Aspen Plus Help Session: Distillation *Note: The following instructions assume certain knowledge of Aspen.

If any of the instructions are vague, or the instructor is moving too quickly, please let him her know. They will !e happy to review or clarify any information. In the following tutorial, "#$%"ingle left&click' "($%"ingle right&click. ). "elect Aspen *lus +ser Interface under *rogram Applications. ,hen Aspen *lus window pops up, select -.lank "imulation/. At the $onnect to 0ngine ,indow, under "erver Type select 1+ni2 3ost4 and in the +ser Info, under Node Name, type 1"un!last4.
2. 0nter username 5i.e. for account Smith@suntan.eng.usf.edu, enter only -"mith/ as the username6

and password. 7isregard ,orking 7irectory and enter. 8ou will !e informed when the connection has !een esta!lished. 7istillation 9ptions: The three different methods availa!le in Aspen *lus are a6 !6 c6 7"T,+ 7I"T# (A7:(A$

B1 DIST FEED

BOTTOM

DSTWU This approach uses ,inn&+nderwood&;illiland shortcut design calculations. It is designed for a single feed and < product distillation column. (emem!er, for additional information regarding this method, select the 7"T,+ icon and press :). ,inn & estimates minimum = of stages +nderwood & estimates minimum (eflu2 (atio 5((6 ;illiland & relates actual num!er of stages and ((
)

In order to use this option you must specify the recovery of the light and heavy keys. 7"T,+ calculates the minimum reflu2 ratio and minimum num!er of theoretical plates for the specified recovery. It then calculates the actual reflu2 ratio for the specified num!er of stages, or the actual num!er of stages for the specified reflu2 ratio, depending on which is entered. It also determines the optimal feed location and re!oiler and condenser duties. The model assumes constant molar overflow and constant relative volatilities. 7"T,+ 02ample 9ne hundred l!mol hr of an equimolar mi2ture of ethane ethylene is availa!le at <> $ and ) atm. This stream needs to !e separated in a distillation column capa!le of recovering at least ??.@A of the light key 5ethylene6 and ??.?A of the heavy key 5ethane, entered as .BB) recovery in distillate6. The column has a total of CB stages. $alculate the minimum reflu2 ratio, actual reflu2 ratio, minimum stages, and feed location for this column. +se (D "oave model. The whole column operates at EBB psi 5.oth (e!oiler and $ondenser are at EBB psi6. Answer: Fin ((: Fin stages: >.?EG EC.B? Actual ((: )?.?@ :eed location: plate <C.<<

Now suppose that the reflu2 ratio is specified at <BA a!ove the minimum reflu2. $alculate the minimum and actual stages, minimum and actual reflu2 ratio, and feed location. Answer: Fin ((: Fin stage: >.?EG EC.B? EG.HB Actual ((: G.)<

Actual = "tage : @E.EH

:eed plate location:

Note that the minimum (( and minimum stages are identical. This should !e e2pected since these are only a function of the specified recovery for the light and heavy key. :inally, we wish to see how the (( ratio changes as a function of actual stages. :rom T*II class you should !e aware that the (( and the num!er of stages are inversely related. ,e want to monitor the (( for a range of CB & )BB stages. :rom the 7ata .rowser, choose -.locks/ and then the appropriate !lock name. "elect Input and then the -$alculations 9ptions/ ta!. $hoose to -;enerate ta!le of reflu2 ratio vs num!er of theoretical
<

stages./ 0nter CB as the initial num!er of stages and )BB as the final num!er of stages. "elect -Increment siIe for num!er of stages/ and enter <. re&run the simulation. Note: your values must !e a!ove the minimum num!er of platesJ To see a plot, display the results data !rowser and select .locks /.lock Name/ (esults. $hoose the (eflu2 (atio *rofile ta!. 7esignate the independent and dependent varia!les. "#$ on the independent varia!le column heading and press $trlKAltKL. "#$ on the dependent varia!le column heading and press $trlKAltK8. 8ou can also define the dependent and independent varia!les through the -*lot/ option on the upper pull down menu.
Block B3 (DSTWU) Results Reflux Ratio Profile Reflux ratio "#$%

*ress :C or the 1N4 !uttons on the tool!ar and

#$% 40

"0

"&$%

"%

&0

0 NSTAGE

!0

"00

DISTL This approach is also for a single feed and < product distillation, !ut uses the 0dmister method to calculate product composition. 8ou must use a column icon under -7istl/ rather than 7"T,+. If you are modifying the previous e2ample, you must delete the 7"T,+ !lock and replace it with a 7istl !lock, and then reconnect the streams. 8ou4ll find this option !y selecting a stream with the left mouse 5"#$6, and then "(3 5single right hold6 with the right mouse. . To use this method, the following must !e specified: Num!er of stages :eed location (( *ressure profile 7:: 5distillate to feed (atio6 The results are the feed stage temperature, !ottom stage temperature, top stage temperature, and feed quality as well as the product composition. It also assumes constant molar overflow and constant relative volatilities. .asically, this method can !e used when everything in the column is specified and you need to verify the product results. 7I"T# 02ample (eplace the 7"T, !lock with the 7I"T# The same feed as the previous e2ample enters a column of )< stages 5including condenser and (e!oiler6, with the feed located at the Cth stage 5from the top, including the condenser6. The column operates at EBB psi with a (( of G and a 7:: ratio of B.H. $alculate the product composition. 7istillate: .ottoms: ethane mole fraction % B.EHC ethane mole fraction % B.?@>

"uppose that you would like to monitor the ethane composition at the !ottom as a function of the ((. In other words, we would increase or decrease the (( and see the effect it has on the
C

molar composition of the !ottom stream. To do so we must perform a sensitivity analysis where we will vary the (( from G to @B. ;o to the 7ata !rowser window and select the Fodel Analysis Tools folder, then the "ensitivity folder, and then click -N0,/ to create a new sensitivity analysis. $all it any I7 you want. The ne2t screen has three ta!s: define, vary, and ta!ulate. In the define ta! you create a new varia!le' click on -N0,/ and call your varia!le L0T3AN. The varia!le definition window will pop&up. :ill the reference area as follows:

Type: "tream : $omponent:

mol&frac .9TT9F" ethane

#eave $ategory as -All/, and "u!stream as 5Fi2ed6 *ress :C or the 1N4 !utton twice or go the vary ta!. 3ere we will tell aspen how to vary the ((. "tart !y choosing clicking on the pull down menu and selecting -new -. Aspen will automatically assign a varia!le num!er. :ill this form as follows: Type: .lock: Maria!le: .lock&Mar 5.lock varia!le6 name of your column ((

"elect the (ange 9ption #ower #imit: G +pper #imit: @B Incr: <

:or your (eport la!els you may choose

>

#ine ):

((

Then *ress :C or the 1N4 !utton to go to the Ta!ulate ta! and do the following: $ol: Ta!ulate: ) L0T3AN

8ou can !ring up a list of varia!les !y "($ on the Ta!ulated varia!le option, and selecting varia!le list from the pop&up menu' then "#$. 8ou can also click on the ta!le format !utton to add la!els to your ta!le. *ress :C or the 1N4 !utton. (un the simulation and notice how Aspen solves each point. To see a plot, display the results data !rowser and select .locks /.lock Name/ (esults. $hoose the (eflu2 (atio *rofile ta!. 7esignate the independent and dependent varia!les. "#$ on the independent varia!le column heading and press $trlKAltKL. "#$ on the dependent varia!le column heading and press $trlKAltK8. 8ou can also define the dependent and independent varia!les through the -*lot/ option on the menu. $hoose *lot from the menu and select 7isplay *lot.
0$. % 0$. #% 0$.# 0$.#&% 0$.#% 0$.##% Se'siti(it) S*" Results Su++ar) /ET0AN

"0 "% &0 &% 30 3% 40 4% %0 %% ,AR- " RR

RADFRAC (A7:(A$ is the A"*0N4s rigorous distillation method. No assumptions are madeJ Its can do: a!sorption, stripping, e2tractive distillation, aIeotropic distillation, and ordinary distillation. It is capa!le of handling any num!er of feeds and side product streams. 8ou4re pro!a!ly !etter off starting a new simulation since a lot of things will !e different from the previous e2amples. (A7:(A$ 02ample :our hundred l!mol hr of methylcyclohe2ane 5F$36 and toluene 5equimolar6 is availa!le at <<B: and <B psia. "ince these two components have narrow !oiling points, it is !een proposed to use phenol as an e2tractive agent to aid in the separation 5phenol likes toluene more than F$36. Two hundred l!mol hr of phenol feed is availa!le at <<B : and <B psia. ,e intend to optimiIe the phenol flow rate in such a way that F$3 can !e recovered with ?GA purity in the distillate. The column has a total of << stages with the phenol !eing fed at the Gth stage and the feed mi2ture at the )Cth stage. It is also desired to have a total distillate flow rate of <BB l!mol hr. The column operates at a pressure of )@ psi at the top and <B.< at the !ottom. The reflu2 ratio was estimated at H. +se the +NI:A$ model. $onnect the streams and your screen should look like the following figure. +se the :C key or the 1N4 !utton to input your components, property method and the feed and phenol streams as in the previous e2amples 5remem!er we use +NI:A$ for this

DIST REDFRAC FEED PHENOL

BOTTOM

e2ample6.

*ressing the :C key or the 1N4 should take you to the distillation !lock. 8ou should the "etup
G

options and 9perating "pecifications sections as follows: Num!er of "tages: $ondenser: 7istillate: (eflu2 ratio: << total 5Mapor liquid % B6 <BB 5l!mol hr6 H

5leave the rest as they are6

Take a second to go over the options and see all the varia!les that you can choose 5read the description on the !ottom6. *ress :C or the 1N4 !utton, or go directly onto the "treams ta!. The "treams ta! requires that you specify the feed locations which you would set as follows: :eed: *henol: )C G a!ove stage a!ove stage

Also, note that two options are availa!le, a!ove stage and on stage. A!ove stage: :eed !etween two adNacent stages where the liquid flows to stage n and the vapor flows to stage n & ) 9n stage: .oth, vapor and liquid flow to the same stage.

*ress :C or the 1N4 !utton, or go directly to the *ressure Ta!. :irst select the *ressure profile option from the view pull&down menu. Then enter the profile as follows: "tage *ressure ) << )@ <B.<

(un the simulation to see how close we are to the process demand 5?GA F$36. Note the iteration method used !y the simulation engine. It is important to see if your calculations are converging otherwise you can !e there for a long time and get Nunk out.

It took @ iterations for our simulation to converge. ,e o!tained the following results: 7istillate: .ottoms: 2OF$3 % B.HH 2OF$3 % B.B@ 2Otol % B.)< 2Otol % B.CC

A very useful feature of (A7:(A$ is that it keeps track of the !ehavior of all the species in all the stages. The temperature, flows, pressures, enthalpies, vapor and liquid mole fractions, and distri!ution coefficient profiles are all stored in a menu. :rom the (adfrac folded on the setup window, click on the *rofiles option. If you want to plot the profiles, you would first designate the independent and dependent varia!les. "#$ on the independent varia!le column heading 5like stage=6, and press $trlKAltKL 58ou may skip this step since stage = is the default independent varia!le for this case6. "#$ on the dependent varia!le column heading 5say liq flow6 and press $trlKAltK8. 8ou can also define the dependent and independent varia!les through the -*lot/ option on the upper pull down menu. Another way of doing this is through the plot wiIard option on the -*lot - option on the upper pull down menu. This option will let you customiIe your plots and it is worth to spend sometime looking at it. ,e still need to change the phenol flow rate to meet the process demand 5?GA6. Note that we can do a sensitivity analysis that will give us an idea what the flow rate should !e appro2imately, !ut since our intention is to calculate the actual flow rate of phenol we will perform a 7esign& "pecification analysis. 8ou may perform your design spec as shown in the previous tutorials or directly at the (adfrac !lock. :rom the data !rowser click on .locksP(adfracP7esign "pec and create a new I7 at the o!Nect manager. This I7 has to !e a num!er and we chose to call it -)/ . The "pecifications ta! will appear on which you should fill the following information: 9n 7esign "pecifications: Type: 9n "pecification: Target: .?G "tream type as product should !e selected Fole purity

Fove onto the ne2t ta! 5 or *ress :C or the 1N4 !utton6 and specify F$3 as the component to !e used in the design. 8ou do this on either the .ase $omponents or the Availa!le components menu, and then clicking on the single right arrow, which moves the name of the component to the selected components list. Now we are ready to provide information on the manipulated varia!le, i.e. the amount of *henol. *ress :C or the 1N4 !utton or go directly to the Mary su!folder from your distillation !lock. At the 9!Nect manager, create a new varia!le num!er Nust as a!ove 5 we called it -</6. The specifications ta! will appear and you would fill the information as follows: Type: "tream Name: #ower .ound: +pper .ound: feed rate phenol <BB >BBB

,e have Nust specified that in order to reach our target value we will manipulate the phenol molar flow rate !etween <BB and >BBB l!mol hr hoping that the answer in this range 5if not we can always change it6. (un the simulation and note the num!er of iterations. If an error results re&initialiIe all !locks and rerun it !efore you make any changes. :or us it took << iterations to converge to a solution. Answer: *henol flow rate: F$3 mole frac: .?GBB )))? l!mol hr

To view and print a ta!le with your results, go to the results folder and select any of the result stream su!folders. 8ou should see a !ottom named "tream Ta!les. $lick and a ta!le will show on the *rocess :low "heet window. 8ou may also copy the figure and ta!le on the clip!oard !y selecting them with the mouse, using :ileP$opy or $trlK$, and the pasting them into other windows Applications 5,ork, ,ord *erfect *ower *oint6

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