What are the best practices to build a simple

Aspen Flare System Analyzer model?

Products: Aspen Flare System Analyzer
Last Updated: 20-Jan-2017
Versions: V7.2, V7.0, V7.1, V7.3, V8.0, V8.2, V8.4, V8.6, V8.8, V9.0
Article ID: 000032010
Primary Subject: General
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Problem Statement
What are the best practices to build a simple Aspen Flare System Analyzer model?

Solution
 
A. Components Basis
Use MW (Molecular Weight) as composition basis for only vapor phase systems.
Use Composition basis as mole fraction or mass fraction for multi phase systems.
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.
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 
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.     Flarenet does not support multi-phase separators inside the loop in a looped system. If you have a case
where separators are there inside the loop, and have multiphase feed, flarenet will not converge. When you try
to solve, if you have trace window open, you will observe the relevant warning. Hence the way to approach
this problem, is to identify the separators that are inside the loop & ignore them & try to converge the case.
Once that converges, you can continue to unignore the ignored separators one by one & try to make it solve
the case. If the separator that you unignore, gets multiphase feed, it will not solve. Then you move on to the
next separator.
4.     For closer boiling point mixtures, sometime convergence will fail at KO drum. If we introduce trace
amounts of other chemicals in the composition of PSV, the case will solve easily as it widens the boiling range
thus helping the KO drum to converge.
5.     When in Design mode, provide reasonable initial pipe size estimates. This helps in solving the network in
less time.
6.     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.
7.     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.
8.     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
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 Aspen Flare
System Analyzer 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 Aspen Flare System Analyzer.
 
F. Export and Import feature
1.     119474 is a solution I thought you may find useful: The topic is "How do I use the Export \ Import
feature in Aspen Flare System Analyzer?". It details you the step needed for export and import.
2.     The import export feature can be used for following purpose
Convert your file from 3rd party software to Aspen Flare System Analyzer
Save your file in excel, XML, access format to be used later on.
Merge multiple Aspen Flare System Analyzer files in to one single file
Open the file (saved in the latest version) in a older version
Cleanup the Aspen Flare System Analyzer file for any corrupt data. For example your
Aspen Flare System Analyzer case file does NOT run, but you can open and close it.
 

Keywords
best practices, best, practices, component, VLE, enthalpy, convergence, inner loop, outer loop, failure, backup, file,
tips, Third Party, 3rd Party