, a count of the children under Blocks.RPLUG.Output.B_TEMP.MIXED is accessed using the elements qualifier (see below).
Public Sub rplugTprofi... |
Problem Statement: In the Aspen Properties 11.1 Toolkit reference manual (APROP 111 Toolkit.pdf), the interface to access the physical property calculation routines of Aspen Plus / Aspen Properties from a standalone executable is documented. This interface was available to customers in the past but was not documented.
... | Solution: If you are starting a new project, you may consider using the CAPE-OPEN interface as a more modernSolution to this problem. The difference is that the latter relies on a COM interface and typically requires programming in Visual Basic or C++. SeeSolutions:
http://support.aspentech.com/webteamcgi/SolutionDispl... |
Problem Statement: In Aspen Plus 10.2 it is not possible to access directly any User3 block variables via the User Interface. This | Solution: describes the procedure to access User3 block variables to use in a design-spec. You will be able to access variables in the usual way in a future release.Solution
As an example of the procedure needed to access User3 block variables, the example in thisSolution uses the cyclohexane example. The files are con... |
Problem Statement: How does Aspen Plus extrapolates temperature-dependent property equations at the lower and upper temperature limits? | Solution: The default extrapolation method is linear extrapolation. That is, the slope at the temperature limit is used to extrapolate linearly beyond the temperature limit.
Exception 1 - If the property equation has the form:
ln (Prop) = a + b/T
Extrapolation will be based on the slope of ln(prop) versus 1/T. This ex... |
Problem Statement: How do I use PPMON_CALPRP, the general property monitor to retrieve thermodynamic and transport properties with derivatives? | Solution: See attached subroutine below.
Keywords: propery monitor
SUBROUTINE PPMON_CALPRP(T, P, X, NX, N, IDX, NBOPST, KDIAG,
1 KBASE, PROPS, NPROP, PHASES, NPHASE, RESULT, NRESULT,
2 IRESULT, KERR)
C
References: None |
Problem Statement: Clean fuels legislation in North America, Europe and elsewhere requiring the introduction of ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuels has created major challenges for refiners, equipment manufacturers and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) companies. Refineries that wish to compete in the UL... | Solution: The featured publication Design without delay by Matt Reinsdorf and Larry Short (Fluor Corporation) and Brian Wood (Aspen Technology) in the March 2005 issue of Hydrocarbon Engineering presents a newSolution to simplify and accelerate the initial process design phase of ULSD projects. It uses Aspen HYSYS as t... |
Problem Statement: What does NaN mean? | Solution: NaN stands for Not-a-Number and is used to represent that no numeric value is available to be displayed. This is the IEEE (Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers) arithmetic representation for Not-a-Number. This value would result from operations which have undefined or unavailable numerical resul... |
Problem Statement: Value or Time in Visual Basic are keywords in Visual Basic.
VALUE and TIME are, for example, needed to access a Design-spec in a RadFrac block and time profiles in BatchFrac, respectively. VB automatically changes them to lower case keywords ( Value and Time). This results in a run-time error when ru... | Solution: The workaround is to use .Elements(VALUE) or .Elements(TIME) to access the Aspen Plus variables. For example to set the Target value for the first Design Spec in a RadFrac block (named B1) to 0.99:
go_Simulation.Tree.Data.Blocks.B1.Input.Elements(VALUE).Elements(0).Value = 0.99
go_Simulation being an object o... |
Problem Statement: How is it possible to transfer mass flowrates from Aspen Plus to a USER2 Excel model? In the example provided in the Getting Started guide ''Customizing Unit Operation Models'', only molar flowrates are passed from Aspen Plus to the Excel worksheet. | Solution: Modify the USRXLS.F routine that acts as an interface between Aspen Plus and Excel. This routine is described in the Aspen Plus 10.2 User Models guide. page 5-23 and in the Aspen Plus 10.2 Getting Started guide ''Customizing Unit Operation Models'', page 2-25.
By default, Aspen Plus passes only a limited numb... |
Problem Statement: How to calculate HCOMB using the higher and lower heating values | Solution: Let's take an example on the coal.
Given: High Heating Value = 5300 Btu/lb (wet-based ,ash included)
Low Heating Value = 4800 Btu/lb
Coal Composition (wet based) = moisture 38 %, Ash 10 %, the other 52%
The heat released during complete combustion with oxygen is known as heat of combustion. High heating val... |
Problem Statement: Is there a quick reference guide for ACM modeling and task language? | Solution: See the attached documents (Word 2003 and pdf file). The document applies to version 2004.1 but only a few features do not apply to previous versions.
Keywords: None
References: None |
Problem Statement: How do I resolve version compatibility problems with Aspen HYSYS VBA macros? | Solution: Depending on how a macro is coded, you may or may not run into issues on a machine that has multiple versions of Aspen HYSYS installed. Here are some general guidelines for how to resolve issues that may arise in this case.
Check the version of the referenced HYSYS type library
In VBA, you can add a referen... |
Problem Statement: Why “Edit Properties” pops up every time I try to load Tags or run the file from AOT? | Solution: This issue happens between AOT and Aspen Plus Dynamics file. When we try to load Tags or run AOT , the following message pops up although properties is already configured in that Aspen Plus Dynamics file:
To resolve this issue, we need to first create an “.aprbkp” file from Aspen Plus steady state file:
The... |
Problem Statement: How can I reduce the load on the PCWS so that it is faster to navigate and/or does not crash from overloading? | Solution: Here are some best practices for reducing loading on the web server:
When there are a lot of IQ applications, the Aspen APC Web Data Provider Service could be spending much of its time trying to store history in the plot backup history files. For each IQ application, lower the MAXPLOTHOURS and PLOTHOURS to 24... |
Problem Statement: How to draw disconnected streams in APEA? | Solution: New streams can be drawn and connected to the equipments in the Process Flow Diagram, to do so, follow the procedure below:
Go to View | Process Flow Diagram
Select the Draw Disconnected Stream button to choose streams that you want to draw and attach it to the process equipment of desire.
The Disconnec... |
Problem Statement: In the building component, do the costs generated by control building selection include the elevated false floor often installed in control buildings? | Solution: Unlike most Components, buildings are done on a cost per area (ie, $/square foot). The added cost from an elevated, false, floor, can be taken into account by using the High or Very High cost adjustment, or entering your own cost per area. There is a complete discussion of buildings in the Icarus
Keywords... |
Problem Statement: Aspen Plus can perform simultaneous phase and chemical equilibrium computations in the RGIBBS block. This computation is required to build distributed high-temperature models such as:
metallurgical applications (blast furnace)
combustion processes
Is it possible to call the RGIBBS reactor model of As... | Solution: Yes, you can call an Aspen Plus model using the COM interface. For more on the COM interface see the Aspen Plus 10.2 User Guide, Chapter 38 and the examples in D:\Program Files\AspenTech\Aspen Plus 10.2\GUI\vbexample.
The attached example runs within Excel 2000. The same code can be used to wrap RGIBBS in a f... |
Problem Statement: How to resolve the time out warning in AOT? | Solution: When a Hysys file is run from AOT, following timeout warning messages may be generated on AOT message window:
These warning messages aren’t critical. Every time we exchange data between AOT, OPC server/client and simulators, we have a time limit, the warning message means some transactions abort and we use p... |
Problem Statement: How to modify Heater Dynamic temperature spec from Event Scheduler? | Solution: In a Heater block, the temperature spec in the Dynamic tab determines the Heater outlet temperature during a dynamic run.
From Event Scheduler, if you want to manipulate this variable, please make sure to select “T Spec, Product T Control” variable. There are several other Temperature variable available like... |
Problem Statement: The Aspen DMC/DMC3 Controller can read tag values but cannot write them to Siemens’ DCS PCS7 using Aspen CIM-IO for OPC server. Test API confirms this behavior as it is successful in testing Get but fails in testing Put.
The following errors can be seen in the CIMIO_MSG.log:
CIMIO_OPC_CONNECTSINK_FA... | Solution: Siemens OPC server uses synchronous writes, whereas the default settings are asynchronous writes because it works well for other vendors. To change these settings, please follow these steps:
Open Cim-IO Interface Manager
Stop the OPC server
Select OPC Interface on the left side
Check the box for Perform synch... |
Problem Statement: Aspen Mtell quick installation and start up guide | Solution: This article will explain how to install Aspen Mtell Server and Desktop Application.
Note: Please refer Aspen Mtell V11.1 Installation Guide for detailed information:
Prerequisites Installation:
1. Install Microsoft .NET Framework 4.6.2, refer KB: 000014359 for steps to install Microsoft .NET Framework 4.6... |
Problem Statement: When I do the project export to Excel the bulk items spreadsheets are empty, why? | Solution: Aspen Capital Cost Estimator generates the bulk items automatically and this will be reflected in the project report. When the project is exported to an Excel spreadsheet, the user will only be able to see the bulk items that were manually entered inside ACCE.
If the volumetric models are loaded, such as the... |
Problem Statement: Is the ASME stamp included in the vessel price? | Solution: Vessels manufactured in the United States will carry the ASME code stamp certifying that these vessels have been designed and fabricated to code standards. This stamp is included in the price.
Vessel manufactured outside the United States are to be designed and fabricated according to code standards as well, ... |
Problem Statement: I am getting an error referring to a problem with one of my areas, and I can't figure out why or what area it is referring to. It seems to refer to a component reference number, but that doesn't make sense...
>ERROR> ' - 0' INVALID AREA LENGTH AND/OR WIDTH error for AREA | Solution: The error message is confusing when it refers to a component reference id number and component name. Actually, it is incorrect, however, check each of your AREA SPECS to make sure that you have not input an invalid length and width.
If you input a question mark (?), this error message will be generated.
If yo... |
Problem Statement: How does the Blend Recipe Stabilization work within the Global Optimization in MBO? | Solution: When there is a non-zero value in the Deviation Penalty field,
MBO adds a penalty term in the objective function with a negative coefficient of the magnitude entered in the field.
This penalty term is made up of a summation of the percentage difference for each blend and each component vs the average recipe... |
Problem Statement: What are the steps needed to change Audit Property Status settings using the ChangeAuditAttribute.exe utility? | Solution: ChangeAuditAttribute changes the AUDIT_PROPERTY setting. The ChangeAuditAttribute.exe utility is located in folder:
64-bit Aspen InfoPlus.21: %ProgramFiles%\AspenTech\InfoPlus.21\db21\code
32-bit Aspen InfoPlus.21: %ProgramFiles(x86)%\AspenTech\InfoPlus.21\db21\code
A DOS prompt appears and it asks for the ... |
Problem Statement: Why do I get strange component efficiency result from RadFrac Rate Based modeling? | Solution: Normally, the efficiency should be between 0 and 1. However, in the rate-based mode, the liquid and vapor phases leaving a stage are at different temperatures. Therefore the K-values are not well defined. Aspen Plus uses the liquid temperature, liquid compositions and vapor compositions to re-calculate the K-... |
Problem Statement: How can I have all my reports from ACCE generated in one single file? | Solution: In ACCE V11.0, the New Reporter creates the reports in separate PDF files, but to get all of the reports in one single file the Old Reporter must be used. This can be set in Tools | Options | Preferences | General over Reporter Options
Once this is done, the Capital Costs can be run. After that the Standard ... |
Problem Statement: How to send a successful Aspen Online model run time (timestamp) to a data historian? | Solution: Follow the steps mentioned below:
Define an output string tag in your historian to receive the timestamp
Define the same tag in the Aspen OnLine project and this should be a formula tag. Note that the “CIM-IO Source” should be “ASC” for this tag instead of typically “DBVL”
The formula should be something as ... |
Problem Statement: How to export datasheet from Excel Datasheet editor in Aspen Basic Engineering? | Solution: To export a current datasheet from Excel Datasheet editor:
1. Go to the Document group on the Aspen Datasheet tab and click Detach
2. Select the location and name for the exported document and click OK.
Note: After a file is exported, the new XLSM file is independent of the Aspen Basic Engineering database. ... |
Problem Statement: Are trays installed in the shop by the vendor or in the field? | Solution: By default the trays are installed in the shop and so the material and labor costs are included in the equipment cost. The labor for installing the trays is not part of the setting cost.
You can force the program to install the trays in the field by removing the trays from the column ? this is done by excludi... |
Problem Statement: Does my building cost include the foundation for the building? | Solution: No. You enter the foundation cost through the civil installation bulk form for the building. The field on the main Project Component form for the Foundation type does not actually create a foundation. It is a descriptive field to let you know what type of foundation the building will be built upon.
Keywords: ... |
Problem Statement: In the Sulsim subflowsheet, for the incinerator operation there is a section in the parameters tab called Breakthrough. What does that mean and what does it do for incinerators? | Solution: The breakthrough percents determine how much of the given components is inhibited from the reaction. The default values are 50% for CO and Hydrogen and 0% for all other components. The default calculations assume complete oxidation of all combustible components, including hydrocarbons and H2S, COS and CS2.
F... |
Problem Statement: Does Aspen Capital Cost Estimator include weld rod in the cost estimate? | Solution: Aspen Capital Cost Estimator does not count weld rod cost. If a user wants to add this cost to the estimate, it can be added as consumable and small tools under Project basis view | Basis for capital cost | Indirects.
Keywords: Indirect
References: None |
Problem Statement: How do I resolve the DLL error when Publishing results in APS? | Solution: When you try to publish results in APS sometimes you might run into the below error:
This could be caused due to the wrong version of MS Access Db engine installed which replaces the supported version of MS Access DB Engine.
To Resolve this, uninstall the existing version of Access database engine and instal... |
Problem Statement: How do you identify the number of active sites and the relative activity of each active site of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst, using molecular weight distribution as measured by GPC from a single-stage lab or plant data set? | Solution: Attached is an Excel based MWD deconvolution utility. This utility was developed by AspenTech to help interpret measured molecular weight distributions to infer the number of active sites and to understand the relative contribution of each type of active site.
If you encounter errors when using this program,... |
Problem Statement: How do you identify the number of active sites and the relative activity of each active site of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst, using molecular weight distribution as measured by GPC from a single-stage lab or plant data set? | Solution: Attached is an Excel based MWD deconvolution utility. This utility was developed by AspenTech to help interpret measured molecular weight distributions to infer the number of active sites and to understand the relative contribution of each type of active site.
If you encounter errors when using this program,... |
Problem Statement: Best Practices: Aspen Report Writer Data Functions and Data Placement Functions | Solution: In Aspen Report Writer, data functions and data placement functions play crucial roles to create a template. Users could follow best practices to make the template well organized and performed.
Best Practices for Data Functions:
Create a “Data Sets” worksheet as the first worksheet, and place all database an... |
Problem Statement: Once the user has defined the cut points, and mapped the crudes and their properties, sometimes you might see that the transfer button is grayed out. | Solution: This can happen because the user has not selected the Assay Data Source in the Map Crudes section for Assay Manager to be able to transfer the data. Please refer to the screenshots below. In the first screenshot, the source is not selected:
You have to use the Change Selection Sources button and specify the ... |
Problem Statement: How to filter small coefficients in PIMS models? | Solution: To filter and find small coefficients is important to make PIMS modelSolution stable and optimization process converge well. Matrix analyzer provide the option to filter coefficients in the matrix file.
To use this function, users need to open matrix analyzer and go to Tools>> Program Options>> Filter Toleran... |
Problem Statement: How can I transfer only the stream composition using the transfer manipulator? | Solution: Follow the steps described below to transfer just the composition of one stream to another:
Have the Origin and Objective streams defined.
Add a Transfer manipulator to copy the entire information from the origin stream to the objective stream.
Add a Calculator manipulator to overwrite the operation variab... |
Problem Statement: From Aspen Petroleum Scheduler interface, one can select Actual data to be displayed in trends. Where is the Actual data stored in the database? | Solution: Actual or Plant values are stored in ORION_MGR_PLANT_VALUES table. The data in this table can be displayed in the following screens:
Model Accuracy (as Plant Values)
Planning Targets (as Actual)
Events (as Actual)
For the Planning Targets and Events screens, if there are multiple records per day with the sam... |
Problem Statement: What is the difference between Iteration and Recursion Passes in DR (Distributive Recursion)? | Solution: An iteration can be viewed as a simplex iteration where the Objective Function Value improves from one iteration to another on a constant matrix, whereas recursion passes update the matrix coefficients calculated from the optimal activity values of distributive recursion terms.
In some instance the iteratio... |
Problem Statement: How to create an Aspen Report Writer template from scratch? | Solution: To create an Aspen Report Writer template from scratch, users could take following process and add customization based on need.
Build the report framework:
Develop a preliminary format of the desired report structure in an Excel worksheet
Identify Report Writer data functions you will need to use to build the... |
Problem Statement: How do you change the write unit dependent on the current situation? | Solution: Attached is an example of using write commands.
Different write commands and output units are tested:
a.) Write to >>MAXWRT_MAXBUF<<
Calc-block: C-MXWRT
C ---
C Declaration
F #include ''dms_maxwrt.cmn''
C ---
C Executable fortran code:
F WRITE(MAXWRT_MAXBUF(1), *)
F CALL DMS_WRTTRM (1)
Note:
The... |
Problem Statement: How to generate Aspen Report Writer queries in PSC Suite Applications? | Solution: Aspen Report Writer functions use the queries generated from database tables to create data sets. So to correctly use Report Writer, first thing is to create RW queries in the databases.
In PIMS, Output Database>>Options>>Create Report Writer Queries option should be selected to generate RW queries in databas... |
Problem Statement: How does selecting an Installation option affect the cost of my equipment in ACCE? | Solution: Any Equipment component in ACCE allows to modify the installation Option for any of the following alternatives: STANDARD (Default), SPAR, WHSP, EXIS, SUPP and DEML.
This article will illustrate the effect of each of this Installation Options by using a Vertical Process Vessel as reference, using the informati... |
Problem Statement: How do I generate Case Comparison report for Parametric Analysis in PIMS AO? | Solution: Case comparison is generated from the results written into the database. To generate case comparison report for Parametric Analysis you first need to select the option “Write Each Solve to the Database” from the Parametric Analysis window (Run > Advanced Optimization > Parametric Analysis > Perform).
Note th... |
Problem Statement: How to model component bonus effect to a blend in MBO? | Solution: In Aspen MBO, Property Bonus is used to calculate (predict) blend property values. Property Bonus works with linear blending properties only. If a component has a bonus effect to a blend’s specific property, such as octane, use Property Bonus to make a better property prediction. If utilized, the property ... |
Problem Statement: How to create a sensitivity analysis using scripts in ACM? | Solution: You can use a script in ACM to create a sensitivity analysis, and then report the result for different cases in the Simulation Messages window.
Attached please find an ACM example for a CSTR reactor. We want to vary the inlet stream temperature (Tin) from 100 to 110 degree C with a increment of 1 degree C, a... |
Problem Statement: How does one customize object mapping if thhe desired mapping is not available in the delivered (out-of-the-box) version of ABE? | Solution: In this example, the user wants to map the UOFlash block to the HeatTransferEquipment object in ABE. User wants to map and transfer the Duty attribute.
The overall procedure can be summarized in a simple diagram as below. Refer to the detail steps to set up the class library:
STEPS TO SET UP THE CLASS LIBRA... |
Problem Statement: Modeling phase equilibrium is a key part of polymer process modeling. In general, it is always best to rely on data and develop correlations for activity coefficients and/or Henry''s law constants, rather than estimate these quantities. However, data for many solute/polymer pairs can be very scarce. ... | Solution: See attached file Extrapolating Henry''s Law Constants.doc
The attached document provides a methodology for extrapolating the Henry''s law constant for hydrogen in polybutadiene based on Henry''s law constants for other solutes in the same polymer. The methodology follows that provided in the following articl... |
Problem Statement: How does Aspen HYSYS Vessel Sizing Analysis tool apply Souders Brown (SBR) constant for estimating vessel sizing parameters? | Solution: The Souders-Brown equation for horizontal and vertical separators sizing:
For vapor/liquid separators, this is usually expressed in terms of maximum velocity that is related to the difference in liquid and vapor densities. The standard equation is [1]:
where 𝐾𝑠, is the called Souders-Brown constant as giv... |
Problem Statement: What are the steps needed to change Audit Property Status settings using the ChangeAuditAttribute.exe utility? | Solution: ChangeAuditAttribute changes the AUDIT_PROPERTY setting. The ChangeAuditAttribute.exe utility is located in folder:
64-bit Aspen InfoPlus.21: %ProgramFiles%\AspenTech\InfoPlus.21\db21\code
32-bit Aspen InfoPlus.21: %ProgramFiles(x86)%\AspenTech\InfoPlus.21\db21\code
A DOS prompt appears and it asks for the ... |
Problem Statement: Are land costs included in Aspen Process Economic Analyzer or do I have to use Aspen Capital Cost Estimator ? | Solution: Aspen Process Economic Analyzer (APEA) does not have the capability to enter land costs. But once the work in APEA is done, the file can be used in Aspen Capital Cost Estimator (ACCE) which does have the capability to enter land costs.
Keywords: land, costs, land costs
References: None |
Problem Statement: Can I do an Item Evaluation on a component when it is part of a Component Open Steel Structure? | Solution: A component that is in a Component Open Steel Structure and has a structure tag cannot be evaluated by itself. This is because in order for this item to be evaluated and it's installation bulks generated, it has to have the Open Steel Structure created first. The component estimate and it's installation bulk... |
Problem Statement: When attempting to access a scenario, an error message appears.
Project in use. The project <project name> was checked out at <time> by <user name> on computer <computer name>. | Solution: When a project is opened, there are 2 lock files created, so that only 1 person can work on the project at a time.
The 2 files are PROJECT.LCK and SESSION.LCK.
If you are sure that no one else is working on the project, it is safe to delete these 2 files.
Before proceeding, please be sure to EXIT your Aspen I... |
Problem Statement: Does cost generated for a module include shipping and transportation of the module to its final destination? | Solution: The cost generated for the area module type (COA 285) is only the cost of the module and the setting cost of the module in it's final location. It does not include the loading or any transportation. You can provide details in the area modules specs. Right click on the area, select the modify option and it wil... |
Problem Statement: How can I have all my reports from ACCE generated in one single file? | Solution: In ACCE V11.0, the New Reporter creates the reports in separate PDF files, but to get all of the reports in one single file the Old Reporter must be used. This can be set in Tools | Options | Preferences | General over Reporter Options
Once this is done, the Capital Costs can be run. After that the Standard ... |
Problem Statement: How to send a successful Aspen Online model run time (timestamp) to a data historian? | Solution: Follow the steps mentioned below:
Define an output string tag in your historian to receive the timestamp
Define the same tag in the Aspen OnLine project and this should be a formula tag. Note that the “CIM-IO Source” should be “ASC” for this tag instead of typically “DBVL”
The formula should be something as ... |
Problem Statement: Which tables are affected by “Clear Results When Publishing” setting in Aspen Refinery Multi-Blend Optimizer (MBO)? | Solution: The “Clear Results When Publishing” setting, found in User Settings, will only affect the following tables in MBO:
_TANKS_MBO
_SERVICE_MBO
_LINEFILL
Keywords: Publish All
Database
References: None |
Problem Statement: How can I view the Crude unit submodel Structure that PIMS has setup internally? | Solution: In PIMS, the submodels for the Crude Units are internally generated based on the user provided information in the Diatillation tables like ASSAYS, CRDCUTS, CRDDISTL. To view the generated submodel structure, you will need to select General Model Settings>>Miscellaneous>>CRUDEXLS. After you rerun the model, in... |
Problem Statement: What is the limit on number of crude units that can be defined in APS? | Solution: APS structures assays using the last digit(s) of the crude unit name. It only reads the last two digits for assay number, so it limits the number of crude units to 99- if the number is greater than 99, APS reads it as zero.
Keywords: None
References: None |
Problem Statement: How to apply property bias to blend header specs to reduce manual property adjustment efforts? | Solution: A Property Bias is a value added to (positive) or subtracted from (negative) a property value. Users can add property bias to a blend product.
A product-specific property bias allows you to do the following:
Add a bias on a derived property to compensate for inaccuracy in the correlation. A bias can be tune... |
Problem Statement: How to delete small coefficients in Assays table to stabilize PIMS optimization? | Solution: Small coefficients in Assays table could cause PIMS model facing instability or convergence issues. To delete these small coefficients in Assays table, users can use Replace numbers in ASSAYS less than ADSMALL with a zero. Selecting this option causes the matrix generator to replace matrix entries correspondi... |
Problem Statement: I am seeing no indirects after I evaluate my component - why? | Solution: Indirects are associated with a project evaluation and are not calculated for a component level evaluation. If you evaluate your project you will see that indirects will be calculated.
Keywords: indirects, project level, component evaluation, project evaluation
References: None |
Problem Statement: Why do I see Error 3052 in PIMS when running the model?
When user clicks OK, the model continues to run. | Solution: The error occurs if the number of locks required to perform a transaction exceeds the maximum number of locks per file, in a multi-user environment.
Please refer to the following article on the Microsoft Website which would help resolve this. It involves modifying the registry settings to increase the maximum... |
Problem Statement: How to troubleshoot EDR input error 1122 “Input for Str.1 Quality (vap. Frac), 1 is beyond the permitted range, from 0 to 0”? | Solution: You will see this error message if you didn't enter the complete vapor phase properties in the stream properties table. For example, in the screenshot below, the vapor phase density is missing. With only the liquid phase properties entered, EDR will only allow pure liquid phase in that stream (vapor fraction=... |
Problem Statement: Sometimes you may see graphics-related issues when running ACM. For example, the Explorer menu titles have font that is too large (e.g. All Items).
In another example below, the font is too big in the plot properties window. As a result, the user cannot manipulate plots.
How could we troubleshoot... | Solution: In most cases this issue is caused by the display settings of your computer. Right click on your desktop and open “Display settings”, change the “Scale and layout” to the recommended value (150% in this case, but it could different on your machine).
If you have multiple monitors, make sure to change the sett... |
Problem Statement: PSV line sizing has a warning about Critical Velocity. Why HYSYS reports an extremely low critical velocity? | Solution: The choke pressure corresponds to a phase boundary (going from liquid to two-phase). When we come down on the two-phase side of the boundary, the sonic velocity really is very low. Sonic velocities in two-phase flow are typically quite low, so it isn't necessarily surprising to get this result. On the other h... |
Problem Statement: Under Input - Exchanger Geometry- Nozzles, EDR has options on Location of nozzle at U-bend: Default, Before U-bend, Over U-bend, Beyond U-bend.
Before U-bend should not consider U-bend surface area; but Over U-bend and Beyond U-bend should consider U-bend surface area. However, EDR gives the surface... | Solution: Under Input - Program Options - Thermal Analysis - Heat Transfer, there is an input where the user can specify whether the U-bend area should be considered for heat transfer:
Key Words
U-bend
Surface area
Heat transfer
Keywords: None
References: None |
Problem Statement: How do I activate the automatic backup option and where is the default location for the backup files? | Solution: Aspen Flare System Analyzer allows the user to create and save an automatic timed backup. The option must be activated on the Preferences editor navigating to FIle | Preferences | General.
You may also adjust the backup frequency so you can further control how often is the backup saved.
The timed backup is ... |
Problem Statement: Why does my flat bottom storage tank show an octagonal foundation instead of the ringwall foundation I expected? | Solution: The pressure field for a Flat Bottom Storage Tank is entered as gauge pressure. People often times enter this as absolute pressure. The higher pressure will cause a design change which can result in an octagon foundation.
Check your pressure field to see if it is entered as absolute:
If it is entered as abs... |
Problem Statement: How do I manage security groups in Aspen Mtell System Manager using Microsoft Active Directory? | Solution: Aspen Mtell allows users to use Aspen Mtell security or Active Directory security. Active Directory groups should be created to easily manage new users addition and deletion.
Create Active Directory groups with the help of your IT team
1. Open Active Directory from a user with domain administrator rights... |
Problem Statement: I have added the controls in one area but in the report it shows in a different area. Why is does that happen? | Solution: All the process controls and power distribution are always reported in the last area.
The cost of operator and control centers will be reported in project estimates only, against the instrumentation account for the last area in the project. Accordingly control room specifications and other instrumentation rel... |
Problem Statement: How can I change the font of a Border in Aspen Basic Engineering? | Solution: To change this option in ABE:
1. Open the Graphics Definer
2. Open the border you want to modify
3. Click on Format | Style on tool bar.
4. Select Text for Style type from drop down box
5. Click on Modify button
6. Select paragraph tab and change Font Size Type to appropria... |
Problem Statement: What is the calculation basis for Quick Size option for separator vessels in HYSYS?
How exactly does HYSYS calculate the Ks factor used in Souders-Brown approach? | Solution: Attached in this article are two documents:
The first document explains the sizing basis used in HYSYS in comparison with that used in Aspen Capital Cost Estimator ACCE. HYSYS sizing basis is based on Souders-Brown approach.
The second document goes into more details of how HYSYS handles Ks factor used in Sou... |
Problem Statement: What are the list of keywords that can be used in the CONFIG table of APS & MBO? | Solution: The attached Pdf lists the set of keywords that can be used in the CONFIG database table for the Aspen Petroleum Scheduler and the Multi-Blend Optimizer applications.
Keywords: None
References: None |
Problem Statement: For which type of cases should I use BLOWDOWN? | Solution: Use the BLOWDOWN Technology in Aspen HYSYS to:
Design an orifice for pool fire depressurization
Determine the correct construction materials for cold case depressurization
Design a system with staggered orifice opening times to optimize the use of the disposal system
Design an orifice or assess temperature co... |
Problem Statement: I seem to be getting extra instrument signal wiring on an instrumentation loop. I have on/off ball valves with 1 solenoid and 2 limit switches.
The instrument signal wiring is correct for the Transmitters, 1 Pair & 2 terms.
The on/off valves are getting a total of (4) 1 Pair & 2 terms, but it sho... | Solution: The key word is solenoid.
We assume:
1. For each on/off control valve (user specified), we automatically include a solenoid. So, for each on/off control valve (user specified), you will get 2 signals (1 for the Control Valve and 1 for the solenoid.
2. For each solenoid specified (user specifie... |
Problem Statement: As an example, take the case where you are optimizing a campaign with 3 different grades of gasoline with different octanes. You may observe that you’ll have a higher objective function if you change the lone blend of one grade to another grade that had multiple blends in the campaign with less givea... | Solution: MBO will optimize all grades simultaneously. It does not optimize each blend as a group.
Keywords: None
References: None |
Problem Statement: I have a Crude A that can be purchased as usual within a range with its min and max in combination with other crudes.
In table SELL I have product 1. Is a way to introduce a constraint where in my optimized | Solution: the volume sold of product 1 is linked with a ratio to the optimized volume purchased for CRUDE A, meaning that if crude A is not convenient to refinery then volume of product 1 is zero as well or there is always same ratio between those?
Solution
You can make use of the table RATIO to add a ratio constraint ... |
Problem Statement: How do I workaround MBO Component Rundown not being triggering Event Refresh which causes only one user's data to be saved? When several schedulers/coordinators all use MBO for blending/scheduling, it only saves one of the MBO user's component rundown data and loses the others' data. | Solution: Component Rundown is not part of event information, so modifying and saving the information by any user will not be able to trigger the Event Refresh icon since this is not event change. This was by design.
To work around this, create different user group and assign different access rights to the correspondi... |
Problem Statement: I am studying cracking of biocrude components in FCC, and one of the major compounds in a biocrude is oxygen. But the lumps in FCC doesn't account for the oxygen conversion. I was wondering if there are any kinetic lumps to address the oxygenated/oxygen compounds conversion in FCC, Hydrotreater, Hydr... | Solution: FCC templates don't consider the oxygenated conversion.
There is no easy way to change or modify the lump parameters to include oxygen conversion, because the component lumps are fixed and the chemistry is hard-coded in FORTRAN.
Key Words
FCC templates
Kinetic lumps
Oxygenated compounds
Keywords: None
Ref... |
Problem Statement: Is it possible to access the pseudocomponents from an assay in RYield's Component Yield list. | Solution: By default the pseudocomponent generated as breakdown in Petrocharacterization will not be available in RYield's component yield list unless specifically requested that they are generated. In order to include the breakdown pseudocomponent in RYield's component Yield, check the Generate component IDs box at th... |
Problem Statement: How can I get the calculated boundaries data from the Hydraulic plot of Column Internal function in Radfrac column so that I can use to plot the graph in Excel? | Solution: Column Internal function provides comprehensive column internal hydraulic calculations. User can design or rate the column internal hardware to know the hydraulic performance.
In Column Internal, for each section of hardware, users can obtain the hydraulic performance including weir load, downcomer exit vel... |
Problem Statement: Color coding for data entry in the economics suite | Solution: After adding a component, the user needs to enter at least some specifications to complete the component’s definition. The component forms use a color-coding to make it easier for the user to know which data is mandatory to be able to evaluate a certain component and which data is optional. There is a list be... |
Problem Statement: When running DBUpdate script on the SQL database, you may encounter error messages of the type:
Msg 5074, Level 16, State 1, Line 49
The index 'IX__xxxxx' is dependent on column 'xxxx_'.
Msg 4922, Level 16, State 9, Line 49
ALTER TABLE ALTER COLUMN xxxx_ failed because one or more objects access thi... | Solution: This happens when you have created user-defined indices on the application db tables of _CRDRUNS, _EVENTS etc. The DBUpdate scripts cannot take care of objects (tables, indexes) that users have created. Those objects that are dependent on the tables and columns should be removed first.
Keywords: None
Referenc... |
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