Aspen Plus: Real Time Modeling and Optimization

• Improve plant performance by learning to set up optimization problems in Aspen Plus and solve these models to determine the optimum conditions in "offline mode"
• Improve productivity by the ability to solve large flowsheets quickly using the Equation Oriented (EO) approach
• Increase confidence in the plant measurements by the ability to set up parameter estimation and data reconciliation problems
• Implement Online Optimization projects efficiently using Aspen OnLine
• Learn “Best Practices” for building and maintaining RTO projects
• Enhance business value of your software by understanding and utilizing appropriate features

• Instruction on basic and advanced topics presented by an instructor with a wealth of experience in Aspen Plus Optimization solutions
• Instructor-guided demonstrations of features within Aspen Plus to show how to build procedures and configure flowsheets
• Hands-on workshops that apply learned concepts
• Detailed course notes

• Must have attended EAP101 Aspen Plus: Process Modeling training course if new to AspenTech modeling/simulation products
• Basic understanding of optimization concepts is necessary

Introduction

·      Introduce Real Time Optimization using Aspen Plus

Closed-Form vs. Open-Form Models

·      Discuss features of closed form and open form models

·      Describe and contrast different Modeling Strategies

·      Open- and closed-form models

·      Sequential Modular (SM) and Equation Oriented (EO) flow sheeting

Process Simulation with Aspen Plus

·      Explore the Aspen Plus graphical user interface

·      Review the fundamentals of SM simulation

·      Describe the information flow related to flowsheet simulators

·      Review the startup procedure for the Aspen Plus Graphical User Interface

·      Review the basic menus available in Aspen Plus

·      Workshop 1: Build and run a SM flowsheet model

Enable Equation-Oriented mode in Aspen Plus

·      Describe and contrast different Modeling Strategies

·      Sequential Modular (SM) and Equation Oriented (EO) flowsheeting

·      Closed-form vs. Open-form models

·      Workshop 2: Build and run an EO flowsheet model

Distillation Modeling

·      Specify RadFrac block

·      Workshop 3: Specify ethane/ethylene splitter using RadFrac

EO Scripts

·      Review of EO scripting language

EO Workflow

·      Describe the workflow involved in running an Aspen Plus Equation Oriented model

·      Describe the Equation Oriented synchronization process

·      Identify and explain the Equation Oriented Options form in Aspen Plus

·      Discuss Equation Oriented flash usage in Aspen Plus

·      Exclude and include blocks

·      Export and Import Variables

·      Workshop 4: Demonstrate the use of the Aspen Plus Control Panel for solving a simulation model using both the SM and EO solution strategies

EO Modes and Variables

·      Describe the Equation Oriented Variables form

·      Identify and explain the use of queries

·      Workshop 5: Work with Equation Oriented variables, their attributes, and the effect of stream connections on variable specifications

EO Specification Groups

·      Identify and explain the concept of Specification Groups and the corresponding forms in Aspen Plus

·      Workshop 6: Change the specifications of variables using Specification Groups. Describe the Equation Oriented Variables form

Non-Zero Components, Flowsheet Sections and Component Mapper

·      Explain the concept of Non-zero Components

·      Define concept of flowsheet sections

·      Describe the use of the RYield model for component mapping model in Aspen Plus EO

·      Workshop 7: Define component groups for flowsheet sections and use a component mapper to reduce the number of components

EO Models

·      Review the supported Equation Oriented models

·      Explain the Analyzer Model

·      Describe the use of the Heater blocks in Aspen Plus Equation Oriented

·      Workshop 8: Configure C2 splitter condenser refrigerant system. Heater Blocks and Specification Groups

EO Connections

·      Demonstrate the configuration of Equation Oriented Connections

·      Describe the stream structure in Aspen Plus Equation Oriented

·      Describe the use of the Equation Oriented APStrm block

·      Workshop 9: Add user-defined Equation Oriented connection

EO Connections

·      Describe the use of the HXFlux model for heat transfer rate calculations

·      Workshop 10: Add a HXFlux model and establish a user-defined Equation Oriented connection

Modes and Variables

·      Identify and explain the four Equation Oriented solution modes

·      Describe Equation Oriented variables and their attributes

Measurements

·      Identify and explain the use of the measurement model

·      Enter data for a Measurement model

·      Demonstrate the use of the measurement model and its role in simple parameter estimation

·      Workshop 11: Add measurements to the flowsheet model, manipulate the measurement model variable specifications, and run a simple parameter estimation

Calculator and PML Models

·      Review User Calculations with Calculator block

·      Discuss the use of PML models in Aspen Plus flowsheets

·      Describe Column Internals in RadFrac block

·      Workshop 12: Use Column Internals and Calculator block for hydraulic calculations in the C2S distillation tower model (RadFrac)

·      Workshop 13 (optional): Use PML for hydraulic calculations in the C2S distillation tower model (PetroFrac). Use Process Model Library (PML) models for special calculations

Using Hierarchies

·      Identify and explain the use of hierarchy blocks in Aspen Plus

·      Create Hierarchies to manage large projects

·      Discuss project execution workflow and the role of hierarchy blocks

·      Discuss the impact of stream crossing hierarchy boundaries

·      Show examples of the use of hierarchies

·      Workshop 14: Become familiar with exporting and working with hierarchies

Parameter Estimation

·      Discuss the principles of parameter estimation

·      Demonstrate the impact of accurate parameterization on model behavior

·      Identify and explain the concept of Meas-Param pairing

·      Discuss the most common specifications for measurement variables and their role in parameter estimation

·      Workshop 15: Configure and perform a typical parameter estimation case run

Data Reconciliation

·      Contrast data reconciliation with parameter estimation

·      Set up Data Reconciliation and Parameter Estimation problems to improve the confidence in plant measurements

·      Define the steps involved in creating a reconciliation problem

·      Describe the configuration of a least squares objective function for use in reconciliation runs

·      Workshop 16: Configure and perform data reconciliation

Optimization

·      Describe the steps required to create an optimization problem

·      Show how to define an Objective function in the Aspen Plus GUI

·      Set up an economic objective function and solve an Optimization case to maximize plant profit

·      Workshop 17: Define an economic objective function for the model and use it to perform optimization in the EO solution strategy

EO Sensitivity

·      Sensitivity analysis

·      Workshop 18: Define EO Sensitivity

Aspen OnLine: Overview

·      Learn the workflow for online implementation of real-time optimization projects using Aspen OnLine

·      Introduce the Aspen OnLine software

·      Describe the use of the Aspen OnLine Project Manager application

·      Describe the steps for preparing your model for execution under Aspen OnLine

·      Workshop 19: Create an Aspen OnLine Project and prepare a model for use under Aspen OnLine

Aspen OnLine Graphical User Interface

·      Become familiar with the Aspen OnLine graphical user interface

·      Describe the use of the Aspen OnLine Client GUI for RTO models

·      Discuss the use of the Aspen Online Control Panel form and the Data Browser forms

·      Discuss the configuration of tags and connecting them to EO model variables

·      Workshop 20: Configure a model with input and output tags, and schedule and run a Parameter Estimation case under Aspen OnLine

Aspen OnLine Optimization Configuration

·      Aspen OnLine: Optimization and Setpoint Implementation

·      Describe the inputs and outputs for the Optimization case

·      Describe the inputs and puts for the ramper module

Aspen OnLine: Steady State Detection

·      Discuss the configuration of steady state detection and the algorithms available in Aspen OnLine

Aspen OnLine: Generic Validity Checking

·      Discuss the features that are available for validity checking for the parameter estimation case in Aspen OnLine

·      Discuss the validity checking for the Optimization case in Aspen OnLine

·      Discuss the solution implementation module for sending optimized targets out to the Advanced Control system (Ramper module)

·      Workshop 21: Configure AOL to run an Optimization case on the C2S column using the Optimization case validity checking routine

Aspen OnLine: Case History

·      Discuss the importing and exporting of configuration information into Aspen OnLine from text files

·      Discuss the configuration of the case history system that is embedded in the Aspen OnLine software

·      Workshop 22: Use a case history directory to repeat an online case execution