question stringlengths 19 6.88k | answer stringlengths 38 33.3k |
|---|---|
Problem Statement: On what basis are the Reaction Profiles values in Radfrac? | Solution: The reaction profiles are the amount of component moles generated or consumed per stage.
Keywords: Radfrac, reaction, profiles
References: None |
Problem Statement: When trying to generate a ternary diagram I get the message: No plot or table produced due to calculation error. Please see Control Panel for details. However, the control panel does not show any error or any useful information. | Solution: This message occurs when two liquid phases are not found. A ternary diagram needs two liquid phases.
Troubleshooting Tips:
1. Does your system contain two liquid phases? If not, ternary diagram is not applicable. Try generating a binary phase diagram instead.
If you think there should be two liquid phases, ... |
Problem Statement: How do you install the PPDS data bank into the Aspen Properties Database Manager (APED) and into the Aspen Plus User Interface? | Solution: Installing PPDS in APED
1. Start | Programs | AspenTech | Process Modeling V7.x | Aspen Properties | Aspen Properties Database Manager.
2. Right click on the Aspen Physical Properties Databases and select Create a New Database. A Create A new Properties Database Wizard window pops up.
3. Click Next and define... |
Problem Statement: How can Aspen RateSep be tuned to match plant data? | Solution: There are three frequently used tuning parameters that can be used to tune Aspen RateSep models to match plant data. They are: interfacial area factor, heat transfer factor, and holdup scale factors (for liquid and vapor).
Aspen RateSep models can be tuned with built-in tuning parameters located on the Tray... |
Problem Statement: File loads incomplete due to missing column packing specifications in 2006.5. This did not happen in earlier releases. | Solution: In version 2006.5, a number of changes were made in the handling of Pack-Rating and Pack-Sizing sections. One change was omitted from the compatibility note for that release: It used to be allowed to omit any specification for which only a single option was available (for instance, for packing type GRID, vend... |
Problem Statement: When viewing the sensitivity analysis results form in Aspen Plus, the first column says either OK, Warnings, or Errors. When this result form is pasted into Excel, these statuses are replaced by numbers. What do those numbers mean? | Solution: The numeric status codes for the sensitivity analysis, when pasted into Excel are as follows:
0 Successful run
1 Errors
2 Warnings
Keywords: None
References: None |
Problem Statement: Why is the enthalpy calculation for a stream containing coal in my model incorrect? | Solution: For a nonconventional (NC) component, attributes PROXANAL, ULTANAL and SULFANAL need to be specified consistently. If the three elements in SULFANAL (PYRITIC, SULFATE, and ORGANIC) do not sum to the ULTANAL value for sulfur, enthalpy calculation for the NC stream will be incorrect. In addition to sulfur, othe... |
Problem Statement: The BatchSep column model was added to Aspen Plus for version 2006.5 however I cannot find it in the Model Library. Where is it? | Solution: By default, the BatchSep model is not enable during the installation of Aspen Plus. To get the model to appear in the Columns tab in the Model Library, go to the Library menu in Aspen Plus and select the
Keywords: BatchSep
Model Library
Library reference
References: s option. In the Library References window,... |
Problem Statement: When you click on a Stream Table that has been place on the Process Flowsheet you cannot resize the table like other objects by dragging the corners of the table. How do you make the table larger or smaller? | Solution: The size of the Stream Table can be modified by changing the font size used for the text in the table. To change the font size, make sure the Draw toolbar is visible on the Process Flowsheet window. If it is not visible, you can select it from the View | Toolbar menu. With the Draw toolbar visible, click on t... |
Problem Statement: Why are the tray rating results for Koch Glitch and Flexi are so very different with Koch's KGtower, the design software from KOCH. The Aspen Plus results indicate that the tray is more loaded than what the Koch software does. For example, the flooding factor in Aspen Plus is 0.9, but in KGtower it i... | Solution: The results from KGTower and from Aspen are actually very similar to one another. First, one must make sure that one chooses Bulletin 960-1 for the Flooding calculation method in Aspen Plus on the RadFrac | Tray Rating | Setup | Design / Pdrop sheet. More importantly, however, it is standard practice to size ... |
Problem Statement: How to Perform Assay Data Analysis without process flow diagram?
For a given True boiling point curve, How to generate other curve results like ASTM D86, ASTM D 1160? or Vice versa? | Solution: Yes it is possible to do Assay Data Analysis without having process flow diagram.
It is possible to generate other curves as a results like ASTM D86, ASTM D1160 for a given TBP curve.
Example:
1). Open attached .bkp file
2). Go to Data Browser/Set Up/Specification/ under Global Settings please select Run Type... |
Problem Statement: What is the purpose of the ANALYZE SPARSITY command? | Solution: This command applies only to Equation Oriented run mode. It can be typed in the command line of the control panel.
ANALYZE SPARSITY is to be used for model development to compare the analytic and numerical sparsity patterns. It will list any non-zeroes that are in conflict between the two patterns. It is norm... |
Problem Statement: What is the source of the Kij parameters for the Equation of State (EOS) models? | Solution: Kij's for the Peng-Robinson, Redlich-Kwong-Soave, Lee-Kesler Plocker models came from
Vapor-Liquid Equilibria for Mixtures of Low Boiling Substances, H. Knapp, R. Doring, L. Oellrich, U. Plocker and J. M. Prausnitz, Dechema Chemistry data Series, Vol. VI.
Kij's for the Soave-Redlich-Kwong model in the SRK-A... |
Problem Statement: What is the Mostafa method for property estimation? | Solution: The Mostafa method is a group contribution method for estimating solid standard Gibbs free energy of formation (DGSFRM), solid standard enthalpy of formation (DHSFRM), and parameters for the solid heat capacity correlation (CPSPO1).
This method is applied to solid inorganic salts which are divided to cation... |
Problem Statement: How can the RGibbs reactor unit operation model yield products for which there are no reactions? How does RGibbs work? | Solution: RGibbs does not follow any specified reaction at all. It predicts product composition by minimizing Gibbs free energy.
RGibbs considers inlet composition and conditions and then looks for all the components specified in your component list. Then, it calculates the outlet compositions of all the components tha... |
Problem Statement: What are the references for the equation of state binary interaction parameters defined in Aspen Plus databanks? | Solution: The binary interaction parameters used in Aspen Plus have been defined using the parameters taken from the following references:
Kij's for Peng-Robinson, Redlich-Kwong-Soave, Lee-Kesler Plocker models
Vapor-Liquid Equilibria for Mixtures of Low Boiling Substances, H. Knapp, R. Doring, L. Oellrich, U. Plocker... |
Problem Statement: How does the software search for scripts to run in the Equation-Oriented (EO) command line? | Solution: When invoking a script, one can hard code the path of the file to call. If the path is not hard coded during the invoke call, the search order for a script is:
1. Local folder where model resides
2. The folders defined in script_path
Once the script is found, then the software will not look furt... |
Problem Statement: The Aspen Plus documentation reports that the pure component ETHYLENE databank is used with the SRK method. However, looking at the SRKIJ-1 form, the source for the data is listed as SRK-ASPEN. | Solution: The Ethylene data bank contains the kij parameters for the SRK model but the data bank itself resides on the Engine side. There is no equivalent data in the graphical user interface.
The data bank SRK-ASPEN in the graphical user interface contains all the kij's that are included in the Ethylene data bank. H... |
Problem Statement: I am sending results from various blocks to the control panel. When I make a small change I want to see all the key results data rather than just the data that is affected by the change I made. How do I do this? | Solution: By default only the blocks that are affected by any change are calculated. You can change this behaviour from the Convergence | Conv Options | Sequencing form. Uncheck the option Use affected block logic.
Now all blocks on the flowsheet will be recalculated. Normally this will not add significantly to the sim... |
Problem Statement: Is SLM Client 7.x supported on Windows 7? | Solution: Aspen Plus can crash in unexpected ways on Windows 7 when the SLM Client has not been updated to SLM Client 8.x. Please make sure to install the SLM Client 8.x version from the DVD. Also note that SLM 8.x clients can not talk SLM Server 7.x.
Keywords: None
References: None |
Problem Statement: Aspen did not report a warning indicating that the feed pressure is lower than the stage pressure even though the feed pressure was slightly less than the column pressure at that stage.
It seems that the feed stream pressure to RadFrac has to be lower by a certain amount in order for the Feed Press... | Solution: Only if the ratio of feed pressure to column stage pressure is less than 0.99, is a warning is issued.
Keywords: column tower
References: : CQ00259060 |
Problem Statement: The below help screen capture lists the default values of efficiency used for the PUMP block in Aspen Plus. On the 3rd item on the help screen, it says for pump discharge pressure < 4.137 e7 Pa (and the solid flow rate is 0), the default efficiency is calculated using an efficiency curve based on wat... | Solution: The default efficiency curve is from Plant Design and Economics for Chemical Engineers, by Peters, M. S. and K.D. Timmerhaus, McGraw Hill, New York, 1968.
It is read from the curve in Fig. 13.36 in page 459. There is newer version of the book published in 1981.
Keywords: None
References: None |
Problem Statement: Why there is a temperature rise when pump efficiency is 100%? | Solution: Pump calculations assume constant density as inlet. In reality there is a change (which will be small) in density. This difference introduces some error in the calculations. When Aspen Plus calculates the outlet conditions from the enthalpy, it finds a higher temperature than inlet. If there were no change in... |
Problem Statement: Is there an option to enable or disable display of property parameters in the Aspen Plus User Interface? | Solution: Aspen Plus V7.0 includes a new feature to allow the user to control whether or not to retrieve and display the property parameters (such as binary and pair parameters) in the Aspen Plus User Interface. By default, binary and pair parameters are retrieved and displayed automatically on the Properties | Paramet... |
Problem Statement: Why does the vapor fraction in Aspen Plus not match that in Aspen Hetran or Aspen TASC or Aspen Tasc+? | Solution: Aspen Hetran, Aspen TASC and Aspen Tasc+ use a mass basis for everything including vapor fraction. Aspen Plus typically uses a molar basis. You can report the vapor fraction on a mass basis in Aspen Plus by adding the property MASSVRA in a prop-set and then using it in the stream report (in all versions) or i... |
Problem Statement: What is the difference between NAME2RECID and DECODNAM?
Both access routines, NAME2RECID and DECODNAM, serve the same purpose. They both accept a record name as an argument and return a record id. DECODNAM is superior since it returns error information.
NAME2RECID preceded DECODNAM. In some sense DEC... | Solution: NAME2RECID
According to the SETCIM Library
Keywords:
References: Manual, access routine NAME2RECID converts a record name to record ID [NAME2RECID(ptbuff, numchars)].
NOTE: For access routines such as the NAME2RECID routine that searches all nodes to find data, the nodes are searched in the order listed in ... |
Problem Statement: There is an InfoPlus.21 External task called TSK_HBAK designed for use with records defined by HistoryBackupDef. When activated on a Scheduled basis, certain History Filesets will be backed up to a user-defined Disk location by TSK_HBAK.
This KnowledgeBase | Solution: attempts to describe exactly how the task decides which Filesets will be saved each time it is activated. We also attempt to describe how it knows which ones were saved and thus will not be re-saved the next time it runs unless they have changed.Solution
When viewed from the IP.21 Administrator, each History ... |
Problem Statement: How can you stop and start an Aspen InfoPlus.21 external task without using the InfoPlus.21 Manager? | Solution: Use the Aspen InfoPlus.21 utility TSK_CLIENT. You can find TSK_CLIENT in the default code directory for Aspen InfoPlus.21 (<drive>:\Program Files\AspenTech\InfoPlus.21\db21\code, where <drive> is the disk drive where InfoPlus.21 is installed).
As an example, to stop the external task TSK_IQ1 using TSK_CLIENT,... |
Problem Statement: How to resolve Data Binding Failed for Calculation 'name' : Record not found. | Solution: When using CalcCreate.xls (an Excel .xls file that allows you to create multiple Calculations and bind Parameters at once, usually found in :\Program Files (x86)\AspenTech\Aspen Calc\Excel), the error message Data Binding Failed for Calculation 'name' : Record not found may sometimes appear.
In this parti... |
Problem Statement: When using aspenOne Update, several patches may be selected and installed. User may encounter the error
Error 1704: An installation of AspenCalc is currently suspended.
after the AspenCalc patch is downloaded and installed.
For example, the following patches are selected online and installed:
- Aspen... | Solution: Launch Windows Registry Editor.
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\Inprogress.
If the Inprogress key exists, then delete it.
Restart the installation of the stalled product installation (e.g. Aspen InfoPlus.21 Patch 5).
Keywords: aspenOne Update
Error 1704
Aspen... |
Problem Statement: What are the different files generated during Aspen plus run? | Solution: Description of Generated Files during each Aspen Plus RUN:
*.apprj : Aspen Plus physical property data (text)
*.his : Aspen Plus history file (text), contains input specification and run diagnostics
*.adv : Aspen + generate a file containing information of advent. Advent is an old product Aspen no longer prov... |
Problem Statement: What are Area Penalty Parameters on the MHeatX | Input | Zone Analysis sheet? | Solution: The Area penalty parameters become active when there is a crossover in or at either end of a zone. The LMTD is approximated to a small enough value in order to drive the UA to a large value (penalty), thus causing the solver (Design-Spec or Optimization) to move away from this region. This drives the manipula... |
Problem Statement: When I do a NRTL parameter estimation on Aspen Plus, why doesn't Aspen Plus estimate aij and aji (aij and aji = 0)? | Solution: When you perform a binary parameter estimation for NRTL parameters, using a UNIFAC method, the only estimated parameters are: aij, aji, bij, bji. Cij is a fxed value (depending on the type of your system). Other parameters (dij, eij, eji, fij and fji) are all zero.
The parameters aij and aji are dependent on ... |
Problem Statement: What is the correct procedure to run Aspen Properties with user.dll in Excel Add in | Solution: When you use a *.aprbkp file that references user model .DLLs via a linker options (DLOPT) file, the DLOPT file must be specified by its full pathname in the *.aprbkp file even if the file is located in your normal working folder. This is because when Aspen Properties is launched by Excel, its working folder ... |
Problem Statement: What is the fractional capacity in pack rating results? | Solution: There are three definitions of approach to flood that are used frequently. The first, and most common, is flooding at constant L/V. The second is flooding at constant liquid load (used often for scrubbers for which you want to process as much gas as you can with the liquid you have available). The third is fl... |
Problem Statement: Acol+ or Tasc+ 2006 do not run from Aspen Plus 2006. There is a message that there is a floating point error in the heat exchanger program and the block is bypassed. | Solution: The most likely cause of this problem is that both HTFS+ and Aspen Plus have not been patched compatibly. To resolve this issue apply Aspen HTFS+ 2006 Cumulative Patch 6 (CP6) and Aspen Plus 2006 Cumulative Patch 3 (CP3). The two patches do not have to be installed in any specific sequence.
If the problem p... |
Problem Statement: What are the difference between various calculations type for Heat Exchanger (HeatX) block in Aspen Plus? | Solution: In the HeatX block the following calculation types are possible:
Design mode - This mode is available for shortcut, Hetran, Aerotran, Tasc+, and Acol+ methods. Given a specified load, HeatX will determine the area required and the number of shells in series that are required. In addition, the rigorous methods... |
Problem Statement: Is there a way to create a user convergence block using VBA and define a tear stream for the convergence block? | Solution: To create a user convergence block e.g. C1 using Wegstein:
go_Simulation.Tree.Data.Convergence.Convergence.Elements.Add (C1!WEGSTEIN)
To define a tear stream in convergence block C1:
go_Simulation.Tree.Data.Convergence.Convergence.C1.Input.TOL.Elements.Label(0,0) = tear_stream_name
Keywords: Visual Basic Appl... |
Problem Statement: The values never change for Local Parameter variables calculated by local FORTRAN in a Design-Spec. | Solution: This is by design. Only the Calculator block has the ability to change the information flow direction (import or export) on the parameter variable types. Other objects that use define forms, Optimization, Sensitivity, Design-Spec, etc. assume that parameter types are READ-ONLY (import flow direction) and henc... |
Problem Statement: How do you activate the Furnace option in the PetroFrac block? | Solution: Typically, the feed to an atmospheric crude column goes through a furnace before entering the unit. To activate the Furnace option within the PetroFrac block, first go to the Streams sheet within the basic column Setup form. Select the appropriate stream (i.e., feed) and choose Furnace from the Convention dro... |
Problem Statement: Where can I find in the documentation is a listing of all functional groups? | Solution: This information is in the help.
1. Open the Aspen Plus Help topics from the Help menu.
2. In Aspen Plus 2004.1 and earlier, click on the Aspen Physical Property System Help in the right hand pane. In Aspen Plus 2006, this step is not necessary.
3. Go to Aspen Physical Property System
Keywor... |
Problem Statement: Is there a way to launch a specific version of Aspen Plus from Excel/VBA code? | Solution: There are two ways to open an Aspen Plus model with a specified version of Aspen Plus.Solution document #120589 discusses using the GetObject method, and this document discusses using the CreateObject method.
To have control over opening a specific version of Aspen Plus, the CreateObject method needs an extra... |
Problem Statement: Is it possible to enter interactive commands inside hierarchy blocks when running Aspen Plus using Input Language? | Solution: The command SCOPE needs to be used to gain access inside a hierarchy block during an interactive Aspen Plus run. In particular, the user should type SCOPE hierarchy_name in the Aspen Plus prompt in order to force Aspen Plus to activate the interactive functionality within the hierarchy block hierarchy_name. S... |
Problem Statement: How do I get my simulation to only re-execute the stream results? My entire simulation re-executes when I simply change the units of measure in my prop-set that is reported. | Solution: Aspen Plus restarts the calculation and loses all results if a Prop-Set referenced in the flowsheet is changed in any way. This included changing the units of measure a Property. In 2006, the new stream summary will not have this problem. Users will be able to add properties for the stream report without losi... |
Problem Statement: What is the liquid-to-solid mass ratio in a Counter-Current Decanter (CCD)? The ratio does not seem to have an effect on the overflow or underflow at each stage but does affect the concentration of a solute in the final underflow. | Solution: The CCD assumes a perfect separation of the solids (i.e. all of the solids go into the cake and none go into the effluent.)
The liquid to solid ratio determines how much liquid is in the cake. With one set of ratios specified in the block, the amount liquid in the cake is determined. This amount does not depe... |
Problem Statement: How does one know what the Equation-Oriented (EO) variables are in the RPlug, RCSTR, and Valve blocks? For example what is Z? | Solution: Scroll to the right and look at the Description column. Z is the mixture mole fraction.
If this column is not visible, right click on the column headers, select more, and check Description. The Description is blank for many unit operations, but it is available for some such as RPlug, RCSTR, and Valve that wer... |
Problem Statement: What unit operation models do not support true approach electrolyte chemistry? | Solution: Certain unit operation models do not support true species electrolyte chemistry.
These models are
DSTWU (Shortcut distillation design using the Winn-Underwood- Gilliland method)
Distl (Shortcut distillation rating using the Edmister method)
SCFrac (Shortcut distillation for complex petroleum fractionation uni... |
Problem Statement: Aspen RateSep does not support solids, salt and conversion reactions. However Aspen RateSep will check for salt formation after | Solution: .
What happens if the feed to the column contains precipitated salts as well as ionic electrolyte species? For example, if the feed contains the solid salt NaOH(s) as well as Na+ and OH- ions, how will the NaOH(s) be treated in the column?
Solution
All Salts in the feeds first get dissociated into their ion... |
Problem Statement: apwn.exe Application Error. The memory could not be read. | Solution: The error is commonly attributed to some registry corruption and can be fixed by running the fix registry utility in Aspen Plus.
Go to Windows-> Start-> Programs-> Aspentech-> Process Modeling-> Aspen Plus-> Aspen Plus Registry Fix Utility.
Select the version to be fixed if there is more than one and click ok... |
Problem Statement: In the calculator block, there is no way to access the unit of measure for any scalar property parameters. In the define variable result, there is no unit of measure reported. Is it possible to change the units of measure for property parameters. | Solution: This was a design decision. It is too difficult to do unit conversions to elements of a vector for temperature-dependent parameters. Similarly, we decided not to convert the scalar ones either. All accessed property parameters are in SI units.
Keywords: None
References: : CQ00360503 |
Problem Statement: A catastrophic hardware failure can have serious business consequences. Having a plan for how to recover effectively from this type of failure can help minimize the effect on your operation. | Solution: Catastrophic hardware failures fall into three main categories:
A. Network Card / Cabling / Equipment
B. Motherboard / Power Supply
C. Hard drive
Failures in any of these areas can bring the historicization of your data to a halt. ThisSolution presents a plan for dealing with each scenario.
A. NET... |
Problem Statement: While processing input specification, Aspen Plus either crashes with TERMINAL ERROR, displaying UNABLE TO LOAD DYNAMIC LIBRARY, or severe error such as COULD NOT RESOLVE USER OR IN-LINE FORTRAN SUBROUTINE(S). | Solution: Placing system loose files in the working folder where model files reside could cause the crash with message UNABLE TO LOAD DYNAMIC LIBRARY. Similarly binary files such as *.obj or *.dll files generated by previous versions of compilerswould cause error messages such as COULD NOT RESOLVE USER OR IN-LINE FORTR... |
Problem Statement: This knowledge base article describes how Aspen InfoPlus.21 handles the situation when a 21CFR11 enabled snapshot is loaded in a non-21CFR11 enabled Aspen InfoPlus.21 server. | Solution: The 21CFR11 compliance flags are set in 2 places:
? In the system registry
In the snapshot.
Aspen InfoPlus.21 checks the 21CFR11 compliance flags in both the registry and the snapshot during each startup sequence. Therefore, if either of these flags are enabled the machine is placed in full 21CFR11... |
Problem Statement: When doing column design using RadFrac with the Pack Sizing option, Flexipac 1X or 2X packing gives me the smallest diameter column required. However, when I convert to RateSep and select Flexipac for Pack Rating, RateSep requires the input of the corrugation dimensions. Several points:
Why does Aspe... | Solution: We do not provide the parameters for Flexipac because we do not have the official data from the vendor. RateFrac uses a build-in correlation for any packing and it does not require these parameters.
It is possible to search for these parameters on the Internet, or in some books and papers. For example, the ... |
Problem Statement: We like using the hierarchy block; however, there is often a problem with work flow. For example, if a modelling team member fine tunes the sequence of a flowsheet and imports this into another simulation as a hierarchy, the new sequence may not be the same as in the original standalone simulation. T... | Solution: Within the Hierarchy block, go to the EO Configuration | Solve Options | Specifications form and check Sequence separately using hierarchy. This option applies to the Sequential Modular (SM) run mode even though the setting is on the Equation-Oriented (EO) Configuration form of the Hierarchy blocks.
See the a... |
Problem Statement: When I change the data set (say from 1 to 2) of a model of a property method and then try to use this method within a regression case to fit some data, the respective model does not appear in the drop-down list in the parameters tab in the regression case. Can you regress parameters for a second data... | Solution: This is by design. Data regression can only manipulate the first data set. Users should do the regression for the first data set, then enter the obtained parameters for any data set number that they wish for the simulation run.
Keywords: DRS
References: : CQ00327851 |
Problem Statement: Have there been performance improvements with newer releases of Aspen Plus? | Solution: The simulation time has been decreasing with every newer version.
Following is a test with a large simulation file. The time information is from the history file. The elapsed time is the time it took to run the problem. If the time increases in newer releases, the machine may need more RAM and possibly a la... |
Problem Statement: What is the 'ProgID' needed to launch the Aspen Properties CAPE OPEN Thermo System? | Solution: The property system owns the property packages, and the system of interest must be registered. The Aspen Plus physical property system is registered as
AtCOProperties.COPropertySystem
This is mentioned in the reference documentation (e.g. page 285 of AspenPlusUserModelsV7_1-Ref.pdf). However the ProgID is a... |
Problem Statement: My model runs to completion in Sequential Modular (SM) mode. however, during Equation-Oriented (EO) synchronization, the following warning occurs...
* WARNING WHILE DETERMINING SPARSITY FOR CALCULATOR BLOCK: C-1
UNABLE TO CONNECT VARIABLE C-1.BLK.B1_MASS-FLOW_FLOWS_MIXED_XXX
TO ACCESSED VARIABLE ... | Solution: To reduce the size of the EO problem, by default components are removed from streams if their concentration is zero. In the SMSolution, all of component COMPA goes to outlet stream XXX so COMPA flow in the remaining SEP block exit stream is dropped and the original mass flow spec for stream XXX is not put int... |
Problem Statement: A simulation appears to complete normally, but examination of the material balance (for either the whole simulation or one particular block) shows that the simulation is out of material balance. Why? | Solution: There are several possible causes.
1. The simulation contains a MULT block or a DUPL block. These blocks create/destroy mass in the simulation, so the simulation will inherently be out of material balance.
2. A DESIGN-SPEC (including RADFRAC SPEC/VARY) or a FORTRAN block may be varying the flow of... |
Problem Statement: How can I change components from one substream to another? | Solution: You can use a dummy RStoic block, as shown in the attached example file.
In stream 2, due to the chemistry defined, there is some NACL(S) in the MIXED substream.
The RStoic block B1 is set with the same temperature and no pressure drop, and with the reaction NACL(S)(Mixed) --> NACL(S)(Cisolid) with a fraction... |
Problem Statement: The temperatures calculated when reporting the TSOL and TFREEZ (temperature at which any component freezes out of a mixture at a given pressure) property-sets for a component in the 1st and 2nd liquid, the temperatures calculated do not seem correct. | Solution: This type of analysis cannot be applied if the phase composition changes, in this case due to splitting.
When dealing with two phases, the assumption for the property-set calculation is that the phase will remain as is. The property set is changing the temperature of one of the liquid phases and calculating t... |
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: 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: This knowledge base article explains for which cases the Aspen InfoPlus.21 API routine WHIS21DAT() can return an invalid key timestamp error. | Solution: WHIS21DAT() would return an invalid key timestamp error if it could not insert an event because the specified key timestamp was:
(a) Outside the allowable range (1980-2035)
(b) Older than the oldest allowed time for the repeat area. Normally this would be set to roughly the time that the repeat area was cre... |
Problem Statement: Is it possible to rename a repository? (e.g. the default TSK_DHIS) | Solution: Changing the name a history repository can be done, but it requires several steps. It is generally not recommended unless you feel it is absolutely necessary.
To rename the repository you need to remove all references to it. In the case of TSK_DHIS, many records use it as the default repository.
The simpl... |
Problem Statement: When running the InfoPlus.21 Database Upgrade Wizard, the following error is received:
Error in setting new database size: <xxxxxxxx>. Code = -18
e.g.: Error in setting new database size: 64000000. Code = -18 | Solution: Increase the allocated memory in the command-line parameter for TSK_DBCLOCK so that the value is greater than the number in the error. For the example above, TSK_DBCLOCK's parameter should then be:
DOUBLE 65000000
or greater.
Keywords: Upgrade Wizard
References: None |
Problem Statement: When running the automated history backup record (defined by HistBackupDef) errors can result for the current active fileset. The following error message may appear in the h21arcbackup.log file.
ARCBACKUP ERROR: Could not find active fileset for repository <Repositiory_Name>. | Solution: This message occurs if the current active fileset has been marked as reserved. If the reserved status is removed from the fileset, the backup utility should function without further errors. The active fileset must have a status of Mounted, not Reserved and not Read-Only.
Keywords: automatic
archive
file
Refer... |
Problem Statement: The Administrator tool may be very slow to expand, and show the InfoPlus.21 records when first opened. | Solution: If there are any invalid names in the ADSA directory server, it will cause long delays in opening the Administrator. The administrator checks each of the listed data sources and if one is invalid, or it is unable to connect (if InfoPlus.21 is shutdown on that data source), it will wait until it times out befo... |
Problem Statement: IO_Activate on the Get record(s) stays at 'Yes', does not change back to 'No'. | Solution: This problem is the result of the main and async tasks not being started. In one customer's case, these tasks were not started because of other problems. There was an issue with TSK_BCU_START, and since that was failing to start, the remaining tasks didn't start.
Once again, this was indirectly caused by usin... |
Problem Statement: What does this error message in the error.log file mean:
ARCHIVE: h21_maybe_resync() error point <point id>
Where <point id> is some large number. | Solution: H21_maybe_resync() error point is generated by the history archiver when a call to an API function, h21_maybe_resync(), fails. The archiver just prints out the pointid. For example if the error is:
ARCHIVE: h21_maybe_resync() error point 33688603,
The actual record ID in question is 32899 (33688603/1024). Che... |
Problem Statement: What are the effects of enabling 21CFR11 Compliance in InfoPlus.21? | Solution: Activating the compliance-enabling features in IP.21 has important implications. To ensure the integrity of the system, it is required that once activated, the compliance-enabling features can never be deactivated, except by uninstalling the Aspen Framework software.
The reason for activating the compliance-e... |
Problem Statement: To users of the Aspen Manufacturing Suite products, one confusing item is the difference between activating tasks (executables) and activating database records. | Solution: ACTIVATING TASKS
When Aspen InfoPlus.21 is started, a number of External Tasks are started. Examples are TSK_SAVE, TSK_PLAN, TSK_IQ1, TSK_SQL_SERVER etc. When started, these external tasks do not immediately do any processing. They will show up as running but in fact they go to sleep and hibernate until woken... |
Problem Statement: How to use the Concatenation operator in Aspen Calc. | Solution: Concatenation combines two text strings, such as:
PlantArea = “FCC�
TagType = “Pressure�
Stream = “145�
ReturnValue = PlantArea & “_� & TagType & Stream
So, ReturnValue will equal “FCC_Pressure145�.
Keywords: None
References: None |
Problem Statement: A query stored in an Aspen InfoPlus.21 record has been accidently overwritten. Is it possible to recover the query? | Solution: Compressed queries defined by CompQueryDef, ProcedureDef and ViewDef are typically stored in the following path.
\Program Files\AspenTech\InfoPlus.21\db21\Group200\SQL.
To restore compressed queries, it is necessary to obtain a copy of the file(s) from a backup of the above directory. The backup must have... |
Problem Statement: When starting InfoPlus.21 using the InfoPlus.21 Manager tool, the startup doesn't complete successfully and fails when running the TSK_DBCLOCK task.
The System event viewer may contain an error: Error creating event object, error code = 183 | Solution: This behavior is typically seen when attempting to use the InfoPlus.21 Manager tool via a Terminal Services connection.
TheSolution is to use the InfoPlus.21 Administrator utility to start InfoPlus.21 in this case, or log on directly to the InfoPlus.21 console and use the InfoPlus.21 Manager.
Keywords: termin... |
Problem Statement: During installation of InfoPlus.21 (IP.21), you will be forced to reboot the computer. After the reboot, several installation steps are executed, among them the addgroup procedure. But, there are conditions that will cause addgroup to not complete properly. One of the symptoms is that in the IP.21 Ma... | Solution: #108434 lists several reasons why this might occur. Usually it has to do with permissions on the account that is being used.
However, there is another condition which may cause this.
If you attempt to run the addgroup executable manually, from a DOS prompt, you might see the following:
Creating group director... |
Problem Statement: DOES AspenTech Officially Support running Aspen Process Recipe and Transition Manager v2006.5 on servers that are using SQL Server 2005 SP3 as the Relational Database? | Solution: NO, with v2006.5 of Aspen Process Recipe and Transition Manager, AspenTech DOES NOT yet support running this software version with SQL Server 2005 SP3, and AspenTech does not yet have plans to support SQL Server 2005 SP3 for v2006.5.
However, even though AspenTech has not tested with SQL Server 2005 SP3 and t... |
Problem Statement: After restart AspenTech Calculator Engine, values displayed in AspenCalc calculation results do not match last value execution for bound and non-bound parameters (input or output). | Solution: ThisSolution provides a detailed explanation about the behavior of Aspen Calc for displayed calculation result.
Consider the next calculation:
The images show a simple calculation: LastRun will get the current date while the ReturnValue will receive a random number from a record called Value1 and saved it on ... |
Problem Statement: When Aspen InfoPlus.21 starts up, one of the tasks that can take a long time to start is LOADDB. This task reads the snapshot file from disk and loads it into shared memory. What exactly is it doing and why can it take so long to start? | Solution: When Aspen InfoPlus.21 starts up, there are 7 tasks that have to start in this order:
TSK_C21_WIN_INIT
TSK_H21_INIT
TSK_H21_ARCCK
TSK_H21_MNTTAB
TSK_H21_PRIME
TSK_DBCLOCK
LOADDB
The H21 tasks initialize history and launches the h21archive.exe processes responsible for the processing and reading of historical ... |
Problem Statement: After a new installation of Aspen Calc, the error Unavailable Node:<nodename> Please delete/add nodes to your selection might appear on startup and the Aspen Calc application might hang at getting the nodelist.
This error appears because Aspen Calc is unable to locate the specific node name mentione... | Solution: Aspen Calc retrieves node names from the registry at startup. The Default nodes can be configured in the registry.
To correct this error, perform the steps mentioned below:
Open the Windows registry and check the following:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Aspentech\Aspen Calc\Calc Sources
The node name must be me... |
Problem Statement: There are two types of Schedule Groups you can create in Aspen Calc:
· Interval – run at regular, evenly spaced intervals e.g. every 2 hours
· Periodic – run at a specified time e.g. every Monday or every 1st day of the month
What happens to Aspen Calc Periodic Schedule Group on the 3... | Solution: If the specified day of the month does not exist for a given month, then the Periodic Schedule Group configured to execute calculations on that day skips to the next month for which that day is valid. For example, if the day-of-month is 31st, then after running the January 31st scheduled calculations, it wil... |
Problem Statement: What should one do if the error,shift_archive() open failure is noticed in the error.log file for a repository? | Solution: The presence of the error shift_archive() open failure in the error.log file indicates that the archiving process was unable to successfully open an archive file (this is most likely encountered during a file set shift). If another file set is not available to shift into, the archiving process will shut down ... |
Problem Statement: When LOADDB, the task that loads an InfoPlus.21 snapshot into memory, runs, the CPU in the NT Task Manager is usually running with some significant activity. There have been a couple of cases where LOADDB takes a long time to load the snapshot and, during this process, there is little or no CPU activ... | Solution: There appear to be conditions where significant CPU time can be taken up by a virus scanner but NOT reported as such in the NT task manager. Also, exclusion settings in the virus scanner appear to not always be in effect, depending upon other settings in the virus scanner.
One example is V4.0.5 of Network Ass... |
Problem Statement: What is the difference between a normal repeat area and a history repeat area? | Solution: InfoPlus.21 records can have two types of repeat areas. One type is a normal repeat area and the other type is a history repeat area. A normal repeat area is a place to store a list of values, like those found in Selector records; whereas, history repeat areas store long-term data for tags such as values and ... |
Problem Statement: One or more external tasks fail with the following message in the IP.21 manager''s error file:
System error 5AF interfacing external task name of the task - process id | Solution: The WinError.h file then indicates that error (5AF) 1455 means: The paging file is too small for this operation to complete.
Increase the size of the windows page file in order to fix this.
In general, the performance of the system will not have been optimal if you receive this error message. It is advisable ... |
Problem Statement: When adding file sets using the Aspen InfoPlus.21 Administrator, the message
Failed to create directory for file set
is returned. This knowledge base article explains how to resolve this error. | Solution: The file sets are not always accessed directly as C:\Program Files\AspenTech\Infoplus.21\c21\h21\arcs, but rather they can be accessed as a shared directory such as IP21g200His. Make sure that both the directory permissions and the share permissions allow the User Account which adds the file sets to create a ... |
Problem Statement: When attempting to save an InfoPlus.21 snapshot, you may be unable to save it, and get an error 1909. | Solution: This error means that the operating system is unable to (over)write the specified file. So, check the filename, write-rights, accessibility of the directory, etc.
Keywords: 1909
snapshot
References: None |
Problem Statement: This knowledge base article outlines AspenTech's current policy regarding the support of the Aspen Manufacturing Suite products with the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system.
Note: AspenTech's general operating system support policy can be found here | Solution: The releases of the Aspen Manufacturing Suite up to and including v2006 are not supported on the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system. Several problems were discovered when tests were done using v2006 on Microsoft Windows Vista.
Official support for Microsoft Windows Vista starts with v2006.5.
Keywords: O... |
Problem Statement: Pages 3 & 4 of the Aspen InfoPlus.21 v2006 Release Notes discuss the new feature Aspen InfoPlus.21 Health Monitor. Please see Knowledge Base article 119859 for the Release Notes document.
http://support.aspentech.com/webteamasp/KB.asp?ID=119859
The work of the Health Monitor is performed by the ext... | Solution: for this is to go to
Start | Programs | AspenTech | Common Utilities | SLM Configuration Wizard
From here you need to point to either your network based SLM server, or your Standalone License file. This tells the software which license file contains this specific license key.
2) Skip During Startup.
By defa... |
Problem Statement: Is it possible to delete old data or test data from a repository and start it brand new?
Sometimes you have a repository that has old data (i.e. test data), such as a site that has a test system that contains old data. After the test phase is completed, they would like to remove the test data or old ... | Solution: You only need to stop the IP.21 database and delete the arc.dat, arc.byte, and arc.key files out of each fileset folder of the Repository. Then restart the IP.21 database. Since there aren't any fileset files, the first fileset should mount and the rest should have a Status of NONE.
Keywords: fileset
reposito... |
Problem Statement: From the InfoPlus.21 Manager, you can create a custom list of Defined Tasks (TSK_xxxx) that execute when InfoPlus.21 is started. If you have multiple InfoPlus.21 databases, and desire the same list of tasks to be defined on all systems, it is possible to create the list once, and copy it over to the ... | Solution: To change the registry keys, follow the steps below:
On the computer where you Restored an .ipg file:
Go to Start/Run..., and type regedit
Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/AspenTech/Security/Registry Security Server.
There will be a long hexadecimal looking number for that key. Copy this long string. This is... |
Problem Statement: If the loaddb task fails, and the error file for loaddb says:
Database version is too old for InfoPlus.21.
this indicates that the snapshot Aspen InfoPlus.21 is trying to load is corrupt. | Solution: Stop Aspen InfoPlus.21
Go to the Aspen InfoPlus.21 manager and double click on loaddb in the Defined Tasks area.
Look in the Command Line Parameters field for the name of the snapshot you are trying to load:
%SETCIM%\%SETCIM_GROUP_NAME%\InfoPlus21.snp
InfoPlus21.snp is the name of the snapshot that is attem... |
Problem Statement: Not all drivers for Oracle 8 function correctly when used to access SQLA tags. | Solution: The following 8.1.7 drivers have been tested with v6 of the AMS Suite and an Oracle 8.1.7.0 view. The results are included below:
Oracle ODBC Driver
Result
8.1.7.0
Succeeded
8.1.7.4
Succeeded
8.1.7.5
Succeeded
8.1.7.6
Failed. pd_server hangs with r21_initialize: Logging In
8.1.7.7
Failed. pd_server hangs wit... |
Problem Statement: How do you change IP_PLANT_AREA from a record defined by Select10Def to one defined by Select20Def? | Solution: By default, both IP_AnalogDef and IP_DiscreteDef records have the field IP_PLANT_AREA set to the record PLANT-AREAS, which is defined by Select10Def. That means the longest plant-area name can only have 10 characters. To allow for longer names (e.g. 20 characters), here are the steps to make that change:
1) ... |
Problem Statement: Attempting to create a new record defined by FieldNameDef or FieldLongNameDef record results in the following error.
When clicking OK to acknowledge the error, the record is created in an UNUSABLE state with a field number value of zero..
Attempting to make the new record usable will result in th... | Solution: To resolve the problem, it is necessary to update the FIELD_NUMBER field with a non-zero value. Once a non-zero number is specified, it is possible to make the record USABLE.
A convention for field check codes that helps prevent duplicate field numbers is shown in the following list. If more than one applicat... |
Problem Statement: The distribution of AspenTech's AspenOne v2004.2 is delivered as a set of NineDVDs
One is the Documentation DVD,
One is the Admin DVD.
The main Six are dedicated to the Processing Suite, such as Disc-2 AMS for Aspen Manufacturing Suite.
One is called Patches.
So what is the Patches DVD for? Should I ... | Solution: The answer depends on the products you are installing or upgrading.
A 'very small number' of products, mostly Engineering, were not upgraded on the main Suite DVD for v2004.2.
In other words, the 2004.2 main DVD is actually a redistribution of the v2004.0 or v2004.1 only for those specific products.
For those... |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.