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Problem Statement: Why aren't Fortran variables in Design-Specs updated from one iteration to the next? | Solution: All the DEFINED variables in DESIGN-SPEC are READ-ONLY variables and the values printed in result form are values before executing any Fortran code . They are NOT updated even if it get changed in the Fortran code. In a design-spec convergence loop, the VARY variable is the only variable that is being manipul... |
Problem Statement: Are there any copper smelting examples for Aspen Plus? | Solution: This is an example based on the Noranda process white paper entitled Process modelling in metallurgy: applications of ASPEN PLUS to metallurgical processes The paper was presented at the 2nd International symposium on Computer Software in Chemical and Extractive Metallurgy in Quebec City, in 1993. The paper w... |
Problem Statement: Is it possible to use more than one property specification in one simulation?
Can I use a different Property Method or a different Chemistry ID in a particular block? | Solution: There are several ways you can use different Property Methods in one simulation. Similarly, the Henry component ID, the Chemistry ID and electrolyte simulation approach, the Free-water phase properties and water solubility method can also be changed on these levels with the exception of in an RGibbs where onl... |
Problem Statement: Is there any way to report the chemical oxygen demand and biological oxygen demand using a property-set in Aspen Plus? | Solution: There is no built-in property-set for chemical or biological oxygen demands. Aspen Plus has a prop-set called COMB-O2 which is the amount (mole or mass) of oxygen needed to completely combust a stream. It is possible to write your own user prop-set property to calculate the chemical or biological oxygen deman... |
Problem Statement: Will a dual core machine help when running Aspen Plus? | Solution: This information about dual CPUs came from the development team:
The Aspen Plus Graphical User Interface (GUI) is multi-threaded. So it can potentially use more than one core. The Aspen Plus Engine is mostly single-threaded so it can use only one core.
When GUI/Engine are both running (typical), they can use ... |
Problem Statement: How can one retrieve the UNIFAC parameters such as GMUFQ, GMUFR of known functional groups from Aspen Plus database? | Solution: The UNIFAC parameters can be directly retrieved from databank only when the UNIFAC property method is selected as the Base method in the Properties | Specifications | Global form. Enter the required databank components on the Components | Specifications | Selection tab, click on Review button on the same page... |
Problem Statement: Crystallizer Example in Aspen Plus
The attached file was created in Aspen Plus 12.1 and will run in 12.1 and higher. | Solution: The Aspen Plus Crystallizer block can be used to represent a mixed-suspension mixed-product removal crystallizer. The product magma density and residence time are calculated from an overall material and energy balance and phase equilibrium. This model can also calculate the crystal product size distribution b... |
Problem Statement: When you define a Component Group and use it in tear convergence calculations, what happens to the components not in the group? | Solution: Direct substitution will be used for those components not in the group. One can set up Calculator blocks to verify the values of the variables before and after a convergence block.
An example is attached. The example will run in V10 and higher.
In this example Acetone is specified in the Component Group CG-1... |
Problem Statement: How to view composition profiles in mass basis in a PetroFrac column? | Solution: The composition profile in PetroFrac is on a mole basis. PetroFrac's profile does not have a drop down list to change the composition basis. However, you can create a prop-set with MASSFRAC property and specify liquid and/or vapor phases as qualifier. Then, this prop-set can be added on the Reports | Properti... |
Problem Statement: Visual C++ 2005 express from the Microsoft web site does not install properly. This results in a link failure. | Solution: There can be problems installing Visual C++ 2005 express from the Microsoft web site directly possibly due to firewall protections. When this happens, you have to do manual installation by downloading CD images from http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/express/aa718401.aspx
You can burn/mount the CD image and ins... |
Problem Statement: Calculators or other user models that use Min and Max functions can lead to | Solution: failure in Equation Oriented (EO) mode. You may see this message during the EOSolution
Rank Deficient Jacobian
Sometimes theSolution file (ATSLV) may indicate which equation is singular and may point directly to the equation with the Min or Max function to verify the problem.
The Min and Max function work wit... |
Problem Statement: How To Convert Aspen Plus 2004.x input file to Aspen Plus 11.1 readable file. | Solution: First create an INP file by saving your Aspen 13.x flow sheet as input file and do the
following modifications within that file:
1) Change the Header from 13.x to 11.1 within the file INP file
2) Change Data Bank from 13.x to 11.1 within the saved file
3) Change Aspen Dynamics to DynaPlus If Dynamic is inst... |
Problem Statement: How do I add heat to splitter (FSplit) or mixer (Mixer) block? | Solution: Aspen Plus does not allow you to add more than one type of stream to feed a mixer or a splitter.
This means that a Heat stream cannot be added to a material stream mixer or splitter.
However, it is possible to model this situation using Heater blocks in conjunction with material splitters and mixers. In fact,... |
Problem Statement: How do you get the new NIST databank in Aspen Plus? | Solution: The NIST06 database is a new database for the 2006 release of Aspen Plus and Aspen Properties. There is no additional charge for this database. The database is available in the new Enterprise Database architecture only; it is not available in the legacy DFMS format. The NIST06 database contains a single datab... |
Problem Statement: You can easily copy the normal Stream Summary to Excel by clicking in the top-left cell of the Stream Summary grid to copy the information to the clipboard and then paste into Excel. However, this procedure does not work for a Custom Stream Summary. How do you export a Custom Stream Summary to other ... | Solution: To export or copy a Custom Stream Summary to Excel, click on the tab for the Custom Stream Summary sheet that you want to copy. From the Edit menu, click on Select All. Then, from the Edit menu, click on Copy. You can now paste the stream summary into Excel by clicking in a cell in Excel, and selecting Paste.... |
Problem Statement: How do you link Aspen Plus user routines and a IMSL library into an Aspen Plus model? | Solution: Some versions of the Intel Fortran come with the VNI/IMSL library. The standard Aspen Plus compiler configuration does not support the use of IMSL library.
In order to use IMSL in Aspen Plus runs, you need to make changes as described here. Note that because of frequent compiler/library changes, you may have ... |
Problem Statement: Hetran imported wrong data under process conditions. I want to modify it but all the fields are grayed out. How can I modifiy the process conditions or any other value?
Hetran process conditions are grayed out. How can I modify them? | Solution: Checking the Enable Run box will allow you to modify values in this situation. The red oval shape in the picture below shows you where the option is. Please visitSolution # 108227 to know more about how to use Hetran.
Keywords: Enable Run, grayed, grayed out, modify, hetran, process,
References: None |
Problem Statement: Why is the distillate temperature in the stream summary not equal to that in the RadFrac Profiles? | Solution: When efficiencies are used, the vapor leaving a tray is no longer in equilibrium with the liquid from that stage, i.e. it is not at its dew point condition. Therefore, the flash calculation done for the stream summary will calculate a different temperature (the dew point for a vapor, bubble point for a liquid... |
Problem Statement: The property Beta which can be defined in a property set is the molar fraction of the liquid that is in the first liquid (L1) phase; hence, its value can be used to determine if two liquid phases are present. The property set can be reported for streams, for stages in a column, in an Analysis table, ... | Solution: Vapor-liquid-liquid flash needs to be specified, or else Beta will always have a value of 1. Beta is independent of the algorithm used in columns such as RadFrac. There, it calls a routine based on gibbs free energy minimization during the report pass that determines if the simulation will have two liquid pha... |
Problem Statement: Is it possible to use another program to read an XML file exported from Aspen Plus? | Solution: The attached .zip file contains a demo program written in C for reading an XML file exported from Aspen Plus. Unzip it, then open the .sln file with Dev Studio 2008. Hit the F5 button to build and run it. When the program starts, open an XML file, then choose an object in the combo box to see its variables.
K... |
Problem Statement: What are the switches for apwn.exe?
I found out some of the switches by trial and error:
-b *.apw ---> generates *.bkp
-i *.inp ---> opens an input file
-p *.apw ---> prints the top level flowsheet
-r *.bkp ---> generates *.apw
I am sure there some more options. | Solution: To find all of the options type apwn -help from Start | Run.
(In Aspen Plus 12.1, the help command does not give the following list, but the switches themselves work work.)
Usage: apwn.exe [-<Switch] [<filename>]
<Actions>
-a Open Archive file (.bkp)
-i Open Input file (.inp)
-proII Open Pro/II Input file... |
Problem Statement: When running Aspen Plus in Equation-Oriented (EO) mode how do you enable/expose EO variables that are active in the simulation but not necessarily active in the EO variables sheet? | Solution: While a considerable number of variables are available to be adjusted in EO mode, there are a number of variables that are used in the simulation while in EO mode that are sometimes hidden or not visible. Most of the time when variables are not visible in EO it means they were probably not present or used whi... |
Problem Statement: Many times companies have proprietary component physical property databanks for their processes that need to be accessed by the end user. There are several steps involve to insure that the databanks are installed properly before they can be used. For version 2006, the Aspen Properties Enterprise Data... | Solution: There are several options for accessing component physical property databanks under the new Aspen Properties Enterprise Database system. The attached document covers the necessary steps for installation of property databases on individual local PC's running Aspen Plus and Aspen Properties during a silent inst... |
Problem Statement: How do you add liquid composition to a Heat Curve? | Solution: To add any additional properties to a Heat Curve (HCURVE):
1. Create a property set or sets for the properties desired on the Properties | Prop-Sets forms. If you started with one of the templates, HXDESIGN, a prop-set with all of the properties needed for the heat exchanger interface program will already be ... |
Problem Statement: What is the meaning of the parameter DLWC in the Wilke-Chang equation | Solution: DLWC indicates if the component is diffusing (value=1) or not diffusing (value=0). You can set the value in Properties=>Parameters=>Pure Component and choose scalar as parameter type. The default value is 1 which means that the component will be considered in the liquid diffusivity calculation.
Keywords: DLWC... |
Problem Statement: How can I run a two-dimensional (2D) sensitivity analysis to generate a response surface? | Solution: It is possible to do 2D sensitivity analysis by varying multiple independent variables. The analysis will be carried out by repeatedly executing the simulation at all possible combinations of different values of all varied variables. The results are tabulated for variables specified by the user.
In the atta... |
Problem Statement: Liquid density values for water using NRTL or any other activity coefficient do not match those using the steam tables. | Solution: There are some limitations for the liquid density models. The problems seem to be especially large for water density. The specific heat and enthalpy of water also do not match the steam tables. For pure water streams simply use one of the steam table property methods (STEAM-TA, STEAMNBS, or STMNBS2). However,... |
Problem Statement: When defining a variable for a stream, the Design-Spec, Sensitivity Analysis and Calculator blocks give the user a choice of STREAM-VAR and xxxx-FLOW or xxxx-FRAC variable types on the DEFINE and VARY sheets. Which is appropriate to use? | Solution: The xxxx-FLOW and xxx-FRAC variable types are applied to just one component in a stream, whereas the STREAM-VAR variable type has qualifiers that allows it to sample the flow rate of the entire stream (all components).
For example, MOLE-FLOW and MOLE-FRAC variable types apply to just one component in a stream... |
Problem Statement: How to create a sequence? | Solution: Aspen Plus has two calculation modes: sequential modular and equation oriented. When using the sequential modular run mode, the blocks are executed in a sequence. Each block is responsible for the calculation of its output streams, and this calculation can only be done once all its input streams are known. In... |
Problem Statement: In a previous release of Aspen Plus or Aspen Properties, there was an option to add a button on the Toolbar that would allow access to a local version of the Detherm databank using the Detherm Server Setup Utility available from the Start menu. How do I enable this option? | Solution: Access to a local version of the Detherm databank from Aspen Plus or Aspen Properties is not supported anymore. The recommended workflow is to work within your local Detherm installation and then export the desired data into an Aspen Plus or Aspen Properties Data Regession System (DRS) input file. The INP fil... |
Problem Statement: How do you use NRTL-SAC parameters for a component in a simulation using another property method such as NRTL? | Solution: This document explains how you can estimate NRTL binary interaction parameters for a new component based on NRTL-SAC-derived parameters (such as NRTL-SAC parameters derived through solubility regressions). A license for Polymers Plus in addition to Aspen Plus is required to use this methodology. ThisSolution ... |
Problem Statement: After retrieving the pure component parameters, the TREFHL parameter (reference temperature for the liquid enthalpy reference state) doesn't display on the Pure Component Parameter scalar input form nor does it appear on the REVIEW-1 input form. | Solution: In general, only parameters that are used in the selected Property Methods are retrieved or are available for input.
The TREFHL parameter will not appear in any list unless the DHL09 route ID has been selected for the DHL Property, use liquid reference state is checked at the bottom right of the Properties Sp... |
Problem Statement: Is it possible to specify the number of exchangers in series and parellel in a HEATX block? | Solution: In 11.1, it is possible to specify the number of exchangers in series using the Shortcut method only. To model exchangers in parallel, a MULT block should be put before and after the HEATX block.
In 12.1, it is possible to specify heat exchangers in series and parallel also for the rigorous method.
The HEATX ... |
Problem Statement: Is it possible to have a reactive distillation and have the product show up in a solid stream? The React-dist does not allow a reaction product in a solid substream. Is there any other way? | Solution: CISOLIDS and NCSOLIDS do not participate in reactions in RadFrac. The reaction needs to be completed using a reactor before or after the RadFrac column.
Keywords: cisolid
ncsolid
References: None |
Problem Statement: Analyzer EO Variables | Solution: Analyzer EO Variables
A change introduced in V7.0 had compatibility effects not reported until now. Adding support for solids to the EO formulation of Analyzer required reformulating the model slightly to make it more like other models. Specifically, the DELTA_ENTH variable was removed, and a new DUTY varia... |
Problem Statement: How does the RStoic conversion specification treat electrolytes? | Solution: When using the True species approach, the conversion will only apply to the true species concentration. For example if you have HCL and H2O completely dissociating into H3O+ and CL-, then a reaction in RStoic using key component HCL will not occur.
When using the Apparent composition approach, the conversion ... |
Problem Statement: After entering Txy data and regressing the NRTL 2 (Bij and Bji) parameters, the sum of square error is very high (over 1 million), and when reviewing the Regression profile results, the estimated temperature in the first row is much higher than the experimental temperature. | Solution: Normally, the temperature data should have good agreement between the experimental and estimated columnar data. However, a common user error, reversing the composition data (entering component A's composition in the component B column) will cause a temperature error, especially if there is a large difference ... |
Problem Statement: Why do my design-specs, and sensitivity analyses require a Fortran compiler when they do not have any Fortran or arithmetic expressions? Also, I have reviewed | Solution: document 104149, and my Calculator block does not contain any arithmetic expressions that require a compiler, yet Aspen Plus produces errors about the missing Fortran compiler?
Solution
When Aspen Plus keeps searching for a Fortran compiler, even though one is not needed, it is because there is a setting that... |
Problem Statement: The unit of measure for HENRY's component data input into Aspen Plus is pressure. However, typically HENRY's component data found in literature are expressed in pressure/concentration such as Atm/(mol/liter). How do you get HENRY's component data calculated in Aspen Plus in the pressure/concentration... | Solution: Ideally, HENRY constants could be calculated with a PROP-SET.
In 2006.5, two new Property Sets were added:
1. GAMUSAQ: Unsymmetic activity coefficient based on the aqueous reference state
This property is calculated from gamma(i in the mixture)/gamma infinity of i in water. GAMUSAQ is different from G... |
Problem Statement: Can components in a CISOLID or NC substream participate in electrolyte Chemistry? | Solution: Only components in the MIXED substream can participate in Chemistry. The CISOLID substream and the NC substream are inert with respect to phase equilibrium. Salt reactions need to involve a solid specied in the MIXED substream.
CISOLID or NC components can be moved to the MIXED substream (so they can particip... |
Problem Statement: When trying to populate an Aspen CIM-IO transfer record via Aspen Sqlplus, the following error appears:
Error reading memory in the repeat area. Cannot follow chain to field.
If you go to the InfoPlus.21 Administrator, enter some number in the repeat area (IO_#TAGS) and double click, there are no occ... | Solution: The problem actually is no an Aspen SQLplus problem. Rather, it is an Aspen Infoplus.21 configuration issue. What is happening is that the user is Selecting a ghost field from a record in which the ghost selector field is not pointing at a correct selection from the ghost selector record.
For the specific IOG... |
Problem Statement: Is is possible to have an adiabatic SEP or SEP2 block? | Solution: There is no way of specifying an adiabatic SEP or SEP2 block. You need to use a design specification and vary the temperature. You also need a Calculator to equate all of the temperatures in all of the outlet streams. The Calculator block should be sequenced to execute BEFORE the SEP or SEP2 block.
An Aspen P... |
Problem Statement: Printing the flowsheet in Aspen Plus causes the layout to change and reduces the readability of the flowsheet. | Solution: Changing the Margin size can resolve some formatting problems.
Go to File / Page Setup and try setting all the margin values to 0.5 rather than 12.7 which is the default.
Keywords: Print, printer
References: None |
Problem Statement: I have several versions of Aspen Plus installed on my computer. How can I force a specific version to be used when I call the GetObject function from my Excel macro? | Solution: You need to use this:
set ap = GetObject(path, class)
where:
path is the string to the aspen plus bkp file (e.g. d:\test.bkp)
class is a string which specifies which version you want to start
for example:
To start 12.1:
set ap = GetObject(d:\test.bkp, Apwn.Document.12.1)
To start 2004.0:
set ap = Ge... |
Problem Statement: Linking Aspen Plus with Excel 2007 from Excel 2003 files | Solution: Microsoft has different means of referring cells in Excel 2003 and Excel 2007. There seems to be some compatibility issues with the reference names given by default in Excel 2003 and Excel 2007. This has nothing to do with Aspen Plus and the sheet works fine after opening the same sheet in Excel 2003 and dele... |
Problem Statement: What is the difference between OLI and ElecNRTL? | Solution: OLI's Electrolyte Model is a product of OLI Systems. It is purchased directly from them.
OLI's Electrolyte Model is a Predictive Equation of State and Activity Coefficient Model based upon the Helgeson equation of state and parameter regression and proprietary estimation techniques published experimental data... |
Problem Statement: How does RGibbs handle multiple CISOLID substreams? | Solution: RGibbs, in past versions, did not support multiple CISOLID substreams, but in version 2006 there was a change to its behavior when it nevertheless encountered multiple CISOLID substreams. Since version 2006, RGibbs would merge all the CISOLID substreams into the first CISOLID substream and react that substrea... |
Problem Statement: What is the easiest way to verify which security method is being used by InfoPlus.21? | Solution: There are two ways to tell which security method is being used:
1) Open the Data Source Configuration Tool (Start -> Programs -> AspenTech). If MS Access is checked, then it's Local Security, otherwise it's Aspen Framework Security.
2) Go to the computer's Control Panel and double click the Add or Remove ... |
Problem Statement: The h21archive process will only attempt to open the arc.key file one time. If another program is accessing that file, such as a system backup or a virus scan program, the file cannot be opened and the history subsystem (h21archive.exe) will crash. You may see this error in the error.log file located... | Solution: Stop and restart InfoPlus.21.
Keywords: comp_rate
error.log
key
References: None |
Problem Statement: Error 53 returned by task service:
ERROR: Error 53 returned by task service. Network path not found, received when trying to start Infoplus.21. This message is most commonly seen on laptop computers as they are not connected to the network. | Solution: is applicable to the Windows 2000 operating system only. To configure the MS Loopback adapter on the Windows XP operating system, please refer to Microsoft's KB article 839013
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;839013&Product=winxp
Keywords: Error 53
MS Loopback
Laptop
network
remote
Refe... |
Problem Statement: How do I resolve the Aspen Calc message:
Error executing calculation: Error Executing Method FormulaName: Component [name] not found in the Aspen Properties property package, in formula FormulaName at line #, in formula FormulaName at line # | Solution: What Aspen Calc requires is:
1. Each Component ID has exactly 8 characters
2. Component IDs used in Aspen Calc scripts must be exactly the same as Component IDs defined in Aspen Properties
As a result, when the user creates Aspen Properties models (i.e. aprbkp or aprinp files) to generate aprpdf files... |
Problem Statement: What can cause an Aspen Calc calculation to give the message:
Error writing local InfoPlus.21 field : No such record | Solution: This means an Aspen Calc calculation is bound to an Aspen InfoPlus.21 tag that may have been deleted.
Keywords: missing tag
deleted tag
error message
no such record
Aspen Calc
Aspen InfoPlus.12
missing binding
no binding
References: None |
Problem Statement: How do I avoid the error The client invoked has disconnected from its clients when trying to import an XML into Aspen Calc? | Solution: This is similar to the error message found in Knowledge Base articles 116951 and 121866 that address other Aspen products. Do not try the fixes recommended in thoseSolutions as they do not address Aspen Calc.
To fix the issue with Aspen Calc, you only need to restart the AspenTech Calculator Engine service.
T... |
Problem Statement: This knowldege base article explains under which circumstances the following message:
WARNING: Data in 'D-IP_Analog ' will not be copied to target
will appear in the upgrade.out file after an InfoPlus.21 snapshot has been upgraded. | Solution: The message
WARNING: Data in 'XXXX ' will not be copied to target
indicates the following:
The record (XXXX) appears in both the source and target database snapshots.
The contents of the record in the source snapshot is different to the contents of the record in the target snapshot.
The record is not listed i... |
Problem Statement: Can the Aspen InfoPlus.21 Task Service be stopped and restarted while Aspen InfoPlus.21 is running? | Solution: The Aspen InfoPlus.21 Task Service can be restarted while Aspen InfoPlus.21 is running with no ill-effects to Aspen InfoPlus.21; however, Aspen InfoPlus.21 processes do not inherit environment changes from the Aspen InfoPlus Task Service until InfoPlus.21 is restarted.
You will not be able to start or stop In... |
Problem Statement: One optional feature of Aspen InfoPlus.21's automated backup program (TSK_HBAK) is the ability to backup all shifted/changed file sets. However, if the user enables the automated backup of the shifted/changed file sets after many file sets flagged as shifted, changed or shifted/changed have been save... | Solution: The file set backup time is dependent upon various factors for each individual system such as the memory, drive fragmentation, available resources, etc. on each Aspen InfoPlus.21 server. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a methodology to estimate the time required for TSK_HBAK to backup a large number of ... |
Problem Statement: During installation of AMS products, user may receive the following error codes:
Error code: -6001
Error code: -6002
Error code: -7002
What do they mean? | Solution: This is likely due to an error in the InstallShield self-update. To resolve the issue, perform the following steps:
1. Delete all the files in the %Temp% directory.
2. Delete the folder named 0701 in C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Professional\RunTime directory.
3. Load in the D... |
Problem Statement: Is there a way to get Visual Basic (VBA) to prepare a list of each unit operation that consumes 1 or more types of utilities? | Solution: Please see the attached spreadsheet and its cmd_Utilities subroutine on SHEET1. The code first counts the number number of utility types and reports their names, then it counts the number of consumers (blocks/unit ops) of each utility and reports their names, consumption rate and unit of measure.
Here is the ... |
Problem Statement: You want to prevent an automatic service or application start up when logging on | Solution: Microsoft windows 2000/Xp/Vista/7 systems have an inbuilt tool called MSCONFIG,accessible via the windows' RUN key,under the STARTUP tab uncheck the unwanted service or application.This action prevents it from starting up automatically.
Keywords: Msconfig,automatic startup
References: None |
Problem Statement: What is the alpha_dash variable in the Equation-Oriented (EO) formulation of an RCSTR reactor? What's the difference between alpha_dash and vapor fraction? | Solution: For a RCSTR reactor, the EO variable RCSTR.ALPHA_DASH is the ratio of [the reactor volume occupied by vapor phase] to the [total reactor volume]. This is a block variable. In Graphical User Interface, the reactor volume occupied by vapor phase and the total reactor volume can be found in the Blocks | RCSTR | ... |
Problem Statement: In a stream where I set the input of 91 kg/sec, but result and sequential base for the entire flowsheet is 361 tons/hr. That is simply wrong, what is up there? | Solution: A long ton used in the UK is 2240 lbs, a short ton used in the USA is 2000 lbs, and a metric ton or tonne is 2204.6 lbs.
In Aspen Plus a ton is a short ton and tonne is a metric ton.
Wikipedia has more information about the definitions of ton. The following is an excerpt.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ton
Th... |
Problem Statement: How do I know whether valve is choked or not in Aspen Plus application? | Solution: In the Valve Unit Operation if you select a Calculation Type of either design (Calculate valve flow coefficient for specified outlet pressure) or rating (Calculate outlet pressure for specified valve), then one can see the choking status on the Value Results | Summary sheet.
With these Calculation Types, the ... |
Problem Statement: It is sometimes necessary to identify each particular instance of a running task in the InfoPlus.21 Manager. For example, if 3 TSK_IQ# processes simultaneously run on the server, the Windows Task Manager will show 3 instances of iqtask.exe. Each instance of iqtask.exe can be identified by its Process... | Solution: PID information for all InfoPlus.21 running tasks (as seen in the running task list of the InfoPlus.21 Manager) can be found in two places.
1. The registry of the InfoPlus.21 server at the following location:
HKLM | Software | AspenTech | Infoplus.21 | 6.0 | Group200 | Running Tasks
Note: This example ... |
Problem Statement: Administrator tool opens and it's empty | Solution: Check the version of the comcat.dll that resides in the %WINDIR%\System32 directory (very likely to be c:\winnt\system32). If it is V5.0, this version is actually an incompatible Win95 .dll, that has managed to get onto NT systems when what we call third party software has been installed on that machine. In a... |
Problem Statement: I was using a property method (such as WILS-GLR) that had a liquid reference state. I entered temperature-dependent parameter data on the PROPERTIES | PARAMETERS | PURE COMPONENT | CPLDIP-1
However, when I added the WILSON property method and deleted the WILS-GLR property method from the PROPERTIES |... | Solution: The Aspen Plus GUI determines what parameters it needs based on the property methods that you have selected. Given the property methods, it figures out the models used and from the models, the parameters needed by the model. Therefore, if you change the route or model such that a given model is not used anymo... |
Problem Statement: How do you calculate the wet bulb temperature for a stream? | Solution: The attached file illustrates a model to estimate the wet bulb temperature of air at a dry bulb temperature 18 C with relative humidity 35 %.
Three design specifications are created in a row in the attached model. First and second design spec is to achieve desired relative humidity at a given temperature (18 ... |
Problem Statement: Create inhouse or user databanks in AspenPlus 10 and higher. | Solution: Configuring Physical Property Databanks for the Aspen Plus/FactSage/Chemapp interface For ASPEN PLUS Release 11.1 (NT/Windows 2000)
In-house databanks are created in the Aspen Plus engine directory, accessible by everyone connected to that engine with the customized user interface. For a client-server arrange... |
Problem Statement: How do you change the Stream Summary or Stream Table so that only the components of interest are listed? This may be desired when there are components of zero flow in all streams. | Solution: In 2006 and higher, rows for undesired components in the Custom Stream Summary can be selected and hidden.
In 2004.1 and earlier, the list of components on the Stream Summary form can be reduced by creating a new customized Stream Summary Format File (TFF) file and specifying it on the Format field of the Str... |
Problem Statement: How to change the standard condition of standard volume?
My company uses 68 F as the standard condition. Is it possible to change the standard conditions? | Solution: If your reference temperature is 0 C or 60 F, you can just choose a units-set to get the appropriate reference temperature. TheSolution document 105245 contains the list of the reference temperatures with respect to different units.
If you want to change your reference temperature use VVSTDMX or VVSTD in your... |
Problem Statement: In a file containing a sensitivity analysis, the outlet stream results are different than those specified in the input forms. I didn't think that the sensitivity analysis should change the base case. | Solution: This is due to the Execution options in the Sensitivity's Input | Optional sheet which has Execute base case first or Do not execute base case.
The Execution options on the Optional sheet of a Sensitivity effect when the base case is executed, not just the order the results are printed in the report. Execute ... |
Problem Statement: Different results are obtained depending on if my variable NGQ is defined as a parameter or if it is not defined and only used in a Calculator block. Why does defining the variable make a difference? | Solution: This is an idiosyncrasy of Fortran. There are two type of variables: INTEGER and REAL*8 (DOUBLE PRECISION).
For a DEFINEd variable (a variable specified on the Define sheet), the variable type is determined from the type of variable with which it is associated. Unless you are accessing an integer parameter ... |
Problem Statement: The HeatX input form gives a Value is out of range error message when a negative value for the Exchanger Duty specification is entered: | Solution: Although many unit operations in Aspen Plus will allow both negative and positive heat duties, the HeatX block will only accept a positive value. This is because there is zero net heat produced in the HeatX - all the heat released by the hot stream is absorbed by the cold stream.
Even if you are trying to mat... |
Problem Statement: Retrieve Parameter Results does not import any data | Solution: In version 2006, we upgraded the warning to error for PC-SAFT missing parameters to force the user to provide parameter values for all components defined in the simulation.
If you have other components that have missing parameters, you need to perform a data regression to get the PC-SAFT parameters using comp... |
Problem Statement: How to generate B_LTEMP and B_VTEMP when exporting the Aspen Plus simulation to an XML file | Solution: The definition for B_LTEMP is the temperature of the liquid to a stage and B_VTEMP is the temperature of the vapor to a stage. To get these results into XML, you need to do two things:
1. Enable the option Include Hydraulic parameters on the Report form of the RadFrac block
2. Ensure that a compat... |
Problem Statement: How can I design a boiler with combustion in one side? | Solution: There are two possible approaches to modeling a boiler with combustion in one side.
Approach 1: You can use a reactor block for the combustion reactions and a heater block for the feed water. Connect these two blocks with an energy stream. Note that you may want to use different physical property methods in... |
Problem Statement: For Cosmo-SAC property method. what parameter user need to enter to run? | Solution: The COSMO-SAC model requires three parameters for each component:
Component volume, V
Component surface area, A
Component sigma profile, p (sigma) where p is a function of component surface charge density (sigma).
All three parameters should be carried out by the same quantum mechanical calculation for the co... |
Problem Statement: Is it possible in Aspen Plus to simulate a reactive heterogeneous distillation using a catalyst? | Solution: It is not supported directly. If your reaction rate is computed on a per catalyst amount basis, then you enter the catalyst hold-up amount in the Hold-up in the Reactions | Hold-up sheet.
The help for RateSep (rate-based mode of RadFrac) also applies for the equilibrium mode of RadFrac. The only difference as... |
Problem Statement: After adding a user or inhouse databank and customizing the user interface on one computer, is there an easy way to customize other computers? | Solution: There is no need to customize each PC. After completing the customization of an inhouse or user databank in a new version of Aspen Plus on one PC, it is possible to just copy the two files listed below to another machine which also has the new version installed.
Copy:
1. The databank files used by the engin... |
Problem Statement: How do you create a pop-up window in Aspen Plus? | Solution: If you want to be informed via a pop-Up Window if something occurs (an error, or the end of the simulation),
add the following to your Fortran code at the appropriate location:
F CHARACTER msg*70
C ---
F msg = Hello World!
F call system('msg * /time:0 /w '//msg)
This trick works also with the batch mode, or... |
Problem Statement: How do I perform Property Analysis or Flowsheet run after completing a standalone data regression (DRS) of UNIFAC-PSRK parameters? When I try the results are different. | Solution: When a Data Regression of UNIFAC parameters is performed under a Data Regression run type, only the interaction between one group in one main group and one group in any other main group is regressed. Then regressed UNIFAC parameters are copied into the forms such as UNIFPS-1 (Properties|Parameters|UNIFAC Grou... |
Problem Statement: Some Sulzer packings such as Sulzer high capacity packings MELLAPAK 202Y and 352Y are not in Aspen Plus. Can they be added? | Solution: We have an agreement in place with Sulzer that states, in essence, that they will supply all models and information about their packings. Unfortunately what they have supplied us does not include all of their packings. For example, for V8.0, they have not provided us any information on 202Y or 352Y. As they p... |
Problem Statement: In the pdserver.out file, the following error appears (if you are using MS SQLserver with Batch):
DB-Library error: 10025
Possible network error: Write to SQL Server Failed. Invalid connection. r21_exec_immediate: error in call to dbsqlexec
r21_exec_immediate: Insert into event_db..event21 ( ... | Solution: Microsoft error: BUG# 9907 (4.21) After receiving an error fatal to a dbprocess, such as a 10025 Write to SQL Server Failed, a continual stream of 10005 DBPROCESS is dead or not enabled errors is received by the error handler.Solution Upgrade API MS SQLserver version.
The problem has to do with the version of... |
Problem Statement: I am doing a Property Analysis for a mixture by varying the mole fraction for two out of four components in the simulation. Why am I getting the following error:
ERROR WHILE GENERATING PROP-TABLE: PT-1. SUM OF BASIS-FRACS IS GREATER THAN ONE. MOLE FRACTIONS WILL BE NORMALIZED TO SUM TO 1.0? | Solution: When doing Property Analysis for a mixture, its composition needs to be specified as input either by referring to a flowsheet stream or specifying the flowrate for each component specifically. If more than one of the adjusted variables is a fraction, the user might get the following error:
ERROR WHILE GENERAT... |
Problem Statement: When copying and pasting portions of my Aspen Plus flowsheet to Microsoft Word or Excel, the stream and block labels are too small to read. | Solution: This can be adjusted using the label size scale factor which controls the size of block and stream IDs for printing. Scaling affects the printed or copied sized of labels, but not their size on the Aspen Plus flowsheet itself. When Global Data is on, this factor also controls the size of the displayed global ... |
Problem Statement: Can I use the equation oriented run mode to adjust kinetic parameters using plant data? | Solution: This is a simple RCSTR with one POWERLAW reaction. The mole fraction of component BBB is measured in the outlet stream of the reactor B1, and the pre-exponential factor for the reaction is adjusted to make the difference between the measurement and the model result as close as possible (minimization of the sq... |
Problem Statement: How do you change the font size of the Global Data on the process design flowsheet (PFD)? | Solution: You can change the font size of the simulation data displayed in the Graphical User Interface in Aspen Plus by going to the Tools menu Options | Styles sheet and changing the Label Font for block and stream labels. This font is also used for the global data. Changing this value will change the font for block ... |
Problem Statement: What to do when simulation of rupture disks end with integration errors? | Solution: Often when simulating a rupture disk using a the Pressure Relief option, the simulation will proceed through the various time steps and after bursting the rupture disk will end with an integration error. The most common cause of this situation is that once the the disk has burst the pressure within the vessel... |
Problem Statement: What is the difference between the XAPP and XAPP2 property sets for electrolyte apparent approach composition? | Solution: Apparent component flows and fractions can be calculated in multiple ways for some true component simulations when the chemistry contains STOIC reactions. For instance, if Na+, K+, Br-, Cl-, NaBr, NaCl, KBr, and KCl are in the simulation, KBr + NaCl can be represented equivalently as KCl + NaBr.
For FAPP, X... |
Problem Statement: What are the sign conventions of Heat or Duty? | Solution: The sign conventions for Heat (or Duty) information streams is as follows:
A block is receiving heat: positive
A block is losing heat: negative
An inlet heat stream is adding heat to a block: positive
An inlet heat stream is actually removing heat (instead of adding) from a block: negative
An outlet stream is... |
Problem Statement: Do you have a user subroutine to implement a powerlaw kinetics using activities (gamma * mole fraction) for the reactor models RBATCH, RCSTR and RPLUG? | Solution: You can use the attached subroutine. Note that this is supplied as an example only, and the code contains no error checking.
The example shows 3 reactors (RBATCH, RPLUG and RCSTR) using the user reaction, and 3 reactors with the same data but using the power law (for comparison).
The reaction is:
HAC + ETOH -... |
Problem Statement: What do I do when getting an index error like the one below in RCSTR, RPLUG, or RBATCH?
** ERROR WHILE EXECUTING UNIT OPERATIONS BLOCK: REACTOR (MODEL: RPLUG) (URE04.14)
RPLUG EXITED BECAUSE INTEGRATION FAILED. INDEX = (-1)
PROBABLE CAUSE IS INCORRECT KINETICS. CHECK RATE-CON
PARAMETERS AND MOLAR V... | Solution: This message indicates that the numerical integration engine in the reactor failed to solve the problem. Frequently this indicates an error in the input. For example, you may have entered an activation energy parameter in the wrong units making the reactions extremely fast, or you may have infeasible reaction... |
Problem Statement: New Feature in Aspen Plus V7.2 - Flowsheet Operations Improvements | Solution: The following enhancements were made to the flowsheet operations Utility, Design Spec, Calculator, Sensitivity, Optimization, Data-Fit, and Transfer in V7.2.
Process Utility Blocks
Utility blocks now report state variables for the block and its heating/cooling value on the new Results | State Variables sheet ... |
Problem Statement: When will 64-bit be supported? | Solution: 64-bit is supported in V7.3. All applications will run on 64 bit computers as 32 bit applications. Only, Aspen Basic Engineering will run as a full 64 bit application.
This only applies to the operating system. Microsoft Office 64 bit versions are not yet supported.
We have no immediate plans to support multi... |
Problem Statement: For a reaction defined to take place in the liquid phase, the amount of liquid holdup in the reactor has no effect on the amount of products of a catalytic reactor. | Solution: The setting Rate Basis on the Kinetic tab of the reaction definition is set to Reac(vol) by default. This means that the reaction is dependent on the amount of holdup in the reactor. The alternative setting is Cat(wt) which set the reaction to be dependent on the weight of catalyst in the reactor. In this cas... |
Problem Statement: What is dirty-water? How are the calculations done? | Solution: Free-water or Dirty-water (implemented in Version 12.1 of Aspen Plus) calculations can be used when performing flash calculations or liquid-liquid equilibrium calculations on water-organic systems in which the water phase is essentially pure or has trace amounts of organic components.
The free-water or dirty-... |
Problem Statement: What's New in Aspen Plus V7.2 - Overview | Solution: Aspen Plus V7.2 includes over 300 customer-requested enhancements to improve usability and efficiency. Specific examples include:
The new model summary grid now includes tab sheets summarizing process utilities and stream costing.
New sample models for oil shale retorting (Solution129524), and moving-bed and... |
Problem Statement: What is the difference between sizing and rating in tray and packed columns? | Solution: Aspen Plus provides two modes of operation for trays and packings:
Sizing
Rating
Trays
In either mode, you can divide a column into any number of sections. Each section can have a different column diameter, tray type, and tray geometry. You can re-rate or re-design the same section with different tray types... |
Problem Statement: What angle should I specify for the vertical pipelines? | Solution: Specify 90 degrees for vertical upward and -90 degrees for vertical downward.
Keywords: Pipeline, Angle, Segment
References: None |
Problem Statement: How are the WATSOL coefficients for water solubility model determined? | Solution: The Water Solubility model calculates solubility of water in a hydrocarbon-rich liquid phase. The model is used automatically when you model a hydrocarbon-water system with the free-water option with a water solubility method (solu-water) of 0, 1, or 2.
The expression for the liquid mole fraction of water (Xw... |
Problem Statement: Only parameters referenced by the Property Methods accessed in the simulation are available. Is it possible to access a parameter such as IONMOB that is not used in any Property Method? I want to have the values for the parameter retained, but not have the Property Method there confusing others. | Solution: You can add IONMOB (or any other non-referenced parameter) on the Properties | Advanced | User Parameters form.
You need to know the name of the parameter since there is no drop-down list.
Keywords: None
References: None |
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