Modelling Petrochemicals Processes using Aspen Plus

In this course, you will develop the skills and techniques required for modelling new and existing petrochemical processes in steady state using Aspen Plus. Build and troubleshoot flowsheet simulations with typical unit operation, distillation columns, reactors, heat exchangers, etc. Reduce process design time by evaluating various plant configurations. Determine optimal process conditions for new or existing processes and help de-bottleneck processes.
This course will also provide you with more in-depth knowledge on Physical Properties, Radfrac and convergence modelling techniques.

Audience:

  • Engineers new to Aspen Plus who need basic training to get started Aspen Custom Modeler® 
  • Users who need exposure to steady-state simulation as preparation for using Aspen Plus Dynamics®

Training Details

  • Course Id:

    EAP204

  • Duration:

    5 day(s)

  • CEUs Awarded:

    3.5

  • Level:

    Intermediate

Benefits

  • Gain the practical skills and knowledge to begin modeling new and existing processes.
  • Learn some practical techniques for building and troubleshooting flowsheet simulations.
  • Reduce process design time by testing various plant configurations.
  • Determine optimal process conditions to improve current processes.

Approach

  • Instruction on basic topics 
  • Discussion about the general approach and the key elements for successful simulations 
  • Instructor-guided demonstrations of features 
  • Hands-on workshops that apply learned concepts 
  • Detailed course notes 
  • Answer keys

Pre-requisites

A background in chemical engineering or industrial chemistry

Subsequent Courses

  • EAP201 Aspen Plus: Physical Properties for Process Engineers 
  • EAP2211 Modeling Processes with Equation Oriented Methods using Aspen Plus 
  • EAP2411 Improved Process Operability and Control Through Aspen Plus Dynamic Models 
  • EAP301 Aspen Plus: Real Time Modeling and Optimization

Agenda

Attention: This course is developed by assembling the topics we offer in other Aspen Plus courses (EAP101, EAP250 and EAP2121) and reorganized as Modelling Petrochemicals Processes using Aspen Plus course. Hence some topics in this course overlap with the ones covered in other Aspen Plus courses (EAP101, EAP250 and EAP2121).

Introduction to Flowsheet Simulation, general flowsheet simulation concepts and Aspen Plus features
  • Review the benefits of process modeling using Aspen Plus Discuss the approaches to flowsheet simulations
  • User Interface Become comfortable and familiar with the Aspen Plus graphical user interface
  • Property Environment Develop a working knowledge of the Aspen Plus Properties Environment Learn to enter Components and Property Method for a process flowsheet Review the save options for Aspen Plus models
  • Workshop: Begin building a flowsheet - Enter components and property method Simulation Environment Develop a working knowledge of the Aspen Plus Simulation Environment
Build a process flowsheet and enter stream and block information in an Aspen Plus simulation
  • Run the simulation Flowsheet Results Review features for viewing simulation results
  • Review Assay components
  • Discuss options to enhance flowsheet output
  • Workshop: Finish building a flowsheet - Add the process and feed stream conditions to a flowsheet, run and review results Unit Operation Models
Review major types of unit operation models
  • Explore flowsheet handling techniques Modeling Distillation Tower (RadFrac) Enter the minimum input required for the RadFrac fractionation model Implement design specifications, stage efficiencies and column sizing
  • Workshop: Set up a methanol - water distillation tower model, implement efficiencies and size the column Modeling Heat Exchangers Review the Aspen Plus models used for modeling heat exchangers
Explore Activated Exchanger Analysis for heat exchanger design
  • Workshop: Compare the simulation of a heat exchanger using three methods: two Heaters connected with a Heat stream, a Heater using a Utility, and a rigorous HeatX Modeling Chemical Plant - Cyclohexane Production
  • Workshop: Apply acquired skills to build a cyclohexane production flowsheet
  • Workshop: Create a flowsheet to model a cyclohexane production process
  • Workshop: create a cold box flowsheet with MheatX model.
Explore modeling of complex configuration, reactive distillation and three phase distillations
  • Workshop: Create a Radrac to model a demethanizer and add it to Cold Box flowsheet
  • Workshop: create model to model Reactive distillation and three phase distillations
Process improvement with Activated Analysis
  • Review Activated Energy Analysis and Activated Economic Analysis tools for process improvement
  • Investigate opportunities to improve energy efficiency and carbon footprint of the cyclohexane flowsheet
  • Workshop: Perform a cost analysis on the cyclohexane flowsheet using Activated Economic Analysis Physical Properties
Key considerations in choosing a property method and review physical property parameters
  • Review properties of IDEAL, EOS, NRTL and ELECNRTL
  • Learn how to choose an appropriate Property Method to represent single chemical or mixture
  • Workshop: Simulate a two-liquid phase settling tank Sensitivity Analysis
  • Become familiar with referencing flowsheet variables (accessing variables), which is used in sensitivity analysis, design specifications, calculator blocks and optimization
Use a sensitivity analysis to study relationships between process variables
  • Workshop: Use a sensitivity analysis to study the effect of the recycle flowrate on the reactor duty Design Specification
  • Introduce the use of design specifications to meet process design requirements
  • Workshop: Use a design specification in the example flowsheet to fix the heat load on the reactor by varying the recycle flowrate Calculator Blocks
Introduce use of Microsoft Excel and Fortran Calculator blocks for flowsheet calculations
  • Workshop: Use a Calculator block to maintain the methane: water ratio in the feed to a reformer Modeling Reactors (Simple and Rigorous)
  • Introduce the various classes of reactor models available
  • Explore details of the balanced based reactors
Review details of the equilibrium and kinetic based reactors
  • Workshop: Compare the uses of different reactor types to model an ethyl-acetate reactor Modeling Pumps, Compressors, Valves and Pipes (Pressure Changers)
Introduce unit operation models used to change pressure, such as Pumps, Compressors, Pipes and Valves
  • Workshop: Evaluate compressor performance at different flowrates Improving Flowsheet Convergence Introduce the idea of convergence blocks, tear streams and flowsheet sequences
Review Convergence skills
  • Workshop: Converge a flowsheet and review results

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Aspen Technology, Inc. awards Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for training classes conducted by our organization. One CEU is granted for every 10 hours of class participation.