Learn Aspen Plus in 24 Hours, Second Edition

by Thomas A. Adams II

Overview

Quickly start using the current version of Aspen Plus® to solve chemical engineering problems

Discover how to solve chemical engineering problems with Aspen Plus® in just 24 hours, with no prior experience. Thoroughly revised for the latest distribution, this self-learning guide features detailed mathematical models for a wide range of chemical process equipment, including heat exchangers, pumps, compressors, turbines, distillation columns, and chemical reactors. Divided into 12 two-hour lessons, Learn Aspen Plus® in 24 Hours, Second Edition shows, step by step, how to build process models and simulations without performing tedious calculations. You will also get downloadable Aspen Plus simulation files and helpful quick starter templates.

Inside, you will learn how to:

• Get up and running with Aspen Plus
• Accurately model physical property
• Work with Aspen Plus’ problem solving tools
• Create equilibrium- and rate-based distillation models
• Build chemical reactor models
• Incorporate connections to Microsoft Excel and Python in your Aspen Plus models
• Estimate capital costs
• Optimize heat exchanger networks
• Simulate electrolyte chemistry and CO2 capture
• Employ parallel computing and optimization
• Choose property packages

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781264266654
Publisher:	McGraw Hill LLC
Publication date:	01/07/2022
Edition description:	2nd ed.
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Thomas A. Adams II is an associate professor of chemical engineering at McMaster University. He serves as chair of the Systems and Control division of the Canadian Society of Chemical Engineers and is the author of the first edition of Learn Aspen Plus in 24 Hours.

Table of Contents

About This Book xi

Introduction xiii

Tutorial 1 Getting Started 1

Objectives 1

Prerequisite Knowledge 1

Why This Is Useful for Problem Solving 1

Tutorial 2

Background 2

Part 1 Getting Started with Property Definitions 2

Part 2 Setting Up the Flowsheet 5

Part 3 A Little More on Your Own 10

Tutorial 2 Physical Properly Modeling 11

Objectives 11

Prerequisite Knowledge 11

Why This Is Useful for Problem Solving 12

Tutorial 12

Part 1 Physical Property Basics 12

Part 2 Retrieving Physical Property Data 14

Part 3 Creating a VLE Diagram 15

Part 4 Pressure Swing Distillation 18

Tutorial 3 Problem Solving Tools 25

Objectives 25

Prerequisite Knowledge 25

Why This Is Useful for Problem Solving 25

Tutorial 26

Part 1 Design Specs 26

Part 2 Sensitivity Analysis 31

Tutorial 4 Heat Exchangers 37

Objectives 37

Prerequisite Knowledge 37

Why This Is Useful for Problem Solving 37

Types and Classifications of Heat Exchangers 38

Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers 38

Advantages 38

Disadvantages 39

Plate Heat Exchangers 39

Advantages 39

Disadvantages 39

Tutorial 40

Case Study 40

Part 1 Using a Heater Model 40

Part 2 Using a HeatX Model 44

Why Choose Two HEATERs versus HeatX? 48

Tutorial 5 Equilibrium-Based Distillation Models 51

Objectives 51

Prerequisite Knowledge 51

Why This Is Useful for Problem Solving 52

Tutorial 52

Part 1 Aspen Property Packages 52

Part 2 DSTWU and Shortcut Column Models 55

Part 3 Rigorous Distillation Models 58

Tutorial 6 Advanced Problem Solving Tools 61

Objectives 61

Prerequisite Knowledge 61

Why This Is Useful for Problem Solving 61

Tutorial 62

Part 1 Utilities 62

What Are Utilities? 62

Defining Utilities 63

Using Utilities 65

Part 2 Optimization 67

Tutorial 7 Chemical Reactor Models 73

Objectives 73

Prerequisite Knowledge 73

Why This Is Useful for Problem Solving 74

Tutorial 75

Part 1 RBatch 75

Part 2 Data Regression 79

Part 3 Expanding to Plug Flow Reactors 80

Part 4 Specification with RYield 81

Part 5 Specification with RStoic 83

Part 6 Equilibrium Reactions with REquil and RGibbs 83

Tutorial 8 Rate-Based Distillation Models 87

Objectives 87

Prerequisite Knowledge 87

Why This Is Useful for Problem Solving 88

Tutorial 88

Part 1 Sizing Information 88

Sieve Tray 90

Bubble Cap Tray 90

Tunnel Cap Tray 90

Structured Packing 90

Unstructured (Random) Packing 91

Part 2 Rate-Based Simulations 94

Tutorial 9 Custom Models and External Control 101

Objectives 101

Prerequisite Knowledge 101

Why This Is Useful for Problem Solving 102

Tutorial 102

Part 1 Basics 102

Import Variables 103

Export Variables 103

Part 2 Custom Models with Calculator Blocks 106

Part 3 Microsoft Excel Automation 108

Tutorial 10 Capital Cost Estimation 113

Objectives 113

Prerequisite Knowledge 113

Why This Is Useful for Problem Solving 113

Tutorial 114

Part 1 Using Aspen Capital Cost Estimator as a Stand-Alone Product 114

Part 2 Integrated Economics in Aspen Plus 122

Tutorial 11 Optimal Heat Exchanger Networks 125

Objectives 125

Prerequisite Knowledge 125

Why This Is Useful for Problem Solving 125

Tutorial 126

Background 126

Part 1 Generating HENs Using Manual Process Stream Data Entry in AEA 126

Part 2 Generating HENs Using Data Imported from Aspen Plus 132

Tutorial 12 Electrolyte Chemistry and Solvent-Based Carbon Dioxide Capture 139

Objectives 139

Prerequisite Knowledge 139

Why This Is Useful for Problem Solving 139

Tutorial 140

Part 1 Electrolytes 140

Part 2 Solvent-Based CO₃ Capture-Setting Up Properties 145

Part 3 Solvent-Based CO₂ Capture-Once-Through Simulation 149

Part 4 Solvent-Based CO₂ Capture-Closing the Loop 157

Bonus Tutorial 1 Solids Processing 161

Objectives 161

Prerequisite Knowledge 161

Why This Is Useful for Problem Solving 161

Tutorial 161

Part 1 Simple Solids 161

Part 2 Simple Solids with Particle Size Distributions 165

Bonus Tutorial 2 Parallel Computing Tools: Reduced Order Models, Optimization, and High-Performance Computing 169

Objectives 169

Prerequisite Knowledge 169

Why This Is Useful for Problem Solving 170

Tutorial 171

Part 1 Aspen Multi-Case for Large Parallel Computing Jobs 171

Part 2 Running Aspen Plus from Python Code Using Parallel Computing 180

Part 3 Particle Swarm Optimization in Aspen Plus with Parallel Computing 193

Bonus Tutorial 3 Batch Operations in Aspen Plus 203

Objectives 203

Prerequisite Knowledge 203

Why This Is Useful for Problem Solving 203

Tutorial 205

Part 1 Simple Tanks with BatchOp 205

Part 2 Reactions in BatchOp 213

Part 3 Batch Distillation with BatchSep 219

Bonus Tutorial 4 Choosing Property Packages 225

Objectives 225

Prerequisite Knowledge 225

Why This Is Useful for Problem Solving 225

Tutorial 226

Part 1 Property Method Types 226

Equation of State Models 226

Activity Coefficient Models 227

Specialty Models 228

Part 2 Validating Normal Liquid Systems with Experimental Data 229

Part 3 Validating More Complex Systems with Experimental Data 233

Graphical Methods for. Normal Gas + Normal Liquid Systems 233

Graphical Methods for Ternary VLE (Three Chemicals) 234

Statistical Methods for Any Number of Chemicals 236

Solutions 237

Command Index 291

Music Index 301

Subject Index 303