Requested Technical Tip Send Print Add to Favorites Feedback View PDF

What are the best practices to build a simple Aspen FLARENET model?

Solution ID: 119539

Product(s): Aspen Flare System Analyzer

Version(s): 3.51, 3.52, 2004, 2004.1, 2006, 2006.5

Primary subject: General

Last Modified: 07-May-2009

Applicable Version(s)
ALL

Problem Statement
What are the best practices to build a simple Aspen FLARENET model?

Solution

A. Components Basis
1. Use MW (Molecular Weight) as composition basis for only vapor phase systems.
2. Use Composition basis as mole fraction or mass fraction for multi phase systems.
3. Components with composition close to zero should be removed from the component list. Any additional component
increases the calculation time by the square of total number of components present.
4. If you have multiple hypothetical components, calculation time may be reduced if the hypothetical components are
combined together. For this step, choose the component in the selected components column and click on combine button.

B. VLE, Enthalpy and Pressure drop method

1. For single phase vapor models, Compressible gas can be selected as the VLE method. For multiphase systems always
select EOS models such as Peng Robinson.
2. Ideal gas is allowed as enthalpy method with compressible gas. Use EOS such as Peng Robinsons / Lee kesler as
enthalpy method once VLE method is EOS such as Peng Robinson
3. Always check the pressure drop by selecting Compressible methods for swage for high Mach number (>0.3). It may take
longer to converge the file but results are more accurate. Also for H2 rich system, use Compressible method for Swage. As
incompressible method limit the Sonic velocity to 500 m/sec. Sonic velocity for H2 can be as high as 1500 m/sec. For
Methane and other hydrocarbon 500 m/sec is a good assumption but not for H2.

C. PFD Setup
1. Always connect the red dot as inlet stream and blue dot as outlet stream for pipe, TEE, orifice and connector.
2. Use connector where you do not need TEE. For example if the branch of connector is not connected to any pipe, use
connector instead of using TEE.
3. Keep the PFD tidy. You can also regenerate the PFD to keep it tidy, using View | PFD | Regenerate option. Save your file,
before doing it as if you do not like it, you can not go back. You need to start from backup copy.
4. Whenever modifying the network (such as adding pipe or changing pipe size), always modify in a base scenario (such as
default scenario). Then clone a new scenario from base scenario to change scenario specific input.

D. Convergence tips
1. For relief valves in multiphase systems, enter the estimates for the vapor fraction and MW on the method tab.
 2. Since version 2006, for knock out drums, enter the mole fraction of the lightest component as 1 and delete the rest of the
composition on the composition TAB of the KO drum. This helps improve stability and results in faster convergence. The
value of 1 is only used when there is no vapor flow from KO drum.
3. When in Design mode, provide reasonable initial pipe size estimates. This helps in solving the network in less time.
4. If the case file contains lot of loops and it fails to converge, then try to minimize the loop by ignoring some of the pipes.
Also clear the estimates from Build | Scenario | Edit the scenario | Estimates tab | Press clear button.
5. For inner loop failure message, if it does not converge at default values then tighten the pressure tolerance (Properties | unit
operation | loop) on the Calculation | Options | Solver Tab to 1 e-5 from the default value. If it does not resolve the issue, you
might be choking the flow some where in the loop. Try to reduce the flow rate or increase pipe size. Select the sources that
has maximum flow rate to reduce the flow rate.
6. For outer loop failure it is best to reduce the number of loops by ignoring the pipes. Once you get converge file, un-ignore
the pipe one by one. You need to run the solver each time you ignore the pipe. Also ensure the option to keep estimate
updated for converged solution is selected under Calculation | Options | Solver Tab.

E. File backup tips

1. Under File | Preferences | General TAB, activate the autobackup option if you do not keep a manual backup, while making
changes to the PFD. Once you are ready to start running the file, save one copy as backup. Remove the autobackup option
before starting to run the file.
2. While closing Flarenet, first save the file and then close it from File | Exit. If you close the file from 'X' button, then Flarenet
file may get corrupted as it fails saving all the information and closes the Flarenet first.
3. Using Export option, you can also keep your file backup in MS excel / MS Access format. For project work in final stage, I
would recommend to use this option as well to have file backup. Once you loose your information, MS Access / MS excel
file can also be imported in Flarenet.

Keywords
best practices, best, practices, component, VLE, enthalpy, convergence, inner loop, outer loop, failure, backup, file, tips

How do you rate this solution? (Not Helpful) 1 n

j 2 n
k
l
m j 3 n
k
l
m j 4 n
k
l
m j 5 n
k
l
m j
k
l
m (Very Helpful)

Please add any additional comments regarding how this solution could be improved:

Submit

This document contains proprietary information of Aspen Technology, Inc. and is tendered subject to the condition that no copy or other
reproduction be made in whole or in part for use other than customer's internal use. Access to this document is strictly limited to customers of
Aspen Technology, Inc. who are registered users of the support web site; no access or further distribution to any third party, including
contractors or other agents of customer, is permitted. No use may be made of information herein except for which it is transmitted, without the
express prior written consent of Aspen Technology, Inc.