Aspen Plus - Getting Started!

Explore the Aspen Plus chemical process, including raw materials, unit operations (heater, flash drum, combustion chamber, distillation), and rad frac modeling; learn to set unit operation conditions to observe results.

Learn to use the Aspen Plus landing page in version 10, choose a blank or template simulation, and configure the physical property environment to set up blocks, streams, and properties.

Add a component to the component list and select a physical property method for the Aspen Plus environment. Explore conventional and nonconventional components, aliasing, and search tools to verify properties.

Choose the Peng Robinson equation of state for a nonpolar system, configure binary interactions, and run the physical property environment to generate the interaction table and proceed to the simulation.

Explore the simulation environment in Aspen Plus, learn to connect unit operations, choose modeling blocks for distillation and heating units, and understand input data requirements.

Model a hydrocarbon feed in Aspen Plus to simulate a multi-stage separation, including flash, distillation columns, compressor, and condenser-reboiler duties, and verify material and energy balances and stream purities.

Connect the heater, configure feed, and set outlet to 40 celsius with no pressure drop by using 10 bar or zero; run the simulation to check for errors.

Configure the valve setup by setting the ball as a flash ball with a pressure outlet, ensuring no errors or warnings and enabling reconnection with a double click.

Configure a RADFRAC distillation column in Aspen Plus, selecting condenser type, 15 stages, feed conditions, 20% distillate with 80% bottoms, and a 5 reflux ratio with convergence checks.

Explore the decimal distillation column in Aspen Plus, using Model E for convenient scaling, adjust stages and reflux ratio, recover 60% in the distillate with a total condenser.

Define a compressor in Aspen Plus using the standard notation, select a standard model, set discharge pressure to 5.5 bar with 80–88 percent efficiency, and run for an error-free simulation.

Explore configuring a pump in Aspen Plus by adjusting pressure to counter friction, increasing by 0.5 bar and 2.5 bar, reconnecting components, and running a no-error simulation.

Save your Aspen Plus simulation as a compound file to preserve specifications, inputs, unit operations, and streams, enabling easy reuse across computers and versions.

Verify the simulation results after setting up the property environment and unit operations. Review the run status for warnings, convergence issues, and stream details, noting that minor warnings are acceptable.

Retrieve stream results from a finished simulation to verify the final product purity, examining liquefied petroleum gas enriched in propane and butane and the accompanying stack gas composition.

Learn how to verify block results in Aspen Plus, review unit operation data such as heat duty, temperatures, and distillate rates, and export results to excel or view stream results.

Explore live case studies in Aspen Plus, running simulations, setting up physical property and unit connections, and performing what-if analyses on heater temperature, pressure, reactor behavior, and distillation column configurations.

Use Aspen Plus to analyze case studies after simulations, run what-if scenarios, and complete homework by adjusting heater temperature to observe shifts between liquid and gas products and verify results.

Simulate changing valve pressure in Aspen Plus, noting fixed outlet pressure of 1.95 bar and how reductions from 2 bar affect results and trigger warnings.

Learn how changing the reflux ratio in a distillation column affects product purity and process economics. Compare cases to decide when higher reflux is worthwhile.

Review key concepts from the course, recap unit operations, physical property and simulation environments, streams and blocks, and how to run and troubleshoot Aspen Plus simulations.

Leave an honest review and a comment to support the instructor and the learning community. Your feedback helps improve this course and future Aspen Plus lessons for all students.

Read between the simulations and intentionally take breaks after each session to refresh your mind, stretch your body, and boost health and focus with five to ten minute pauses.

Celebrate finishing all lectures and apply your ability to state properties, work with the flow, and obtain results from inputs in Aspen Plus and similar software.