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Problem Statement: Which of the various volume flow properties in HYSYS does Std Liq Vol Flow Spec represent? | Solution: The Std Liq Vol Flow Spec variable represents the Liq Vol Flow @ STD cond, which is calculated from the liquid density using the COSTALD method (incorporating mixing effects) for each phase at standard conditions. The definition of standard conditions is dependent on the temperature units in use by Aspen HYSYS; if C or K are used it is 15C and 1 atm.
Keywords: volume, flow, spec
References: None |
Problem Statement: Whenever I load a simulation file into Aspen HYSYS, I am always prompted with a message regarding Preference File and Correlations, as shown in the attached image file. What does this mean? | Solution: The message HYSYS displays is not indicating an error in your simulation file. It is simply a reminder, as demonstrated in the example below.
By default, Aspen HYSYS assigns a fixed set of stream properties displayed on the Properties page, as illustrated in the attached image file called default stream properties.TIF. When you try to open a file from one of your colleagues who has made some changes to the simulation to only display Actual Volume Flow as a stream property (see a screen-shot in modified stream property display.TIF), you will need to decide if you want to keep the stream property display the same as your colleague chose. If you do, then you should answer NO when Aspen HYSYS prompts you with the message in question. A YES answer will prompt Aspen HYSYS to add the default set of stream properties to the current set that your colleague has chosen. As in this example, you will end up having what you see in the attached file named When you answer YES.TIF.
Based on the example above, it will make no difference if you answer YES or NO if you don't have a user-modified stream property set in a simulation file. As a result, many users elect to turn this message/reminder off. To do this, select Tools | Preferences from the main menu in Aspen HYSYS. On the Options page of the Simulation tab, de-activate the default selections under Stream Property Correlations. If the box beside Activate Property Correlations is unselected, Aspen HYSYS will keep the same stream property selection as that in the original case file, equivalent to a NO answer to the message if it was not turned off. If this box is checked, then Aspen HYSYS will add the default set of stream properties to whatever is already present in the case file, or equivalent to a YES answer to the message if it was not turned off.
Keywords: Preference file, correlation set, stream properties, customized, display
References: None |
Problem Statement: How do I enable a User Variable on all streams / operations? | Solution: In order to enable a user variable on all streams / operations without going through each stream / operation individually, go to the Attributes tab on the User Variable editing window of the User Variable. (If no tabs are visible, click the downward pointing green arrow at the top right hand corner of the window) Now change the Activation radio button to Automatic - the user variable will be enabled on all streams / operations.
Keywords: User Variables, Automatic, Activation
References: None |
Problem Statement: How is the Latent Heat of Vaporization calculated in Aspen HYSYS? | Solution: The Latent Heat of Vaporization of a pure component is defined as the molar/mass enthalpy change occurred when it changes state from a saturated liquid to a saturated vapor, at constant pressure. In Aspen HYSYS, the Heat of Vaporization of a mixture is defined as the enthalpy difference between the bubble point and the dewpoint at a fixed pressure. Therefore the Heat of Vaporization of a mixture is higher than the Heat of Vaporization of the individual pure components due to the fact that mixing effect is considered and that additional energy is required to raise the temperature to the dewpoint (sensible heat).
In general, the Heat of Vaporization is not reported if Aspen HYSYS cannot perform either the bubble point or dewpoint calculation. For example, above the critical point (e.g. in the dense phase), the saturated vapor (dewpoint) and liquid (bubble point) do not exist and therefore the Heat of Vaporization is not meaningful.
Keywords: latent, heat, hov, vapourization, vaporization
References: None |
Problem Statement: I have a simulation file which seems to be converged. However, Aspen HYSYS still displays error message(s) indicating Correlation Recall problems. What should I do? | Solution: The correlation recall problem can be eliminated simply via the correlation manager. From the top level menu, select Tools | Correlation Manager. First, look at the Messages tab to find out what Aspen HYSYS is complaining about. In the attached image file, Correlation recall problems.TIF, you can see, as an example, the screen-shot from a simulation file. To get rid of the error message(s), please do the following:
1. Check the View check-box under Recall Problems at the bottom right corner of the Correlation Manager view. You will note that when you do this, the matrix on the left side of the window updates all invalid stream correlations. From this updated list, you can individually delete the offending correlations, OR
2. You can simply click the 'Delete all invalid correlations from this case file' icon and automatically remove all invalid correlations from the case. Note that this icon is located just below the aforementioned matrix, and looks like three red X's grouped together, as shown in the second image file Delete all invalid correlations.TIF attached herewith.
3. Save your Aspen HYSYS file.
Keywords: recall, correlation, correlation manager, error, errors, message, inactive
References: None |
Problem Statement: How do I copy text from one PFD to another? | Solution: If your text is only one line long, this is easy. Just open the text box in the PFD you want to copy from and select the text, press Ctrl-C (for copy). Close the window and load the case (or PFD) you want to copy to. Insert a text box and simply hit Ctrl-V (for paste) inside the box.
If your text is multiple lines long, you can try the following steps (in v2.2+). For older versions, this will not work. Note that a more general cut/paste text feature has been included in the wish list for HYSYS.
For multiple lines of text:
Copy the text from the PFD using Ctrl-C
Open Microsoft Word (or Word Pad, although Word works better).
Paste the text in to an empty document. Save the document
Open your PFD in the case you want to paste into. Right click on the PFD and choose insert object.
Go to the Create from File page. Browse to find the Word document you just created.
Press OK. The document is now on the page. However, as a text editing document includes extra space at the end of the lines, the text box is larger than it needs to be. There is no quick and easy way to remove the extra space at this time.
Keywords:
References: None |
Problem Statement: How do I choose between the Li-Mather and Kent-Eisenberg Models for the Amines Package? | Solution: The creators of the Amines property package, DBR, have the following recommendations:
The Li-Mather model is recommended to be used for two amine systems and/or systems which are expected to fall outside the operating ranges recommended in the manual.
The Kent-Eisenberg model is recommended for single amine systems and/or those systems which fall inside the operating ranges recommended in the manual.
LM and KE can both be used for gas or liquid treating, however, LM appears to be better for liquid treating. Keep in mind that Hysys 2.4.1 does not model liquid treating properly with either model, and should not be used. This is fixed for Hysys 3.0. The KE model uses an ideal liquid phase model and the Li-Mather model uses a non-ideal liquid phase model.
Please reference Appendix C in the Simulation Basis manual for more information on the Amines package.
Keywords: Amine, KE, Kent-Eisenberg, LM, Li-Mather
References: None |
Problem Statement: How do I add components in a HYSYS case? How do I view fluid properties? | Solution: Please see attached document.
Keywords: components; fluid properties
References: None |
Problem Statement: A Process Simulator File (PSF) contains both process and physical property data that enables data generated by a program (normally a process simulator) to be transferred to an Exchanger Design and Rating (EDR) program. This knowledge base article describes the steps to create a PSF in Aspen HYSYS. | Solution: Attached is an extension which generates Aspen Exchanger Design & Rating (EDR) process input (PSF) files from an Aspen HYSYS simulation case that contains heat exchanger unit operations. To use this utility, you need only have Aspen HYSYS installed.
The procedure to create a PSF file from Aspen HYSYS is as follows:
1. Install the program attached to thisSolution
Unzip into a folder, and then run SETUP.EXE', click 'OK' and follow the on-screen instructions.
2. Run the program
From the 'Start' menu on the task bar, select 'Run' and in the Run dialog box use browse to select 'HTFSpsf.exe' and click 'OK' or using Windows Explorer select your chosen directory and double click on the HTFSpsf icon or program name.
3. Generate a PSF input file
Click on the browse button to enable you to open an Aspen HYSYS simulation case (*.hsc). The program will then automatically start Aspen HYSYS (if it is not already running) and load the case. The simulation is then scanned for heat exchangers.
A list of heat exchangers is shown and you can select any one of these. The temperatures and pressures for the streams are summarized. When you click OK the program will generate a PSF file and display the contents. You can then save this or print it as required.
It is possible to change the temperatures an pressures. This does not affect the Aspen HYSYS case but does let you change the range of temperatures considered.
Note: The extension provided is for academic purposes only and as such are not subject to the quality and support procedures of officially released AspenTech products. Users are strongly encouraged to check performance and results carefully and, by downloading, agree to assume all risk related to the use the extension. We invite any feedback through the normal support channel at [email protected].
Keywords: EDR input file generator, psf
References: None |
Problem Statement: What is the maximum practical diameter that a pipe segment in PIPESYS can use? What nominal diameters can I select for input? | Solution: There is no actual maximum diameter in the program. The correlations used in the program are not published with maximums at which the correlations are no longer valid. The nominal diameters that are pre-programmed into PIPESYS range from 1/8 to 80.
Keywords: radius, standard, pipe size
References: None |
Problem Statement: How does Aspen HYSYS calculate specific gravity for oil hypocomponents? | Solution: Depending on your input data, the following method is used to calculate specific gravity.
A. When distillation data is not specified:
The Whitson molar distribution model is used. This internally uses constant Watson K to calculate specific gravity.
B. When distillation data is present and a density curve is not supplied (bulk density is supplied)
For NBP < 36 oC, the Constant Watson K method is used
For 36 oC < NBP < 68 oC, the Katz Firozabadi method is used
For 68 oC < NBP < 538 oC, the method supplied in correlation set is used.
For NBP > 538 oC, the Constant Watson K method (K is from previous cut) is used.
Variables affected by the used correlation can be determined by pressing the Estimation Methods button from the Hypo Group window (i.e. view the desired Hypo Group from the Hypotheticals tab in the Basis Environment).
For more information on the above thermodynamic methods, the following are good references:
Applied Hydrocarbon Thermodynamics, by Wayne C. Edmister and Byung Ik Lee and API Technical Databooks.
Keywords: Hypocomponent, Watson K, Specific Gravity, Crude, Assay
References: None |
Problem Statement: What does the warning Head loss under downcomer is too large mean? What can be done to address this problem? | Solution: The warning Head loss under downcomer is too large means that the downcomer head loss values (reported as DC Head Loss via the Downcomer results option on the Performance | Trayed pagetab) are too large. The main parameter that affects this head loss calculation is the Downcomer Clearance (i.e. the vertical distance between the bottom of the downcomer and the tray below). To resolve this problem, increase the clearance value found on the Design | Tray Internals pagetab until the warning message has been eliminated.
Keywords: head, loss, downcomer, warning, error, tray, sizing, utility
References: None |
Problem Statement: What is the definition of Erosional Velocity | Solution: Erosional Velocity is the velocity limitation to avoid erosion at current pressure and temperature. Is the ?Erosional Velocity? a theoretical threshold at which erosion might occur. You want your fluid velocity is below this value.API 14E: Recommended Practice for Design and Installation of Offshore Production Platform Piping Systems gives a empirical equation to calculate erosional velocity in multiphase flow. It can apply for continuous or intermittent service, for solids-free fluids where corrosion is not anticipated or when corrosion is controlled by inhibition or by employing corrosion resistant alloys
Keywords: Erosional Velocity, API 14E
References: None |
Problem Statement: What is the name of commercial Turbo Oil T 32 in HYSYS? | Solution: Some commercials oils for lubricate bearings have the component PHENYL-1-NAPHTHYLAMINE you can include this component in you simulation using the Aspen Properties Databank under the NISTV73.NIST-TRC databank.
To include the NISTV73.NIST-TRC databank open the Component List property view window and choose the Enterprise Databases tab; select the appropriate databank and click in the right arrow.
The Find Compounds wizard will find the component now.
Keywords: Turbo Oil
References: None |
Problem Statement: Does Aspen Hysys has interface with iFIX ? | Solution: AspenTech products has current no interface with iFIX
Keywords: IFIX, interface
References: None |
Problem Statement: How to model the equal percentage valve characteristic in Aspen HYSYS Dynamics? | Solution: ThisSolution gives a spreadsheet that can be used to adjust the rangeability parameter of an equal percentage valve to match the real plant characteristic of a given valve. The steps to follow are:
1. In the columns A and B the user has to put historical plant data of the valve opening (%OP) and flow (PV).
2. Put the Y-axis maximum scale equal to the flow range of the valve
3. Move manually the scrollbar to adjust the rangeability parameter to match plant data
4. Copy & Paste the table in yellow into the User table valve characteristic of Aspen HYSYS valve
Note: The magenta trend line is only for reference, It corresponds to a simulation run of an equal percentage type in Aspen HYSYS, which does not match with the real plant characteristic (the equal percentage type valve formula used inside Aspen HYSYS is an approximation to a real equal percentage valve).
Keywords: Valve Characteristic, equal percentage valve, rangeability
References: None |
Problem Statement: The dynamic solver does not run when the bottom tray of a column is a sump | Solution: When the bottom stage in a column is a tray, the flow from this bottom stage is calculated by the Francis weir equation, and thus is effectively a flow spec (you can actually have a positive flow against the pressure gradient). After changing the bottom tray to a sump, the stage will behave like a separator. Given this configuration, it will then be necessary to add a valve between the column bottom flow and the reboiler in order for the solver to start.
Keywords: dynamic, solver, simulation, column, sump
References: None |
Problem Statement: How do you link Aspen HYSYS and the PI Process Historian? | Solution: Currently Aspen Online Deployment can be used to link HYSYS models to online CIM-IO data sources including PI, PHD, IP21, etc.
Alternately, Aspen Simulation Workbook allows the user to link Aspen HYSYS models to Excel. The user can then use the PI-Excel add-in to link tags to the same Excel sheet. Aspen Simulation Workbook has tools to link the process tags in Excel to model variables.
A third option would be to use OLE, but this requires the user to program everything manually.
So, the choice of product depends on what you are trying to do:
1) A 24/7 application such as advanced process control or real-time optimization - use Aspen Online Deployment
2) An on-demand online application such as populating models with plant data or using the model as part of a simple operator advisory system - use Aspen Simulation Workbook now.
If you require more information about these products (Aspen Online Deployment or Aspen Simulation Workbook), please contact your sales person.
Keywords: data logger, data historian
References: None |
Problem Statement: How do I show the value of a user variable on the PFD in my Aspen HYSYS Case? | Solution: If you have user variables in your simulation for stream or object, you can show these on your PFD.
1. Right click on the stream or object and select Show Table
2. A Table will appear on the PFD with default properties of the stream or object. Double click on this Table will bring a property view
3. Here you can add a user variable by option Add Variable and then browse the variable list and select the required User Variable.
All the steps are shown in the attached screen shots.
Keywords: User Variables, PFD, Property Table
References: None |
Problem Statement: The Aspen HYSYS Hydrate utility has undergone several changes over the last few years. As a result, it can be somewhat confusing for users familiar with the utility when they move on to a new version of Aspen HYSYS. The following describes the hydrate utility in its current form (applies to Aspen HYSYS 3.4 and up), and also provides information on selecting the appropriate model in Aspen HYSYS versions 3.0 to 3.2. | Solution: ?Gas hydrates, resembling snow or loose ice in appearance, are solid crystalline substances having the general formula M-nH2O where one or more hydrate forming molecules M associate with n ?host? water molecules. The meta-stable water crystal lattice is stabilized by physical forces between the ?host? and ?guest? molecules? (Ng and Robinson, 1976).
The guest molecules could be the following:
- Methane, ethane, ethyelne, propylene, CO2, H2S (Type I formers)
- Propane, n-butane, n-butane, nitrogen, argon and oxygen (Type II formers)
Low temperatures and high pressures usually favour the formation of hydrates.
A study of the phase behaviour of hydrate formation is of considerable significance to the natural gas industry because of the importance of being able to calculate the conditions under which hydrates may form in pipelines and processing equipment.
The hydrate calculations in Aspen HYSYS proceed based on the results obtained from an equilibrium flash performed at the specific pressure and temperature. In order to calculate the equilibrium conditions, Aspen HYSYS uses the equation of state generated properties. This utility is restricted to the Peng-Robinson and Soave-Redlich-Kwong equations of state.
Hydrate Utility in versions 3.0 to 3.2:
In the Design tab, Connections page there are four hydrate calculation models available:
Vapour Only Model
The Vapour Only Model is based on the work of Ng and Robinson (1980). This model should be selected only when the calculated equilibrium phase is ?Liquid Phase? or ?Vapour Phase?, meaning no free aqueous phase is encountered after the equilibrium flash.
Symmetric Model
The Symmetric Model (also called Free Water Model) is also based on the work of Ng and Robinson (1980). This model should be selected only when the calculated equilibrium phase is ?Free water found?, which means a free aqueous phase is encountered after the equilibrium flash.
Asymmetric Model
This model contains both the Vapour Only and the Symmetric model. When selected, it automatically switches between this two models, depending on the equilibrium phases found after the flash.
This model is not always recommended, because near phase boundaries Aspen HYSYS may experience difficulties to select the right model. We recommend to work with either the Vapour Only or the Symmetric Model, always checking if selected model is consistent with the equilibrium phase predicted by the utility.
Assume Free Water Model
This model should be selected for scenarios that do not contain any water in the feed stream.
It saturates the stream with water and then uses the Symmetric model for hydrate predictions.
Which equilibrium phase should I look for when checking consistency with the hydrates calculation models?
There are three equilibrium phases available in the utility:
1. Design tab | Connections page: the equilibrium phase shown corresponds to the stream phase at the current conditions (actual temperature and pressure of the stream).
2. Performance tab | Formation Temperature at Stream Pressure: the phase equilibrium shown corresponds to the stream phase at the hydrate formation temperature and the actual stream pressure.
3. Performance tab | Formation Pressure at Stream Temperature: the phase equilibrium shown corresponds to the stream phase at the hydrate formation pressure and the actual stream temperature.
If the objective is to find the hydrate formation temperature, then the model selected must be consistent with the equilibrium phase in the Performance tab, Formation Temperature at Stream Pressure.
If the objective is to find the hydrate formation pressure, then the model selected must be consistent with the equilibrium phase in the Performance tab, Formation Pressure at Stream Temperature.
Summary Table to check for consistency:
Calculation Model
Equilibrium Phase
Vapour Only
Liquid Phase
Vapour Phase
Symmetric
Free Water Found
Asymmetric
Liquid Phase
Vapour Phase
Free Water Found
Assume Free Water
Assume Free Water
Example: The objective is to find the hydrate formation temperature
Known Limitations
Known limitations of the current hydrates calculations include:
* Liquid phase hydrates. While the Vapour model is currently deemed the most suitable model for predicting liquid phase hydrates, please note that liquid phase hydrate prediction results should be checked carefully and compared with literature or field data whenever possible.
* Supercritical conditions. For supercritical fluids that result in a free aqueous phase, regardless of the hydrocarbon vapour/liquid phase identification, the free water model is used and is reliable. The reliability issue occurs for supercritical fluids that do not result in a free aqueous phase (e.g., phase identification between Vapour only and Liquid only or Vapour-Liquid and Liquid-Liquid cases; Liquid here refers to a hydrocarbon liquid) because of the difficulty and often the arbitrary nature of phase identification. Regardless of phase identification as a vapour or liquid, the Vapour model described above is used for hydrate predictions as this best describes the undersaturated supercritical case.
Hydrate Utility in versions 2004 and up:
Aspen HYSYS automatically determines the appropriate model to be used based on the results from the flash calculations. This default calculation model is recommended for all the hydrate prediction scenarios.
It is also possible to have control over the model selection (not generally recommended) when selecting the Override Dafault Model checkbox in the Design tab | Model Override page. This option may be used to double check the model automatically selected by Aspen HYSYS, based on the criteria described above.
Keywords: hydrates, model, asymmetric, symmetric, vapour only, free water
References: s
1.- Ng, H.J., D.B. Robinson, The Measurement and Prediction of Hydrate Formation in Liquid Hydrocarbon-Water Systems, Ind. Eng. Chem. Fund.,15, 293 (1976).
2.- Ng, H.J., D.B. Robinson, A Method for Predicting the Equilibrium Gas Phase Water Content in Gas-Hydrate Equilibrium, Ind. Eng. Chem. Fund.,19, 33 (1980). |
Problem Statement: Is there a way to report a Higher Heating Value (HHV)/Lower Heating Value (LHV) rate (for example, Btu/hr) instead of the default value (per mass, molar or volume basis)? | Solution: In Aspen HYSYS, Higher Heating Value (HHV) and Lower Heating Value (LHV) can be reported in three different basis: Molar, Mass or Volume.
In addition, 'Standard' correlation uses HYSYS default method to calculate both properties, using information from its internal databank. On the other hand, 'Gas' correlation employs the same method but using data from ISO 6976:1995(E).
               Â
Attached to thisSolution are two sets of User Variables. One set calculates HHV and LHV using the Standard correlation, and the other set employs Gas correlation. User variable will report an energy flow calculated by multiplying Molar HHV/LHV times Molar flow. Code always uses English units regardless the units specified for the rest of the simulation.
To use them, follow these steps:
1. Go to Simulation environment | Customize ribbon | Import and Export User Variables.
2. Click on Select File | select one of the files attached (.huv files) and click Save.
3. The file will be loaded, but you still need to import it, click on the file that was just opened (Stream-hhvrate) and click on Import.
4. Repeat the same process for the next file.
5. Finally click on OK
6. Now go to any stream and click on the User Variables section.
7. You will see both variables displayed there, but they will be empty.
8. The User Variables calculate every time the stream is solved, so in order to calculate them you need to change something in your simulation, a temperature value, flow, anything, you can change it back afterward, the point is just to change something in order to make all your streams solve again (probably a feed stream). Once that is done, you will see values for both variables.
Keywords: HHV, LHV, rate, higher heating value, user variable
References: None |
Problem Statement: The business proposition for simulating the dehydration process is to ensure that process objectives can be met while optimizing operating costs and/or CAPEX:
- Optimize dry gas water content to meet product spec
- Optimize required glycol rates to meet product spec at minimum OPEX
- Quantitatively evaluate different configurations, glycols, and process conditions in design
- Used to make confident decisions in troubleshooting activities
- Understand process impact on regulated benzene emissions
- Predict hydrate formation temperatures to reduce plugging risk
Summary
This application example utilizes the Aspen HYSYS Glycol Package functionality to rigorously model a TEG dehydration system for natural gas, with the goal of optimizing operating costs to meet key sales gas product specifications and column performance metrics.
In this example, you will learn how to:
- Solve a common dehydration problem through this application example:
Evaluate various operational decisions that can be made to meet specs
- Leverage the power of Aspen HYSYS integrated simulation models:
Utilize the hydrate formation utility and Column Analysis functionality
- Use Aspen HYSYS Glycol Package features:
Tuned kinetic parameters, accurate prediction of key properties
- Run a Case Study:
Quickly evaluate the effect of different operation conditions | Solution: Users will use the TEG Dehydration Feature-Set in Aspen HYSYS to make common operations and design decisions. Features in the HYSYS Glycol Package include:
Familiar HYSYS Environment
• Optimize the entire gas plant in HYSYS
• Predict key dehydration targets & emissions
Glycol Package
• Based on the Twu-Sim-Tassone (TST) equation of state
• Fitted interaction parameters for common components
• Accurately represents phase behavior of components
Hydrate Formation Utility
• Predict formation temperature of hydrates
Accurate Prediction
• Activity coefficients within +/- 2%
• Dew point temperatures with average error of +/- 1°C
• Water content of gas with average deviation of +/- 1%
Layered functionality, such as Column Analysis
Users will use these features to:
• Optimize operations to:
– Achieve > 98.6% lean TEG in the regenerator bottoms (operational best practice)
– Achieve a water dew point of -15F in the dry gas (product specification)
– Ensure no hydrate formation in the process
– Minimize the amount of purged lean TEG as much as possible (OPEX savings)
• Evaluate if new absorber column internals to be installed at next turnaround are limiting for a max rating case
At the end of the example, users will have:
· Ran a case study
To determine operational impacts on product dew point
· Solved a common dehydration problem
Increased glycol circulation and reboiler temp to meet specs
· Identified hydraulic limitations of the absorber
Determined upper limit of feed rate until flooding occurs
· Confirmed that no hydrates will form in the system
By using the Hydrate Formation utility and conditional formatting
 For more information, please review Kb 144747 .
Keywords: Column Hydraulics, Column Analysis, gas plant, gas processing, hydraulics, flooding, weeping, base case, max rating, turndown, example, reboiler duty, solvent, packing, trays, column, sales gas, sweet gas, TEG, dehydration, glycol, hydrates, hydrate formation, TST, dew point, lean, rich
References: None |
Problem Statement: How do I change the mixing rule of my Peng-Robinson COM Thermo Property Package? | Solution: The following configuration file will help you to locate the Mixing Rules described in Aspen HYSYS Thermodynamics COM Interface -
Keywords: COM Thermo, Property Pkg, Mixing Rule, asymmetric binary interaction parameters
References: Guide Equations 3.30 to 3.35.
Download the attached file and extract the content in C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Hyprotech\COMThermo\Models.A Two files will be added to your folder prMR_liquid.xml & prMR_vapor.xmlA If HYSYS is open while installing the file you must restart Hysys for the changes will take effect.
Create a new case and select the component list. Then go to Fluid Pkgs tab and Add a new property package -> Select COM Thermo. Under Model Selection choose Peng-Robinson-MR (mixing-rule) and scroll down to select amix Property and Select the available method for each phase.
There are six methods available for Peng-Robinson Mixing Rules: |
Problem Statement: Which Plant Bulk Piping choice should be used in the Icarus software:
Above grade or buried yard piping.
Above grade or buried piping
It is not clear why there are two selections to choose from. | Solution: The difference between the Above grade or buried yard piping and Above grade or buried piping models in the Icarus software is that the Above Grade or Buried Yard Piping model is the old model that Icarus used to have in prior versions of the software.
The development team had to keep this Above Grade or Buried Yard Piping model in the newer versions, so that users who opened older projects in the newer versions of the Icarus software could access the information.
The new model Above Grade or Buried Piping is the one to use as there is more control and functionality for input specifications.
Keywords: yard
pipe
piping
above
grade
buried
References: None |
Problem Statement: If you have Alarm and Event opened within Web.21, there might be a situation where you cannot toggle between two different data sources.
On the main Alarm and Event page EventQuery.asp, there is a pull-down field that lets you select different servers. These are simply data sources, listed in ADSA, that have both the Web.21 and Alarm & Event services configured. The drop down menu field to toggle between data sources may not be available to the user.
The | Solution: explains how to add the drop down menu field for data source selection within the Alarm and Event page EventQuery.asp.
Solution
To get the Alarm and Event drop down menu to work in the Alarm and Event GUI:
Register the following file:
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AspenTech Shared\OPC AspenDataSource.dll
You will need to use regsvr32 from the Run option (Start | Run).
Once the file is registered, restart IIS (from the cmd prompt, type iisresest).
Keywords: data source
web.21
alarm
event
References: None |
Problem Statement: How are the Overhead items in the Basic Engineering Report calculated? | Solution: The Expense rate is used to calculate the Overhead items in the Basic Engineering Report. The Overhead items in the Basic Engineering Report consist of the following:
Reproduction
Communications
Travel
Computation
Please look at the Basic Engineering Report to see this.
These 4 line items collectively comprise 'engineering expenses'. They result from a fixed % split of this expense by phase. The calculation of 'engineering expenses' is done by phase, using the costs/MH indicated in the ICARUS
Keywords: overhead, basic engineering, report, calculated, calculation
References: , Chapter 31: Engineering, Engineering Expenses and Indirects. For example, for 1Q'97 version, the 'Expense Rate' by phase is as follows:
Basic
3.70 USD
Detail
2.90
Procurement
6.60
Home office
2.70
Multiply the Total Man-hours for the phase by this rate to calculate the total expenses. The system then allocates these to various categories by percentage as follows:
BASIC DETAIL PROCURE
HOME
REPRODUCTION 23% 30% 14%
42%
COMMUNICATIONS 3 4 12
8
TRAVEL 17 12
50 50
COMPUTATION 57 54 24
0
The amount of the expense is user-adjusted, but how it is split into these categories is not.
Please make sure to read the chart correctly. There is no Cost indirect. The chart should read: Percent Engineering Manpower Cost for Payroll Burdens/Fringes and Indirects.
Both the Payroll Burdens/Fringes and Indirects are Percentages of the Total Engineering Cost that you see on the Basic Engineering Report. |
Problem Statement: The following error is logged when visiting the Aspen Audit & Compliance website and attempting to retrieve data:
Some customers have seen this error happen even though the user visiting the website is in a Windows Active Directory group added to an Aspen Role in Local Security which has been granted at least Read Access for Aspen Audit & Compliance. However when the user is added individually to the Role, then access works. | Solution: Normally, the above-described issue would mean the user's Windows account does not have the right to look up domain group memberships, and that should be the first item that is checked.
However if it is confirmed that the user account does have lookup rights to domain groups, then the failure is because the Aspen Audit & Compliance website itself lacks the ability to query for domain group memberships. In this case, on the Web Server, add the following registry keys the AFW folder, located here:
HKEYLOCALMACHINE | SOFTWARE | Aspentech | AFW:
The keys to add are:
AFBUser
AFBPwd
The account and password specified here can be a Services type account with very limited rights (for example, the account does not need Log On rights.) But the account must have the ability to look up domain group memberships, since that is what it will be used for.
AFBPwd is stored as cleartext. Pending CQ00415950 requests that this key be stored encrypted for better security.
If the problem is still not resolved, please see KB 131872 for further troubleshooting advice.
Keywords: Query error: Exception while invoking Aspen Audit & Compliance Manager OpenConnection method: Permission denied.
References: None |
Problem Statement: How do I copy and paste the data on the Elevation Profile page of the PIPESYS pipe segment? | Solution: Currently the matrix that contains the elevation profile data is not multi-selectable as this matrix is capable of accepting data in many various formats, for example, distance and elevation or length and vertical displacement. This could cause problems if the user selected multiple cells and tried to paste data into them as not all cells are user editable depending on how the original data was entered.
If you want to cut and past an elevation profile, it can be done by first adding enough pipeline units to elevation profile while leaving the distance, elevation, etc. data empty. The pipeline units must initially exist in the elevation profile as no messages are sent from HYSYS to PIPESYS during the paste operation to inform PIPESYS to automatically add more pipeline units to the elevation profile. The data to be pasted must be copied from an output report or other source such as an excel spreadsheet. Select the first cell where you want to past your data starting at and press shift-insert. Make sure that you have copied the same number of rows and columns from the source as you wish to past into your elevation profile. The data will then be transferred to the elevation profile in PIPESYS in the same format that you copied it in.
Keywords: copy, paste, elevation, profile, pipe section
References: None |
Problem Statement: What are Heat Loss and Heat Leak in the Heat Exchanger? | Solution: Heat leak is the loss of cold side duty due to leakage. Duty is gained to reflect the increase in temperature.
Heat loss is the loss of hot side duty due to leakage. Duty is lost to reflect the decrease in temperature.
Note that when the Heat Leak/Loss option is activated, two additional degrees of freedom are added to the heat exchanger. In order to have it solve, two more specifications need to be added.
Keywords: heat leak, heat loss
References: None |
Problem Statement: This Knowledge Base article shows how to turn on logging for Aspen Database Wizard (DB Wizard). | Solution: Logging for Aspen Database Wizard can be turned on using a registry file.
To create a registry file, copy the following text to Notepad and save it with a .reg extension. Then run the file using “Run As Administrator” option.
====================================
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\AspenTech\DatabaseWizard]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\AspenTech\DatabaseWizard\Logging]
Errors=On
Events=On
Framework=On
Information=On
Interface=On
QueueCalls=On
SQL=On
StoredProcedures=On
Validation=On
Size=dword:0000000a
====================================
To turn off DB Wizard logging, create a copy of the above registry file and replace On with Off for all the options. Run the file to update the Windows Registry.
Note: Log files for DB Wizard can be found in the following directory
C:\ProgramData\AspenTech\DiagnosticLogs\DatabaseWizard
Keywords: None
References: None |
Problem Statement: Can I change the default thermodynamic model/correlation method for my property calculations? | Solution: Yes. Starting from version 3.0, the COMThermo functionality embedded into HYSYS allows you to override certain default calculation methods.
Here are a few steps to get you started:
Create a component list on the Component tab page.
On the Fluid Package property view (Set Up page), select the COMThermo checkbox in the Advanced Thermodynamics area.
Select the vapor phase radio button and choose a thermodynamic model (Peng-Robinson, for example).
Select the liquid phase radio button and choose a thermodynamic model (for example, choose Peng-Robinson as well)
Under the Model Options matrix on the right hand side of the page, certain algorithms will show up as black (corresponding to calculated and non-modifiable values in HYSYS). Methods that are red represent HYSYS defaults which can be overridden. If you select the Enthalpy correlation, a dropdown will appear, which will allow you to select from Peng-Robinson Enthalpy and Lee-Kesler Enthalpy correlations.
Keywords: COMThermo, liquid, vapor, model,
References: None |
Problem Statement: I have a customer external file for my Indirects - Proratables. I have specifications under Direct Code of Accounts Only, but I am getting an error message, and I cannot figure out what I have done incorrectly.
The error message is: Percent of direct hours mismatches 'Percent Of' Option selected. | Solution: The problem is that when selecting a Percent of Category, that you enter your percentage, in the correct field, also making sure to select the correct drop down selection for Percent of Category.
For example, if you need to specify hours, you must remember to select an option that ends in xxxH, and not xxxL (ex: not EQPL, but should select EQPH). EQPH is Purchased Equipment Labor Hours (correct one to use); EQPL is Purchased Equipment Labor Cost.
Keywords: external, indirect, indirects, external file, proratables, customer external file
References: None |
Problem Statement: For some reason, I can no longer see or add any Equipment Components from the Components Tab palette window. Why is this not available? | Solution: The problem is that there is a file that had to be registered by your operating system when the installation was performed, but for some reason, it was not. This file in particular is responsible for the Components Tab so that you can see these equipment items.
The file that was not registered by your operating system is called equip.ocx and it is located in the
x: '\Program Files\AspenTech\Aspen Icarus x.x\Program\Sys' directory.
You will have to manually register this file. Please note, that you MUST have administrator rights over your PC in order to register this file. You should also make sure that your login (typically your domain login i.e. DOMAIN\username), is added to your local PC's Administrator group. This will ensure that your domain login has the correct permissions to perform Administrative functions on your local PC.
To manually register this file, please follow these instructions:
***** NOTE: PLEASE EXIT THE ASPEN ICARUS SOFTWARE BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS! *******
1. Open a DOS command window. (START | RUN .... then type in CMD and hit OK). This will bring you to the C:\ drive on your PC.
2. Change directories to the \Program Files\AspenTech\Aspen Icarus x.x\Program\Sys directory....whatever drive letter this may be located on. If your installation is located on a different drive letter, to change drive letters type in:
d: at the command prompt and hit enter. This changes the drive letter.
3. Then you will have to change to the \Program Files\AspenTech\Aspen Icarus x.x\Program\Sys directory.
To change directories type in: (there is a space after the cd)
cd \Program Files\AspenTech\Aspen Icarus x.x\Program\Sys and then hit enter.
4. To register the equip.ocx file, type in the following:
regsvr32 equip.ocx and then hit enter.
You should immediately receive a confirmation message that says:
DllRegisterServer in equip.ocx succeeded.
This should allow you to see the equipment items in the Components Tab.
Keywords: equipment
component
components
tab
palette
equip.ocx
References: None |
Problem Statement: Where can I find the complete Icarus Database file so that I can open it in Microsoft Access? | Solution: The complete database file is called reports.mdb. This file is only generated when a complete project estimate is performed AND after an Interactive Report is run.
The way to get to the file you need, is to open the project first in your Icarus software, run an entire project evaluation, then go to the VIEW menu and select CAPITAL COSTS VIEW - INTERACTIVE REPORTS. Run a report. It doesn't matter which report.
Then, open Windows Explorer and browse to your default cache directory.
For v2006.0 and earlier, the default directory location is: 'c:\Program Files\AspenTech\Aspen Icarus x.x\ic_cache\Projects\[project folder name]'.
For v2006.5 and later, the default directory location is: 'C:\Documents and Settings\[domain logon name]\Local Settings\Application Data\AspenTech\Aspen Icarus 2006.5\Projects\[project folder name]'.
The file you are looking for is called: reports.mdb.
Double-click on the reports.mdb file, and type in the password : icarus (case-sensitive).
This file will then open using Microsoft Access.
Keywords: reports.mdb, access, database
References: None |
Problem Statement: How do I import a Custom Equipment Symbol into my Kbase software that another user created so that I can use it? | Solution: 1. Copy the *.sym file to your hard drive, preferably to a blank folder on the hard drive.
2. Open Kbase and open the P&ID Editor tool (Go to the Libaries tab in the Palette window and double-click on the P&ID symbol).
3. Open a blank P&ID.
4. Select File - Open and then select the *.sym file to import.
5. Highlight the ENTIRE equipment symbol by drawing a box completely around the symbol (the entire symbol will turn PINK).
6. On the main menu, select EDIT - COPY.
7. On the main menu, select WINDOW - Document1
8. On the main menu, select FILE - Add Custom Equipment Symbol. Type in a model name Select a category to save this symbol to (we recommend saving it to the Custom Equipment location). Click OK.
9. On the main menu, select EDIT - PASTE. You will then see the Custom Equipment Symbol appear on the screen.
10. On the main menu, select FILE - SAVE. Say YES to save the changes to the model XML file.
That's it!
Once you exit out of the P&ID drawing tool, and enter back in, you will be able to begin using the imported Custom Equipment Symbol.
NOTE:
Changing a custom equipment symbol does not dynamically update existing P&IDs.
We ask our users that when creating custom symbols to make sure that they add in every port they could possibly want for now and possibly in the future, so that changes are not needed to be made. The reason is exactly the problem you reported.....once you create an equipment symbol, it's fixed in the database, so when you drop that equipment symbol onto a P&ID and start using it, that symbol is just a COPY of what is in the database.
If any changes are made to the equipment symbol in the database, the old copied equipment symbol is still present in ANY P&ID that you created using that old equipment symbol.
If you decide to make a change to a custom equipment symbol, you will then need to manually change each and every P&ID that used the OLD symbol by deleting the OLD custom equipment symbol on each and every P&ID (which will disconnect all the piping and instrumentation lines).
Then, you can add back in the NEW equipment symbol to the P&ID drawing, and then you will have to reconnect all your instrumentation and piping lines to the new equipment symbol.
OtherSolution documents you might find helpful:
Tutorial and Best Practices for Using the Aspen Kbase P&ID Editor
http://support.aspentech.com/webteamcgi/SolutionDisplay_view.cgi?key=112277
HOW TO SET A DEFAULT P&ID FOR AN EQUIPMENT MODEL LIBRARY (EML) ITEM - http://support.aspentech.com/webteamcgi/SolutionDisplay_view.cgi?key=112278
How to use the Line Size Equation Editor in Aspen Kbase
http://support.aspentech.com/webteamcgi/SolutionDisplay_view.cgi?key=114149
How to make sure previously used line size equations are used in an imported Kbase project from an Icarus 2000 project
http://support.aspentech.com/webteamcgi/SolutionDisplay_view.cgi?key=116489
How to customize or create your own equipment symbols to use with the KBase P&ID editor?
http://support.aspentech.com/webteamcgi/SolutionDisplay_view.cgi?key=114137
Keywords: custom equipment symbol, custom, symbol, P&ID, pid
References: None |
Problem Statement: I am unsure how the Piping Installation Bulks (A)dd, (R)eplace, and (D)elete work. | Solution: Using A(dd) - Adds the loop/line to the volumetric model with the details that you specify.
Using (D)elete - Removes the loop/line on the volumetric model.
Using (R)eplace - Replaces the automatically generated line completely with the exact line that you specify. You need to specify the diameter, length and any fittings you want for the line. Otherwise, nothing is generated. The (R)eplace selection REPLACES the loop/line on the volumetric model with the details that you specify.
If you leave the volumetric model BLANK, and add in details to the line/loop item, it throws out the volumetric model and only puts in the details you specify.
Keywords: volumetric
piping
bulks
installation
add
replace
delete
References: None |
Problem Statement: By default the installation of Alarm and Event places the primary queue, secondary queue, and overflow queue in:
Program Files\Aspentech\AlarmandEvent\Queue.
If desired, it is possible to have these queue files reside in a different location. | Solution: You can change the default location of the queues AS LONG AS the queues are empty and all local processes accessing the queues using the AlarmAndEvent application interface are shutdown before moving the queue files (AFW, IP.21, Batch.21, IIS, etc.). With all of the necessary applications stopped, stop the Aspen Alarm and Event Server service.
Change the locations of the queue files by going into the registry at:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Aspentech\AlarmAndEvent\Queue
Edit the locations listed in prime, second, and overflow to desired locations.
Copy the existing primary and secondary queue files to the new location. (Or, they can be deleted as they will be recreated upon startup of the Alarm and Event server.) Restart the Alarm and Event Server service.
Keywords: primary
secondary
overflow
References: None |
Problem Statement: Why is my wire length longer than my wire distance? | Solution: There is an extra 5 foot of wire on each end for cut off purposes, or an additional 10 feet total. For example, if you had told the system 100 feet wire, it will give you 110 feet of wire. The 100 feet you asked for, and the additional 5 feet at each end for cut off purposes.
Keywords: Wire, Length, Cut-off
References: None |
Problem Statement: How do I combine multiple projects into one master project? | Solution: 1. Open one of the projects.
2. In project palette window (the upper right pane), find and expand the ?+? sign next to the other project that has the data you need.
3. Double-click on that project. It will take a few moments for the application to read the contents of the other project?s information.
4. Once the information is read, you will probably see the project?s areas/component information.
5. Then, you can drag and drop either the individual components to your currently opened project by dropping them into the main center window, or you can drag whole Areas by dragging the entire area over and dropping onto the 'Main Project' in the Icarus left pane.
Note: Dragging an area to the Main Project, will also create a new area for the current project, with all the Area level specifications.
Dragging an area to an existing area in your project, will only copy over the contents of the area.
Repeat this process for to access other project's items and areas to drag into the main working project.
Keywords: combine, merge, combining, multiple, drag, drop
References: None |
Problem Statement: Why are Piping Drains are always carbon steel? | Solution: Piping drains (DR) are always CS. This is because CS is the cheapest material to use.
At present, the material of drains cannot be changed, either thru material type or by custom specs.
As a workaround, if a different material type of Drain (DR) is needed, it will be necessary to create a line with one gate valve, elbow and X number of feet of pipe and attach the custom specs. You can use the labor adjustment factor, material adjustment factor, testing percentage, stress relief option on custom specs, and create as many lines as drains as needed.
If there is a need for specification of non-CS drains, we can put this in as an enhancement request to do in a future release, by creating two options for drains, DR which is a CS drain, DU which has the same material as the line. We don't have a large number of people knocking on our doors for non-CS drains, but the more requests that we get, the more likely this enhancement request will be worked on by our development team to be available for a future release.
To submit an enhancement request to our developers, send an e-mail to [email protected], and put enhancement request in the subject line. You will be assigned a call ticket ID number, as well as the enhancement request number for easy tracking of your request.
Keywords: drain
drains
CS
carbon steel
References: None |
Problem Statement: Why is the value of 'Std Vol Gas Flow'' different in HSR than the main flowsheet in Aspen HYSYS? | Solution: This issue is caused by the method in which Aspen HYSYS calculates the Std Gas Flow on the Property window in a material stream. The actual value depends on the temperature unit used: the standard temperature is 60 F in degree F while in degree C the standard temperature is 15 C. Hence there would be slight difference in the calculated. To change the std temperature please go to Tools>Preferences>Simulation>Options>Std Temperature Settings>User Supplied and then specify 60F or 15C
Keywords: Std. Vol. Flow, different value, Hysys, HSR
References: None |
Problem Statement: How mass correction factors are converted to contact area for Depressuring Utility? | Solution: The correction factors for the metal mass are used to to take into account any additional amount of metal due to valves or other fitting that might be in contact with the top or the bottom of the vessel. These correction factors are in mass units not in percentage on design tab of Dynamic depressuring utility.
The formulae below explain how mass correction factors are converted into contact area (if there is single liquid phase along with vapor phase)
Extra Mass, Vapor Case:
ExtraMassVap= ValueEnteredVap
Extra Mass, Liquid Case:
ExtraMassLiq= ValueEnteredLiq
Converting Masses To Contact Areas:
ExtraMetalAreaVap = ExtraMetalMassVap /( MetalThickness) *MetalDensity)
ExtraMetalAreaLiq = ExtraMetalMassLiq /( MetalThickness) *MetalDensity)
If there are two liquid phases are present along with vapor phase then:
Extra mass vapor case will remains the same as above but for liquid should be calculated as mentioned below:
Extra Mass, Liquid Case:
ExtraMassLiq1= ValueEnteredLiq *AreaPhaseL1 /(AreaPhaseL1 + AreaPhaseL2)
ExtraMassLiq2= ValueEnteredLiq *AreaPhaseL2 /(AreaPhaseL1 +AreaPhaseL2)
Converting Masses To Contact Areas:
ExtraMetalAreaLiq1 = ExtraMetalMassLiq1 /( MetalThickness) *MetalDensity)
ExtraMetalAreaLiq2 = ExtraMetalMassLiq2 /( MetalThickness) *MetalDensity)
Keywords: Mass correction factors, Dynamic Depressuring, Extra Metal Mass Calculations, Contact Area Calculations
References: None |
Problem Statement: 在HYSYS里 ''将热损失作用于外墙''选项是怎样工作的？ | Solution: 这个决定热损失是直接作用于容器内物流还是作用于容器外墙的选项，只应用于动态模拟。
如果热载作用于外墙，则并非所有热载都会传递给容器内物流，因为容器墙壁本身也会消耗热载从而改变自身温度。
另一个考虑因素是传热速率。在动态模拟中，容器壁温和容器内物流温度有可能是不同的。将热载作用于容器外壁会降低传热速率，因为容器壁本身提供了额外的传热阻力。其程度取决于容器壁的热导和厚度。直接将热载作用于物流不会产生这个额外的传热阻力。
这些作用只在动态里生效，因为在静态模拟里最终容器内物流吸收的热载总是相同的，不管热载是作用于物流本身还是容器外壁因为两者总是处于热平衡状态。
Keywords: Chinese-
References: None |
Problem Statement: How accurate are Aspen HYSYS calculations? How accurate are Aspen HYSYS predictions? | Solution: It is a fundamental and a very generic question. It arises in every engineering calculation.
Aspen HYSYS is a simulator. It is a sophisticated calculator. Instead of solving complex equations and iterations by hand, you are solving them using Aspen HYSYS. It is taking your job of manual calculation but the accuracy is still up to you. How accurate is the calculation or the prediction(s)? It depends on whether you have chosen an appropriate property package, how accurately you put your input and how wisely you have carried out design. The ranges of applicability and limitations of a particular equation or set of equations predict under a set of conditions will also have impact on the accuracy of the model prediction. Therefore, it is not possible to put a general percentage figure of accuracy on overall Aspen HYSYS predictions. Aspen HYSYS is a reliable software. Engineers all around the world use this software for their process simulation work. Users of this software are responsible for ultimate decision making. You have to make final decision(s) on the results and/or design on the basis of your engineering experience and judgement.
Keywords: How accurate, accurate, accuracy, calculation, prediction
References: None |
Problem Statement: How can I import a utility variable into the Aspen HYSYS spreadsheet? | Solution: On the Connections tab of the spreadsheet operation, click on Add Import button to view the Variable Navigator. In order to access utility variables, ensure that the Utility radio button is active. The radio button is located in the Navigator Scope group box on the left hand side of the Select Import for Cells dialog window.
Keywords: spreadsheet, utility, scope
References: None |
Problem Statement: How to add a extra icon to the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) and customize QAT? | Solution: The Quick Access Toolbar appears at the left side of the title bar.
To add other commands, right-click on any ribbon icon and select `Add to Quick Access Toolbar. For example adding the ?Solver Active? and ?Solver Inactive? buttons.
Keywords: Quick Access Toolbar, HYSYS V8
References: None |
Problem Statement: How can I model the effect of solar radiation on a pipe? | Solution: The pipe segment model doesn't have a correlation to calculate the effect of solar radiation directly, but you can do the following:
1. Input the value for the duty in the pipe directly if you know the value. To do this, go to the pipe segment’s Property View, to the Rating tab, and click on Heat Loss under Heat Transfer. Input a negative value so it is considered as a gain instead of a loss.
2. Use a spreadsheet to calculate the value if you have a correlation, then export this calculated value to the Heat Loss inside the Pipe segment
Keywords: Pipe, solar radiation, duty
References: None |
Problem Statement: The vessel heat loss parameter (Rating | Heat Loss | Detailed Convection), by default, states <same as vap phase> for versions V7.1 and lower. See the screenshot shown below.
In V7.2 and V7.3 this is shown as empty. | Solution: The default value for vessel inside Liq Phase Heat Loss is taken as the vapour phase heat transfer coefficient when no value is entered.
Keywords: Inside Liq Phase Heat Loss, Convection, Vessel
References: None |
Problem Statement: Where do I find the shortcut key (Hot-key) list in Aspen HYSYS? | Solution: Hot keys in HYSYS enables you to perform/activate commands using the keys on the keyboard instead of using the mouse to access the commands in the menu bar. Hot-Key list can be found under Help | Hot-Key list.
The following table lists the hot keys available in HYSYS:
Hot key commands in the File menu
Create New Case
CTRL N
Exit HYSYS
ALT F4
Open Case
CTRL O
Close Case
CTRL J
Save Current Case
CTRL S
Save Current Case As...
CTRL SHIFT S
Hot key commands in the Edit menu
Undo
CTRL Z
Copy selected object in cell, field, or PFD
CTRL C
Copy Special
CTRL SHIFT C
Cut selected object in cell, field, or PFD
CTRL X
Paste object in selected cell, field, or PFD
CTRL V
Hot key commands in the Simulation menu
Access Integrator
CTRL I
Access Event Scheduler
CTRL E
Access Optimizer
F5
Access Simulation Case property view (Main environment properties)
CTRL M
Enter Simulation Basis environment
CTRL B
Toggle Steady-State/Dynamic Modes
F7
Toggle Hold/Go Calculations
F8
Hot key commands in the Basis menu
Access Notes Manager
CTRL G
Access Simulation Basis Manager property view
CTRL B
Leave Basis environment (return to previous environment)
CTRL L
Hot key commands in the Flowsheet menu
Access Notes Manager
CTRL G
Access Object Navigator
F3
Add Material Stream
F11
Add Operation
F12
Show/Hide Object Palette
F4
Show/Hide RefSYS Object Palette
F6
Hot key commands in the Tools menu
Access Controller Face Plates
CTRL F
Access Databook
CTRL D
Access Dynamics Assistant
CTRL Y
Access PFDs
CTRL P
Access Reports
CTRL R
Access Utilities
CTRL U
Access Workbooks
CTRL W
Hot key commands in the Column menu
Go to Column Runner in the column sub-flowsheet
CTRL T
Reset the column
SHIFT F6
Run the column
F6
Stop Column Solver
CTRL BREAK
Hot key commands in the Help menu
Access Help
F1
Hot key commands for Property Views
Access editing cell function
F2
Access Stream Composition Property view (from Workbook property view)
CTRL K
Arrange Property views in Tile format
SHIFT F4
Close Active Property view
CTRL F4
Go to Next item within Active Property view
TAB
Go to Next Tab in the Active Property view
CTRL SHIFT N
Go to Next Property view
CTRL F6
CTRL TAB
Go to Previous item within Active Property view
SHIFT TAB
Go to Previous Tab in the Active Property view
CTRL SHIFT P
Go to Previous Property view
CTRL SHIFT F6
CTRL SHIFT TAB
Undo
CTRL Z
General hot key commands
Access Pull-Down commands from the menu bar
F10
ALT
Start/Stop Integrator
F9
Stop Calculations
CTRL BREAK
PFD hot key commands
Center PFD objects with cursor
PERIOD key
C
Break stream connection
B
Default Orientation
N
Delete Selected Object
DELETE
Displays Inlet Nozzle Elevation
SHIFT I
Displays Stream Mass Flow Rates
SHIFT M
Displays Stream Molar Flow Rates
SHIFT F
Displays Stream Names (Default)
SHIFT N
Displays Object Description
SHIFT R
Displays Outlet Nozzle Elevation
SHIFT O
Displays Stream Pressures
SHIFT P
Displays Stream Temperatures
SHIFT T
Mirror about X-axis
X
Mirror about Y-axis
Y
Open Selected Object
V
E
Pan the objects
ARROW keys
SHIFT ARROW keys
Rotate 90?
1
Rotate 180?
2
Rotate 270?
3
Select Object Label
L
Toggle between Move/Attach Options
CTRL
Toggle between previous Zoom option
Z
Undo
CTRL Z
Zoom All objects
HOME
Zoom In objects
PAGE UP
Zoom Out objects
PAGE DOWN
Keywords:
References: None |
Problem Statement: How are the lower and upper pressures specified in the envelope utility? | Solution: The lower pressure (starting point of the envelope generation) is determined by the program. In general is at a low value (1 atm for the dew line) because if it would start form the bubble line, the initial pressure would be higher. Once the program finds a couple of good lower starting points, the algorithm will march up the envelope.
The upper pressure (last point of the envelope generation) is determined by the Critical values which you can find in the Design Tab> Connections> of the Envelope Utility.
The only thing the user can specify is the branch of interest (VF of interested) by specifying the quality of the curves on the Performance tab. By default qualities of VF=0 (Bubble point) and VF=1 (Dew Point) are generated.
If you want to specify the starting point of the dew or bubble lines will be to use the Property Table as you can see in theSolution 109812
Keywords: Envelope utility, property table
References: None |
Problem Statement: How do I disable the cross hairs on the HYSYS PFD? | Solution: Open the Simulation | Options pagetab of the session preferences (i.e. select Tools...Preferences from the main menu) and deactivate the Enable Cross Hairs On PFD option.
Keywords: Cross Hairs, Crosshairs, Red Lines, PFD, Preferences
References: None |
Problem Statement: Is it necessary to have a Pro II license to use the Pro II to Aspen HYSYS Converter? | Solution: You do not need a Pro II license to use the the Pro II to Aspen HYSYS Converter. You just need your case saved as .inp file to use the Pro II case reader.
Keywords: Pro II, case, reader, converter
References: None |
Problem Statement: When trying to print the datasheet for the Depressuring Utility in HYSYS 2.2, why is there no data printed? | Solution: The is a known problem which is only experienced with HYSYS v2.2. To print the datasheet for the Depressurisation Utility you need to copy the attached file to the Support folder of the HYSYS installation directory.
Keywords: Depressurisation Utility, No Datasheet
References: None |
Problem Statement: What is the effect of Linear / Quadratic option on the Rating tab of the compressor? | Solution: In HYSYS Steady State;
1. Only one compressor curve is available:
(a). The compressor speed is the same as the curve design speed. The new head will be calculated for current flow using the linear or quadratic method from this curve. User specifies the linear or quadratic method in the compressor property window, Rating ->Curves pages.
(b). If the compressor speed is not the same as the curve design speed, a new curve will be calculated based on FanLaw, and the new head will be calculated for the current flow using the linear or quadratic method from the FanLaw curve.
2. Multiple compressor curves are available:
(a) If the compressor speed is the same as one of the curve speed, the new head will be calculated from the current flow, the linear or quadratic method from this curve.
(b). If compressor speed is not equal to any speed of the curves, a new table will be calculated where each row is a pair of curve speed and the head based on current flow. The head is calculated using linear or quadratic method if the flow is within the data range; extrapolation if the flow is outside the range. Then the head for compressor speed will be calculated by interpolating from this table.
In HYSYS Dynamic mode:
1. Only one compressor curve is available:
(a). The compressor speed is the same as the curve design speed. Curve will be fitted into this equation:
Q**2 = aa * N**2 - bb * H, where Q is the flow, N is the speed and H is the head.
The parameter aa and bb will be used to calculate the derivative and the right had side value of this equation:
RHS = Q**2 - (aa * N**2 - bb * H)
(b). If the compressor speed is not the same as the curve design speed, a new curve will be calculated based on FanLaw, and the calculation will be the same as above based on the FanLaw curve.
2. Multiple compressor curves are available:
(a). If the compressor speed is the same as one of the curve speed, the calculation will be the same as the single curve method based on this curve.
(b). If compressor speed is not equal to any speed of the curves:
(i) If the compressor speed is lower than the lowest speed of the curve collection, the curve with lowest speed will be used as the single available curve.
(ii) If the compressor speed is higher than the highest speed of the curve collection, the curve with highest speed will be used as the single available curve.
(iii) Identify the two curves with the compressor speed in the middle. Fit these two curves into the same equation:
Q**2 = aa * N**2 - bb * H, where Q is the flow, N is the speed and H is the head.
Select one set of aa and bb from the closest curve based on speed.
Calculate the heads for each curves from current flow.
Caculate the head of compressor using linear interpolation based on speed thus:
head = (CurrentSpeed - speed2) / (speed1 - speed2)*(head1-head2) + head2; then modify the parameter from the compressor head, current flow and speed as:
aa = (bb*head+QQ-bb*(0.01*QQ-0.01*CurrentFlow)/(0.99 * CurrentSpeed* CurrentSpeed + 0.01 * CurrentSpeed
Keywords: Compressor Curve, Extrapolation
References: None |
Problem Statement: My code behaves strangely when I run it by pressing the Green arrow (Start/Resume) button in the User Var code window. What should I check? | Solution: If you make a user variable run by pressing the Green Start/Resume (Play) button at the top of the code window, then ActiveObject refers to the flowsheet containing the object with the user variable. This is because the solver is not running, hence there is no ActiveObject; so it defaults to the Flowsheet.
There are two ways around this:
The first (and best) is not to trigger the user variable in this way, but instead trigger it in the way it would normally be triggered (i.e. by changing a process variable, and causing the flowsheet to solve.). If you put a breakpoint into the code (by clicking in the left hand margin), then the code window pops up and allows you to step through.
If the user variable (or another user variable) is set to trigger the solver when it's value is changed manually by the user, (Attributes tab of the user variable code window) then all you have to do is type a dummy value into the User Var page, and the code runs.
Alternatively if you really want to be able to press the green button then instead of using (for example): ActiveObject
Use
ActiveCase.Flowsheet.Operations.Item(E-100)
Or in the case of a stream
ActiveCase.Flowsheet.Materialstreams.Item(My Stream)
This works even when the play button is pressed. However the line: ActiveVariableWrapper.Variable.SetValue ([Value], [Units])
i.e. setting the value of the user variable in code, still doesn't work in this situation. (Hence the firstSolution is the best one)
Keywords: ActiveObject, Play button, Breakpoint
References: None |
Problem Statement: In some cases, my project data gets deleted or is incomplete when storing projects on a network drive share. Why would this happen and how can I prevent it in the future? | Solution: The reason that this could happen is that user has their ic_cache folder on network drive where all users are mapped to the same ic_cache folder.
The ic_cache directory is the work place for currently open projects. If more than one user is logged into the Icarus software, and each of those individuals are mapped to the same ic_cache folder on the network drive, then, what will happen, is that each user that opens a project file, their data will overwrite the previous person's data, and so on and so on.
The ic_cache folder directory must be unique to each user and should be located on local hard drive, and the user must have FULL ACCESS RIGHTS (read/write/modify/delete/change)...and this folder should not be located on a network share.
The \ic_cache\Projects\[projname] folder is the work place for your project. Once you finish working on your project for the day, and exit the system, the Icarus software compresses all the files into the .IZP and .SZP files and copies those 2 files to the designated default project path specified by the user.
For v2006.0, the default location for the ic_cache folder is:
'c:\Program Files\AspenTech\Aspen Icarus xx.x\ic_cache\Projects\[projname]'
For v2006.5 and later, the default location for the ic_cache folder is:
'C:\Documents and Settings\[user_login]\Local Settings\Application Data\AspenTech\Aspen Icarus 2006.5\Projects[projname]'
The only directories that we feel are OK to modify are the following:
1. Default project path
2. Equipment Model Libraries
3. Code of Account files (COA)
4. Custom External files (such as Building, Civil, Instrumentation Inparts and Inassemby, Currency, Indirects and Insulation)
5. Line Size Equations
6. P&ID drawings
7. Unit Cost Libraries
Keywords: ic_cache, unique, project, directory, network, share, shared, deleted
References: None |
Problem Statement: How often does the Aspen Icarus software provide material pricing (cost updates) and indices updates? | Solution: Aspen Icarus provides material pricing updates and indices updates one time a year, with every major Aspen Engineering Suite release.
Typically, these releases are late in the calendar year (November or December).
These material pricing updates are based on the 1st Quarter of that same year. (eg. Aspen Engineering Suite v2006 would be released November/December 2006, so the pricing base would be 1st Quarter 2006 pricing - 1Q2006).
We have had requests that the pricing data (cost update) and indices updates to be every quarter, or in patch files, however, patch files are only released to fix bugs with the software, and updating every quarter is not possible due to the release schedule.
Keywords: pricing, update, material cost, Icarus, material price, cost, cost update, cost base, indices
References: None |
Problem Statement: When submitting a query from the EventQuery.asp within Alarm and Event, the following error message might appear:
Web.21 Server is not available
Hardware configuration consists of the following:
Web.21 Server on machine A, using ADSA server on B, that contains one datasource that points to Alarm and Event database on machine C, and InfoPlus.21 on machine D. | Solution: The error message originates within a setting in Internet Information Service (IIS).
Goto: Start | Settings | Control Panel | Administrative Tools | Computer Management | Services and Applications | Internet Information Service (IIS)
In IIS, go to Default Web Site | AlarmEvent
On the Virtual directory tab, click on the Configuration button.
Go to the Options tab and check Enable session state.
Keywords: web.21
available
alarm
event
References: None |
Problem Statement: Why is there a large indirects in the category called OTHER that appears in the project summary report? | Solution: Understanding the Project Summary Report
The PROJECT SUMMARY REPORT pulls its information from the CONTRACT SUMMARY REPORTS (for each contractor).
Then he noticed in the CONTRACT SUMMARY REPORT, the OTHER category had indirects. This OTHER category is pulled from the Field Indirects Summary report.
There are 3 places that a user can go into the system to get data into the Field Indirects Summary report:
Project | Construction Workforce | General Productivities and Wage Rates
Project | Contracts | Contractors
Project | Engineering Workforce | By Phase
(For more information see Understanding ICARUS Reports: page 20, page 39)
Understanding Indirect Costs
INDIRECT COSTS are Prime Contractor's items relating to warehousing are not calculated by the system.
These are assumed to be owner expensed items, not part of the capital package.
Other items in this category include security officials (e.g., guards at gates and to direct traffic), management of any laydown area, etc. These may be calculated off items that are generated like MATERIAL CONTROLS SUPERV. in the Field Office Construction Supervision report , SAFETY & MEDICAL in the Construction Management Report, etc.
The indirects are other items like secretarial, building maintenance, etc. These are covered as % expenses in the various engineering reports below the direct cost line. You will note OVERHEAD ITEMS toward the bottom of the DETAIL ENGINEERING REPORT. These percentages cover this last category of labor cost.
Keywords: indirects
OTHER
References: None |
Problem Statement: Which table does the Source of Quote go to in the Icarus access dbase? | Solution: The “Source of Quote” data is available in the B-table which is also referred to as the “DESIGN” relation in Icarus
Keywords: Source of Quote, Database, New source of quote, System Generated (SG)
References: Manual, Chapter 35.
In this case we use an Example1.accdb database. The source of quote field gets written in the B-table. On the PARAM column on the Tex Filter, please sort by Source of Quote. (Figure 1)
Figure 1. Sorting by Source of Quote
For each process equipment item there is an entry for the Cp Source Of Quote result variable. If the user has not specified a value then the system uses the value “SG - system generated” (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Source of Quote.
For detailed information please consult the release notes for V8.0 (New source of quote field). It explains how the
system determines the source of quote value for different input conditions. |
Problem Statement: When I opened my Aspen Icarus Project Manager (IPM) file in Aspen KBase, I received this FATAL error message:
FATAL> 'UO - 1 Contractor Set number is invalid or missing' | Solution: It is not possible to open an IPM file in Kbase.
In order to get your IPM file into Aspen Kbase, please perform the following steps:
1. Open the IPM file in IPM.
2. From the FILE menu, select File - Export to specs file.
3. A Save As dialog box will appear. Browse to an empty folder on your hard drive, type in the file name specs (with no quotes and no file extension), in the File Name box, and then click SAVE.
4. Exit out of IPM.
5. Launch Aspen Kbase.
6. Choose to create a NEW file, type in a project name and scenario name then select the button called IMPORT (don't select the OK button!!!).
7. Use the selection ICARUS 2000 v9-11, then click the OK button and browse to the location of where you saved the specs file so that it can be imported into Kbase.
8. Once you get to the file folder, then click the OK button. The specs file will begin importing the project data into Aspen Kbase.
Depending on how large the specs file is, it may take a while for the import to complete (especially if there is a lot of project level indexing).
Keywords: import, IPM, specs, FATAL, contractor set, invalid, missing
References: None |
Problem Statement: What could cause my extended tube length to be bigger than my shell length in my U-TUBE exchanger? | Solution: Check the number of tube passes. Typically you will see this because you will have 2 or more tube passes for your U-TUBE exchanger, thus the extended tube length will show bigger.
Keywords: tube length, extended tube length, shell, tube, length, extended
References: None |
Problem Statement: How do I fix a Visual fortran run-time error when I evaluate? | Solution: Many times, this problem occurs because there was a mistype on an item in the project.
When a dollar amount or manhour amount exceeds what our database can handle, we issue a Visual Fortran run-time error message.
Look at the error message carefully. The Visual Fortran run-time error will most likely provide the name of the file that it is crashing on (ex: SUMSRT.U000).
Tip: Take a look at all your item components after the error message is dismissed and see if you see any *** in the main project window. If you do see asterisks, then you know what the offending item is.
If you can't find what component it is crashing on, please send your project file (the .IZP file), zipped, to [email protected], for support to pin-point the cause of the crash.
Keywords: fortran, visual, run-time, runtime, SUMSRT.U000, asterisk
References: None |
Problem Statement: What is the design basis for a Horizontal Vessel Platform? | Solution: Horizontal Vessels gets a stairway if it is field fabricated (Diameter > 14.5') otherwise, a Ladder and Platform (42 width) are provided. An Open top always get ladder and platform.
Example:
For a horizontal vessel with 12' diameter and 40' length, the platform area is calculated as:
40'x3.5'=140sf and ladder with cage= 12ft
Keywords: ladder, platform, stairway
References: None |
Problem Statement: What is the definition of frame size in the compressor sizing data? I have noticed a frame size of 29M; does the M refer to a metric size that would be different in I-P compared to a metric project? | Solution: The M is not a unit. The 29M represents a frame number designation for a particular frame size. So it will not be different in I-P and metric projects.
Keywords: compressor, frame, size
References: None |
Problem Statement: I am using the Batch Agitated Enclosed Tank, and am wondering if the Piping and Instrumentation Drawing (P&ID) is correct. The Cont (Continuous) Agitated Enclosed Tank generates 4 instrumentation loops the Batch Agitated Enclosed Tank generates 47 instrumentation loops. How can this be correct? | Solution: Here is some important background information regarding P&IDs:
1. When you attach the volumetric model or a P&ID, you get Full Instrumentation by default.
2. If you do not choose to attach the graphical P&ID, the Internal Piping and Instrumentation Model is Standard Instrumentation by default.
3. In order to always get Full Instrumentation, you will have to change the Project Basis Instrumentation Piping and Instrument Design specification to Full so that even if you do not select to attach a graphical P&ID, you will get the fully instrumented internal model.
4. When you do this (change the Project Basis Instrumentation Piping and Instrument Design specification to Full), you get the same Instrumentation cost as when attaching a P&ID or a Volumetric model, but the internal model still only has 4 loops.
Why?
With the Batch Agitated Enclosed Tank model, depending if you attach the graphical P&ID or let the cost engine use the internal drawing model, the detail line items between the 2 choices (attaching a P&ID and not attaching a P&ID), will report out differently, but the cost results are exactly the same.
This can be confusing because by attaching the this P&ID (Drawing #668), the details will report 8 loops and 8 pipe lines. These are displayed on the graphical P&ID, as well as on page 112 of the P&ID documentation (v2006.5).
Effect of Solenoids and Process Variable for P&IDs and the Internal Model
On the graphical P&ID in the software, as well as in the P&ID documentation, we show the solenoids. We had to display the solenoids in the graphical P&ID, because you can only have 1 Process Variable (PV) on a loop for external models (P&IDs), but the internal model works differently (this code was written back in the early 80's). This is why you will see 8 loops and 8 pipe lines in the output details when you attach the graphical P&ID and what is seen in the P&ID documentation guide.
For the external (graphical) P&ID models, only 1 PV (Process Variable) can be defined for a single loop. This means the solenoids need to be separate from the loop if they are going to be shown graphically.
What we do for this internal model (when no graphical P&ID is attached), is:
1. We group the instrumentation from piping lines 1 & 2 together (which we refer to as LOOP 1).
2. LOOP 2 is calculated from piping line 7.
3. LOOP 3 is calculated from piping line 3.
4. LOOP 4 is calculated from piping line 5.
This is why you will only see 4 LOOPS in the output details when the internal model is used. The Icarus cost engine just reports it out differently based on whether you have attached the graphical P&ID or not. When the P&ID is attached, it will report out 8 piping lines and 8 instrumentation loops. When the internal model is used, only 4 instrumentation loops will be shown in the output details.
Now, you can enter the number of solenoids on the input form, but they will not show graphically on the P&ID. Since there are 3 solenoids on this drawing this adds 3 loops to the external models, so now we have 4+3 = 7 loops. The other additional loop is due to loop 5 which is another Process Variable (PV) that has to be separate for the graphical drawing.
All the solenoids and extra FT (loop 5) are included in the 4 loops for the internal model.
This same explanation applies to other graphical P&IDs and their respective internal models when solenoids are involved.
Keywords: loops, loop, instrumentation, batch, continuous, enclosed, tank, agitated
References: None |
Problem Statement: How do I turn on reporting assistant in Aspen Capital Cost Estimator? | Solution: When starting up Aspen Capital Cost Estimator (ACCE), there is an Options window that allows user choose to use Aspen Process Economic Analyzer (APEA) in ACCE environment. If you select ?Aspen Process Economic Analyzer? as shown in the first screenshot, you will be able to use reporting assistant under Tools menu and Run menu. If you do not see the Options window when starting up ACCE, go to Tools | Options | Preferences | General tab, and check ?Display Options Choice Dialog on Aspen Capital Cost Estimator Startup. You should then see the Option window when starting up ACCE next time.
Keywords: Reporting assistant
References: None |
Problem Statement: I am getting a FATAL> 'Q1 - 1' INVALID CONTRACT NUMBER. I have never seen this before. What could be causing the problem? | Solution: This FATAL message, especially the Q-1 part, tells us that there is not really a problem with the Project Basis Contractors, but possibly with a Custom file, such as a Custom Code of Account file, or possibly with another portion of the estimate. It is extremely difficult to tell what part of the project could be causing the problem without AspenTech Support looking at the project estimate.
Please send your project (the .izp file, zipped please) to [email protected] for support to determine and fix the problem.
Keywords: FATAL, invalid, contract, number, Q-1, Q - 1, Q1
References: None |
Problem Statement: How does material and man-hour indexing work when multiple levels (project, area, and component) are specified? | Solution: Indexing (at the project and are level) and material/man-hour % adjustments (at the component level) work in the following way:
1. Indexing at the area level takes precedence over an index at that project level.
For example, if the project level index is set at 120% and an area level index is set at 150% for a particular code of account, 150% of the base material cost or number of man-hours will be used for that area.
2. Material/man-hour % adjustments compound project/area indices.
For example, if the project level index is set at 120%, an area level index is set at 150%, and the material/man-hour % adjustment is set at 200%, 300% of the system base material cost will be used for that component.
The idea is that a general rule is set at the project level.
An alternate rule can be set for a specific area (more rigorous design, different environment, etc.).
At the component level, the material/man-hour adjustment compares this particular component to a typical one (as defined by the project/area level index).
For example, if a component within an area will be more expensive because of an expedite charge, its basic design is governed by the project/area level index. However, it will be a certain percentage more expensive than a typical component within that area.
Keywords: index
indices
material
man-hour
adjustment
References: None |
Problem Statement: For my SS Above Grade or Buried piping component, the pipe sandblast specification does not work. | Solution: The sandblast specification only applies to CS pipe. Therefore it will not be implemented for any other pipe materials. As a workaround you can use the piping plant bulk component for any straight run piping and specify the sandblast area in the surface preparation area as shown in the screenshot.
Â
Keywords: Sandblast, CS, SS, Piping
References: None |
Problem Statement: There is a very large increase in material cost for cable tray pricing between v2004 and v2004.2. Is this a mistake or a fix in the calculations? | Solution: We had a problem with an Incorrect Algorithm for CABLE TRAY PRICING FOR AL, GALV, SS AND FIBERGLASS (and LADDER TYPE CABLE TRAY PRICING) reported a while back (before v2004), and it was fixed in 2004.2.
We got new pricing for cable trays and added a rung spacing option in plant bulk cable tray.
The cost and manhours are completely revised (as of July 2005), which can now be seen in the v2004.2 release of the Icarus software.
Keywords: cable tray, pricing, cost, galv, galvanized, ladder
References: None |
Problem Statement: After installing Aspen ICARUS KBASE, how do you know if the product actually works? How is one to know if the installation actually completed correctly and the product functions as it should?
Below are some of the basic tests to test the Aspen ICARUS KBASE for a correct installation. | Solution: Here are some things to look at in Aspen ICARUS KBASE as a test for correct installation:
Start the Aspen ICARUS KBASE software from the START | PROGRAMS | ASPENTECH directory.
The opening Dialog box asks if you wish to use either Aspen Decision Analyzer or Aspen ICARUS Process Evaluator with the Aspen Kbase environment. Choose one of those options, and click the OK button.
Open one of the sample projects from the palette on the right hand side. Let's choose New Expansion P5.
Next, we want to add in test component. To do this, right click on the first AREA called FEED (on the LEFT MOST windows pane) and select: ADD PROJECT COMPONENT. Type in a name for the component, let's choose PUMP.
Then, double-click on Process Equipment, then double-click on PUMPS, then double-click on Pump-Centrifugal, then double-click on Standard ANSI single stage pump.
Fill in the red box called FLOWRATE with 1000 GPM. Then click the APPLY button on the top of the form.
Next, from the top of the form, select the EVALUATE button. This process will evaluate only the pump and produce a Crystal reports of that one item. To close out of this report, click the lower of the 2 X's in the upper right hand corner of the IPE software application window.
To save the spec form for the pump, select the OK button at the top of the spec form.
Next, we want to evaluate the entire project.
Click on RUN | Evaluate Project. Click OK to Evaluate all items. If any SCAN messages appear, just click the CONTINUE button. This is OK.
After the Evaluation is finished, the CAP_REP.CCP file should automatically appear on screen, in the ICARUS Editor. You may want to print a section of this report to test printing capabilities. To exit out of the ICARUS Reporter, just select FILE | EXIT from the ICARUS Editor main menu.
There may be a window still left open from the Evaluation, if you see a Capital Cost Errors window, this window lists any problems or warnings with regard to the project file. This window can be closed, using the X in the window. If this window ever appears with a project that you are working on, you may want to copy and paste the contents of this dialog box into a Word document and investigate all of the items in the report, just to make sure that all errors are fixed.
Then, we want to View one of the Interactive reports that use the new Aspen ICARUS Reporter. To do this, click on VIEW | CAPITAL COSTS VIEW. Select the radio button next to the Interactive Reports (On-Screen, .html, .xls). Then click OK.
Select a report to run from the standard reports, such as the Capital Cost reports | Project Summaries | Account Basis, then click the RUN REPORT button.
The report will appear on screen, in a Crystal Reports format called Overall Account Summary (Account Basis). Scroll through the pages using the blue right arrow at the top of the menu. This should work completely.
Try printing out the report: click the printer icon on the main menu and click the OK button to send it to the printer. You will notice that there is a blank page that prints between each page of the report, this is normal because of how Crystal reports prints its reports. Once printed, you can close out of the Aspen ICARUS Reporter, but clicking the X in the Aspen ICARUS Reporter dialog box.
Then, we want to View the Investment Analysis reports. To do this, click on VIEW | INVESTMENT ANALYSIS VIEW. You should now see the Executive Summary. To close out of this report, click on the lower of the 2 X's in the upper right hand corner of the IPE software application window.
To see the Process Flow Diagram, click on the VIEW menu, and select Process Flow Diagram. In the middle section of the IPE screen, you should now see the process flow diagram layout. If you click the + magnifier button on the top tool bar, you will be able to ZOOM in on the items in the process flow diagram layout. To close out of the Process Flow Diagram, click on the X in the Aspen ICARUS Reporter dialog box.
That's it! If you experience any problems with your test for a correct installation, please take print screens of all error messages, and send them in an e-mail to [email protected].
Keywords: test
correct
installation
References: None |
Problem Statement: We need to install our Aspen Icarus 2004.2 (aspenONE 2004 Update 2) software.
However, we are receiving only one copy of the DVD's....is there a possibility to extract just the necessary Aspen Icarus files out of the DVD set to put on our server for our other sites to install? We don't want to have to copy over other products that we do not use. | Solution: Installation of the aspenONE software requires Admin privileges to install. Full rights and permissions are required to both the hard drive and the registry.
Aspen Icarus Software required
1. All the Aspen Icarus software is located on DVD #6.
The files and folders required are the following:
x:\ (root of DVD #6) all files are required
x:\aspenone20042dvd6\
Aspen Icarus 2004.2.msi
Aspen SLM Client Tools.msi
x:\aspenone20042dvd6\Aspen Icarus 2004.2
entire folder
x:\browser
entire folder
2. The SLM tools are located on the Administration DVD.
You need all the files and folders on this DVD.
After copying the files needed, make sure that your users actually run setup.exe, not the Aspen ICARUS 2004.msi file.
Keywords: installation, icarus, kbase, 2004.2
References: None |
Problem Statement: I have some Unit Cost Library Items in my project, and when I run the estimate, the dollar figures do not Show up in the Maxi Block report or in the details reports. I have dollar figures specified! | Solution: There are a few items to discuss here...
1. In versions 2004.0, 2004.0.3, and 2004.0.6, there was a bug with Unit Cost Library items not reporting out at all. This bug was fixed with v2004.2.
2. It is important to check what Code of Account is being used for the Unit Cost Library Item.
If using an Indirect Code of Account, dollar figures will NOT be reported in the Maxi Block report (as those costs are only Direct Costs).
If using a Direct Code of Account (such as Piping, Equipment, etc.), the dollar figure will be reported in the Maxi Block and in the Line item Details report.
3. If using an Indirect Code of Account, the only place to find the costs that were specified, is in the ?INDIRECTS AND ENGINEERING COST BREAKDOWN? report.
Keywords: unit cost, pipeline, indirect, indirects
References: None |
Problem Statement: How do I change the default project location in the new release? | Solution: With the new release, you can change the default location and/or you may add other project directories.
To specify a new default directory location other than the default directory (c:\Program Files\Aspen Tech\Aspen ICARUS x.x\Data\Archives_XXX - where XXX is your specific Aspen ICARUS product) or to add other project directories, simply:
Select TOOLS |OPTIONS | PREFERENCES | Location Tab
Under the Alternate Project Directories
click the ADD... button
Navigate to additional project location directory
Click OK
Add other directories if desired
Click APPLY to apply changes
Note: There is a limitation of 9 total project locations (1 default project location and 8 alternate directories).
Keywords: default projects
project location
project directory
server
share
directory
dir
new release
References: None |
Problem Statement: Project Explorer will not appear even when it is checked in View | Project Explorer. How can I get it to reappear? | Solution: Occasionally Project Explorer will not be visible even though it is checked in View | Project Explorer. If this occurs, go to:
Tools | Options | Preferences (General)
and uncheck Save Windows States
Then exit Aspen Capital Cost Estimator (ACCE). Once you have exited, start ACCE again. When you open a project now, Project Explorer should be available.
Lastly, go again to:
Tools | Options | Preferences (General)
and check Save Windows States.
The Project Explorer window should appear in any project you open.
Keywords: Project Explorer, Project, Explorer, visible
References: None |
Problem Statement: This knowledge base article explains why using the Purge command to delete Aspen Audit and Compliance data from an Oracle database will not decrease the database size after the purge operation has completed. | Solution: By deleting the data through the Purge command the records have simply been removed from the various indexes and tables. Rebuilding all of the indexes will optimize the new layout but even then the size allocated to the database will remain the same. Once the Purge command has been run to remove the Aspen Audit and Compliance data an Oracle database administrator (DBA) needs to shrink the database in order for the size to decrease.
Keywords: None
References: None |
Problem Statement: How to create and use templates in Aspen Capital Cost Estimator and Aspen Process Economic Analyzer. | Solution: The attached presentation guides you through the use of templates in Aspen Capital Cost Estimator (ACCE) and Aspen Process Economic Analyzer (APEA). It discusses the sequence and use of creating the templates, either to be used in the Economic Evaluation product it was created in (an ACCE template in ACCE), or how to create a template in one Economic Evaluation product and use it in another (i.e. created in ACCE but use in APEA).
Keywords: template, templates, ACCE, APEA
References: None |
Problem Statement: How does Icarus define the Standard Gas Flow Rate for the box furnace? | Solution: The standard gas flow refers to the flow rate at the inlet under standard conditions, not at design conditions
Keywords: gas flow, flow rate, gas, flow
References: None |
Problem Statement: How is Pipe fabricated within the Aspen Economic Evaluation? | Solution: In the Aspen Icarus
Keywords: fabrication methodology, piping, pipe fab
References: , at the end of the chapter on Pipe (Chapter 18), there are three flowcharts. These flow charts describe how pipe is fabricated.
1. In the first flowchart, titled 'Remote & Field Shop Piping for Various Materials', there are three fabrication paths for the various pipe materials. Starting at the upper right:
a. Note that all plastic pipe spool pieces are field shop fabricated (regardless of the setting selected for REMOTE/FIELD fab for pipe in the design basis).
b. Lined pipe is assumed to be cut to length, the flanges welded onto the pipe. ELs, TEES, REs, etc. by the vendor, then lined at the vendor and shipped to the job site. You will not see the flanges called out on the pipe or fittings, but you will see the bolt-ups (see information on Line Steel Pipe in chapter 18).
c. All other pipe is either fabricated in the remote shop or in the field shop. The shop procedures are identical, but the productivity of the remote shop is 120% of the default productivity for the selected country basis and the pay scale is lower. The details generated by the field shop operations (for all systems except Questimate- summary data only), are the same in the remote shop. The remote shop gets additional cost for fabricator General and Administration (G&A) and profit.
2. The second flowchart, titled 'Remote Shop Piping Procedures', indicates that there are three different fabrication paths for Fittings, Pipe, and Valves. Starting at the top left:
a. All fittings are purchased by the pipe spool fabricator.
b. Some pipe is purchased by the fabricator (10 FEET per fitting) and the remaining pipe is purchased into the field as random loose pipe in 20 (up to 1.5 INCH) or 30 FEET lengths. The pipe bought into the shop is cut to produce enough ends to weld each fitting onto the pipe (if there is enough pipe, then the model generates 20 FEET long spools with a fitting on each end). Each end that is to be welded is beveled, then welded to a fitting. Then you get weld X-ray, stress relieving, further testing, etc. The fabricated spool pieces are then shipped into the field and erected along with any remaining straight run pipe and all the valves and instrument items that are installed by pipers (e.g., control valves, orifice unions and plates, etc.). c . All valves are purchased directly into the field and erected. Finally, there are enough bolt-ups to install all flanged items and enough welds to construct a continuous run of pipe. Then there is field X-ray, stress relieving, etc., just as in the shop.
Pipe hydrostatic testing is done on an area-by-area basis (in Aspen Icarus Project Manager and Questimate, there is only one area) after installing all pipe. This is cost accounted into COA 306 PIPING SYSTEM TESTING. The man-hours of testing are driven by the amount and complexity of the pipe according to the following equations: MHRS = 0.85*[(A/130)+(B*0.15)], where
A = sum (DIAMETER * LENGTH) for all pipe in the area
B = K+1*(RE+TH+SP)+2*VAL+3*EL+4*TE, where
K = 4 (standard pipe) or 20 (jacketed/lined pipe).
In the above formula, RE, TH, SP, VAL, EL and TE represent the numbers of reducers, threadolets, screwed plugs, valves, elbows and tees respectively. |
Problem Statement: How can I see the queries that are used (and write my own reports) for the Icarus reports? | Solution: The following discusses how to figure out which database query is used in an Icarus reporter report.
Step 1)
The queries for all reports are found in the reports.mdb file in an Aspen Icarus project.
To look at this file and open it in access you need to locate an uncompressed copy. To do this, first open a scenario in the Aspen Icarus program; now switch to windows explorer, then navigate to the folder where you installed your AspenTech software, usually under the Program Files folder. (For example C:\Program Files\AspenTech) In this folder, open the Aspen Icarus XXXX\ic_cache\Projects folder (the XXXX is the release version).
There should be a folder with the same name as the Project name of the scenario that is open, open this folder and you should find the report.mdb; if you have MS Access you can open this by double clicking, otherwise copy this to a machine that does have MS Access.
There are two major report types - Standard and Excel which work differently.
Step 2 Part A)
To determine the query being used in a Standard report, open the report that you are interested in (For example Project Summary-Account Summary). Move the mouse to hover over one of the fields showing data that is part of the query you are interested in, a popup should show that actually gives you the field name for this piece of data (IE something like 0_TAQ_AcctSummary.Description). The beginning (before the .) is the query name(IE 0_TAQ_Acct Summary). See below on how to find it in the reports.mdb.
Step 2-Part B)
To determine the query being used in an Excel report, open the report that you are interested in (For example, Item Details excel report. First, go to the Menu Tools - Options and go to the Calculation Tab. Locate the Workbook options section - and check the Accept labels in functions option. Locate the cell that contains the header for the table part of the report (Not the title block information, just above the first row of data, it's usually yellow) (IE Component/Source below).
In any cell in the report, create a formula that references this cell(IE =A6). Select this cell with the formula and go to the menu Insert - Name - Apply. Select all the items in the Apply Names list(Unfortunately this must be done one at a time - often you can select just the ones starting wth _0_). This should change your formula to be =QueryName
IE(=_0_TAQ_TDC_ItemSumry). The Query name in the database is this name with the leading _ stripped off (IE 0_TAQ_TDC_ItemSumry)
Step 3)
Once you have the query name from either of the Step 2's above. Open the reports.mdb file located in Step 1 above, using ?Icarus? as the password. There is a table called Stored Queries in this table, open it and find the row with the query name in the Name column. The SQL used for the query is stored in the SQLStr column, and can be cut and pasted into an Access query if needed.
In our example: you get:
SELECT ( & [QSum]![ACCOUNT] & ) & [QSum]![QSUMCOADES] AS Account, [QSum]![COA] & - & [QSum]![COADES] AS [COA Description], QSum.ITEMDES AS Item, Sum(QSum.KEYQUANT) AS [Key Qty], QSum.KEYUNITS AS [Key Units], Sum(IIf([QSum]![ICACOA] In (105,107,306,307) Or [QSum]![KEYUNITS]=[QSum]![UNITS] Or [QSum]![DUPQTY]=1 Or ([QSum]![QUANT]-[QSum]![KEYQUANT]<=0 And [QSum]![QSUMCOA]<>5000),Null,[QSum]![QUANT])) AS [Other Qty], IIf([QSum]![ICACOA] In (105,107,306,307) Or [QSum]![DUPQTY]=1 Or [QSum]![UNITS]=[QSum]![KEYUNITS],Null,[QSum]![UNITS]) AS [Other Units], IIf(Sum([QSum]![KEYQUANT])<>0,Sum([QSum]![HOURS])/Sum([QSum]![KEYQUANT]),IIf(Sum([QSum]![QUANT])<>0,Sum([QSum]![HOURS])/Sum([QSum]![QUANT]),Null)) AS [Unit MH], IIf(Sum([QSum]![HOURS])=0,Null,Sum([QSum]![HOURS])) AS MH, IIf(Sum([QSum]![LCOST])=0,Null,Sum([QSum]![LCOST])) AS Labor, IIf(Sum([QSum]![KEYQUANT])<>0,Sum([QSum]![MCOST])/Sum([QSum]![KEYQUANT]),IIf(Sum([QSum]![QUANT])<>0,Sum([QSum]![MCOST])/Sum([QSum]![QUANT]),Null)) AS [Unit Matl], IIf(Sum([QSum]![MCOST])=0,Null,Sum([QSum]![MCOST])) AS Matl, Sum(QSum.TOTCOST) AS Total, IIf([QSum]![CODEGROUP]=100,Null,[QSum]![MATL]) AS [Mat Sym], Sum(IIf([QSum]![WGT]=0,Null,[QSum]![WGT])) AS Weight, QSum.WUNIT AS [W-Unit]
FROM QSum
GROUP BY ( & [QSum]![ACCOUNT] & ) & [QSum]![QSUMCOADES], [QSum]![COA] & - & [QSum]![COADES], QSum.ITEMDES, QSum.KEYUNITS, IIf([QSum]![ICACOA] In (105,107,306,307) Or [QSum]![DUPQTY]=1 Or [QSum]![UNITS]=[QSum]![KEYUNITS],Null,[QSum]![UNITS]), IIf([QSum]![CODEGROUP]=100,Null,[QSum]![MATL]), QSum.WUNIT, QSum.ACCOUNT
HAVING (((Sum(QSum.TOTCOST))<>0) AND ((QSum.ACCOUNT)<10));
Keywords: queries, query, report
References: None |
Problem Statement: What files are included in the IZP and SZP files? | Solution: The .izp file contains all the project's data, the .szp contains all the database files and reports.
The .izp file is the most important file to the project, since it contains all the project's data. The .szp file is updated with newer report files, database files, etc. It is not necessary to have this file in order to open a project, as it can be re-created with an estimate run.
Keywords: izp, szp
References: None |
Problem Statement: After upgrading to Oracle 9i, queries against A&E give error ora-12714: invalid national character set specified. | Solution: The error ORA-12714 invalid national character set specified appears because only UTF8 and AL16UTF16 are allowed to be used as the national character set.
The reason for this error after an upgrade is that the Oracle character set changed in version 9i. Therefore, if a user had Alarm and Event running on an earlier version, then performed an upgrade to Oracle 9i without reimporting the databases/schemas, they will likely have data still referring to character sets that are no longer supported. To resolve the problem, it is best to export the original tables, then drop them from the Oracle 9i installation so they can be reimported. During the import, Oracle adjusts the database to the new unicode character formats.
Keywords: in situ upgrade
nchar character set
oracle9i database migration
References: None |
Problem Statement: The Aspen Alarm & Event Query page is a web-based application, accessible within the Aspen Web.21 home page, which allows users to retrieve information stored in the Aspen Alarm & Event database. Since such information may be of a sensitive nature, some customers may wish to prevent unauthorized users from retrieving this information. This knowledge base article describes how to restrict users' access to the Aspen Alarm & Event Query page based on Aspen Framework role membership. | Solution: The best way to prevent unauthorized users from accessing the Aspen Alarm & Event data through the Aspen Alarm & Event Query page is to only allow privileged users to view the Aspen Alarm & Event Query page within Aspen Web.21. This can be accomplished by implementing the standard Aspen Web.21 security function called
AllowPageTo()
within the EventQuery.asp page. The EventQuery.asp page is located in
C:\inetpub\wwwroot\AspenTech\AlarmEvent
At the top of the EventQuery.asp page, add the two following lines (outlined in red below):
Note: This function should be called at the top of the asp page.
No other instruction may precede this call.
In this example the 'AAEViewerRole' and 'SomeOtherRole' are names of Aspen Framework roles for which access to the Aspen Alarm & Event page is to be granted.
The users who are not authorized to view the EventQuery.asp page will subsequently receive the access denied page (as shown below) when they attempt to access the Aspen Alarm & Event link on the Web.21 home page.
Keywords: Restrict
Access
Denied
Deny
Secured
Security
Privileges
References: None |
Problem Statement: Why would some equipment items (eg. pumps and heaters) generate a Component Design Datasheet report? I do see that they are shown in the General Design Data report. Why would some of these equipment items be missing? | Solution: This is because Design Data Sheets are only generated for Icarus-designed items.
Certain equipment items are Icarus-catalogued items and are considered to be purchased as per manufacturer's specs.
Keywords: design data sheet, missing, pump, heater, air cooler
References: None |
Problem Statement: I don't see a model in the Aspen Icarus software to model a Hydrocracker.
My item is very high temperature and pressure, but when trying to use a reactor, all I get are errors that say that the reactor cannot handle high temperatures and pressures.
What model should I choose that would best suit my needs? | Solution: Try using a Single Diameter Packed Tower. This model will allow you input high temperatures and pressures. Just be aware that depending on your temperature and pressure specification, the Aspen Icarus software may not be able to model your Hydrocracker.
You might see an error such as this, if we cannot calculate the base material thickness due to the high temperature and pressures:
ERROR> 'TW - X' THICKNESS OF x.x IS OUTSIDE RANGE OF SYSTEM DATA
If this happens, try directly specifying a base material thickness that is lower than the error message. (By default, the base material thickness includes the corrosion allowance).
Keywords: hydrocracker
References: None |
Problem Statement: In Economic Evaluator V7.3 products you can now run multiple processes simulaneously (inclucing Costing Cases within Aspen Plus or Aspen HYSYS simulations). | Solution: In Economic Evaluator products prior to V7.3 (ie Aspen Capital Cost Estimator, Aspen In-Plant Cost Estimator, Aspen Process Economic Analyzer) you could only run one product version at a time. So if you wanted to open two Aspen Capital Cost Estimator files in V7.2 at the same time, you could only open one of the files. The second would not open. Starting with V7.3, you can have multiple version of a product open at the same time, so you could open both files (or more) and work on them at the same time.
Keywords: multiple files, multiple
References: None |
Problem Statement: When I loaded and ran the new version of my Aspen Icarus software, none of the drop down menus were populated with data. How do I fix this? | Solution: The most likely cause of the problem is with the user having a dual-monitor setup. The Icarus software should be run on the PRIMARY monitor to avoid the missing drop down menus....see cross referencedSolution 119459 link at the top of this page.
If a dual monitor is not being used, the most common cause of the problem is that the user's profile has become corrupted.
The way to fix a corrupt profile, is to have the IT administrator delete the user's login profile on the PC, and when the end-user logs back into the PC, the user's profile will be re-created.
When the user then runs the software, the drop down menus will work.
If this does not work, there is a problem with the initial installation of the software.
Uninstall the software, then have the end-user log in (with local admin rights), and reinstall the software. Have the end-user run the software to make sure that the drop down menus work.
Keywords: drop
menu
down
References: None |
Problem Statement: There are times when you may want to get the complete cost of an area in a project, but not include all the other areas. This | Solution: Document covers get the total cost for one area in a multi-area project.
Solution
Create or Open a project in Aspen KBase.
In the Project View Tab, right-click on MAIN PROJECT, and select Add Report Group.
To rename the report group just added, right-click on the newly added report group and select Rename Report Group.
Enter in a title for the new report group.
Then, either add in new Areas to this report group, or drag and drop other areas from the project into this new Report Group.
By doing this, you will be able to go into the output report and see the breakout.
Keywords: report group
area
References: None |
Problem Statement: The problem is that Aspen Alarm and Event adapter is generating large log files on the server node. The problem is that the ERROR.LOG file for the Event Generator is getting larger and larger. When the space limit on the hard drive is reached then the log file needs to get deleted. Unfortunately, on a Web.21 server, if this is not deleted and the log file reaches 6.4 GB then a reboot of the web.21 server is necessary.
The Alarm and Event adapter log file is filling up with messages on a daily basis. The messages are the following:
invoked from within # Compiled -- no source code available
error called a copy of a compiled script errorCode: PAIMQ {(2059, X'80B') Queue manager not available for connection.} ::mq MQ-API-13000-MQRC_Q_MGR_NOT_AVAILABLE qm_utils.c 844 {1048717570 -1337968655} {} 03/26/2003 23:26:57 W. Europe Standard Time ERROR Middleware - Handling error for queue manager: QM_sesotora01 action: qmreconnect affecting queue types: serviceQueue dataQueue replyQueue stream brokerControlQueue dataStream error type: qmconnectionlost errorInfo: (2059, X'80B') Queue manager not available for connection.
invoked from within # Compiled -- no source code available
error called a copy of a compiled script errorCode: PAIMQ {(2059, X'80B') Queue manager not available for connection.} ::mq MQ-API-13000-MQRC_Q_MGR_NOT_AVAILABLE qm_utils.c 844 {1048717617 -1337921171} {} 03/26/2003 23:27:45 W. Europe Standard Time ERROR Middleware - Handling error for queue manager: QM_sesotora01 action: qmreconnect affecting queue types: serviceQueue dataQueue replyQueue stream brokerControlQueue dataStream error type: qmconnectionlost errorInfo: (2059, X'80B') Queue manager not available for connection.
What needs to be done to remove these error messages from the log file? | Solution: Check and increase the depth of the quere file. The event adapter queue depth is not adequate and should be extended to match the database adapter queue at 600000. This recommendation is also discussed in the manual for both the event and database adapter queues. It seems very plausible the log excerpt sent before about an MQseries api error message in the event error file about the event queue being full is indeed what might be happening periodically causing the Alarm and Event queue to buffer on the nodes where the event adapter is located.
Below is some informnation from the Alarm and Event manual installation manual (version 4.1.2):
Note: When the database adapter queue becomes full due to a system delay, interruption, or message queue backlog in the database adapter, messages begin to overflow into the MQ dead letter queue for storage. Once placed in this queue, messages remain there until they are reprocessed. The default dead letter queue depth assumed at installation is 15,000 messages. Also see Appendix A, Installing IBM MQSeries.
Event messages do not display in viewer or Backup observed in database adapter queue Indicates a delay in event message delivery to the secure data repository, typically due to a backlog in the database adapter queue. This situation may be due to:
Inadequate database adapter queue depth
Bursts of event messages to the Aspen Alarm and Event system Network or middleware problems
Ensure that the database adapter queue depth is set appropriately to allow for message bursts and potential outage periods. Use MQ Explorer to check this value and increase or decrease the value as needed. Ensure that your hardware configuration can accommodate any queue depth increase. Also see Software Requirements in Chapter 2, Overview, for information on hardware, software and queue depth recommendations.
On page 7, it states the following:
On the Extended tab:
= Set Maximum Queue Depth to 600,000.
= Set Shareability to Shared.
= Set Default Input Open Option to Shared
Keywords:
References: None |
Problem Statement: The Alarm & Event API documentation describes each object which can be used in a custom program to log event messages to the Alarm & Event database. However, the API documentation does not provide code examples for writing a program. This knowledgebase article provides a working Visual Basic example of a program which logs event messages to the Alarm & Event database. | Solution: In order to use the objects contained within the Alarm & Event API, a reference to the Aspen Alarm & Event Automation Interface must be added to the Visual Basic project. To add the reference to the Alarm & Event Automation Interface:
1. Open Visual Basic.
2. Open a new Visual Basic project.
3. Select
Keywords:
References: s from the Project menu.
4. Select Aspen Alarm & Event Application Interface. Make sure that the box on the left is checked.
5. Click OK. The Aspen Alarm and Event Automation Interface objects can now be accessed.
6. To see the individual objects, methods, events, enumerations, and types, select the Object Browser (F2).
This code example makes use of 2 objects, the Event object and the Sender object. The Event object is used to create a generic event which can then be sent to the Alarm & Event database using the Sender object.
'.........................
' This part of the code creates an event message using the Event object. Setting the message property ' for an event is the minimum amount of information needed to create an event.
Set CustEvent = CreateObject(Aspen.AlarmEvent.Event)
CustEvent.Message = This came from a custom program!
' All other properties for the Event object are optional. Datasource and Severity are two optional properties ' which can be set if the default values are not acceptable. A full list of the other event properties which ' can be set can be found in the Alarm & Event API online help documentation.
CustEvent.DataSource = HKDESK
CustEvent.Severity = 1000
' The Send property of the Sender object is used to send the event message (CustEvent) created in the ' previous step
Set SendIT = CreateObject(Aspen.AlarmEvent.Sender)
SendIT.Send CustEvent
'...........................
The attached zip file contains an Excel sheet which contains the code listed above. This code can be found by opening Excel, going to Tools | Macro | Visual Basic Editor. The attached zip file also contains the Alarm & Event API documentation distributed with v2004. The API documentation was not available for previous releases. The v2004 documentation should apply to the previous releases. |
Problem Statement: When upgrading Alarm and Event from version 4.1.2 to version 5.0 or 6.0, in some circumstances the upgrade script will not completely convert all table headings over to the new format. A new script has to be run to update the data type for the timestamp_usecs column in the event_header table.
This problem occurs when upgrading a 4.1.1 database. The Aspen Database Wizard for v5.0.1 expects the database to be version 4.1.2. There was an omission in the 4.1 Service Pack 2 manual and release notes that should have instructed the customer to run the v4.1.2 Aspen Database Wizard to upgrade their database to v4.1.2. Upgrade to 4.1.2 prepares the Alarm and Event database for a successful upgrade to v5.0.1. | Solution: To correct the issue, please connect to your Alarm and Event database as an administrator and run the following SQL query. Open the attached SQL script in the SQL Query Analyzer and execute the script. This will update the data type for the timestamp_usecs column in the event_header table.
USE AlarmEvent
GO
ALTER TABLE [AlarmEvent].[aspenAE].[EVENT_HEADER] ALTER COLUMN TIMESTAMP_USECS INT NULL
GO
Keywords: InfoPlus.21
Alarm and Event
References: None |
Problem Statement: How is Escalation calculated for Icarus products? I don't understand what the Base Index numbers are or how to use the Escalation Indices. | Solution: Indexing/Escalation
The ever-changing effects of local and world economics, particularly upon the cost of materials and manpower, may be effectively reduced in complexity for project estimating purposes through indexed costs. The Indexing/Escalation provides the means for indexing cost variation as they are influenced by:
Escalation; time-dependent cost variations, characterized by indices on the X1 ESCN card for four major cost categories
General materials,
Construction manpower,
Design engineering,
Construction management.
Material cost adjustments; reflecting procurement policies specific to the project (supplier, volume, discount, delivery, special finishes, etc.), characterized by an index on the X2 material card (X2 card) for each item listed in the system code of accounts.
Man-hour adjustments; reflecting various construction conditions extent on the project, characterized by an index on the X3 MHRS card (X3 card) for each item listed in the system code of accounts.
GENERAL DISCUSSION - ESCALATION
The user must choose one of 2 ways of developing the value of escalation, either (a) escalation to be included in reported costs (SPREAD), or (b) escalation to e segregated from costs and accumulated (ACCUM) for summary reporting, and with costs to be reported at a user-defined base condition.
For purposes of developing escalated costs, three sets of indices are defined:
System Base Indices (SBI): four System-defined category indices; these represent costs inherent to the particular version of the system.
User Base Indices (UBI): four user-entered category indices; to reference user-entered cost values and adjust all system-developed costs from the System Base (SBI).
Escalation Indices (EI): four user-entered category indices; to escalate all costs from the user base to some other point in time.
The system will escalate costs in the following manner:
User-entered costs (e.g., supplemental cost items, rates, cost-knowns) will be considered to be based upon the time frame represented by the appropriate User Base Index; user-entered costs will be escalated by the ratio of the Escalation Index to the User Base Index (EI/UBI).
System-developed costs (cost models) will be evaluated using costs and rates inherent to the System as represented by the System Base Index; System-developed costs will be escalated in two steps for reporting purposes:
First, by adjusting from the System base to the user base by the ratio UBI/SBI; thereby, providing a cost base for ACCUM reporting.
Second, by escalating the adjusted cost from the user base by the ratio EI/UBI; thereby, providing a cost value to be accumulated for ACCUM reporting and also the escalated cost for SPREAD reporting.
The system will report escalation effects wither by the ACCUM or SPREAD method. It is important that under ACCUM reporting, all costs will be presented as adjusted to the user base of costs and the effect of escalation will be accumulated for summary reporting. For SPREAD reporting, all costs are escalated and reported as escalated based upon the user's index values.
SYSTEM BASE INDICES
The numeric value of the System Base Index for each category is part of the System and represents the System base cost for that category. In the Icarus
Keywords: escalation
indices
indices
user base index
References: Manual (Chapter 33, page 33-3), lists the current and prior System Base Index values for each country base. The system base indices are revised from time to time to properly reflect the then-current cost-modeling base of that particular version of the System. Note that the current value for each category is listed in that table s the default value for each User Base Index.
USER BASE INDICES
The user may wish to prepare the estimate in reference to a time frame which is different from that of the then-current system base. To accomplish this, the user would define a set of User Base Indices. The System would then adjust all the System-development costs to the user base condition by the ratio of the User Base Index to the System Base Index (UBI/SBI).
It is important that user-entered costs (e.g., estimate values, quotations, book values) and man-hour rates be evaluated by the user to correspond to the time frame referenced by the user's values of the UBI as the System considers such user costs to be at the user base condition.
Note that in the absence of user-entered UBI values, the System will revert to a user base that is identical with that defined by the System Base Indices. Escalation is always determined relative to the user base condition.
ECALATION INDICES
The user-entered value of an Escalation Index for a category represents a user-defined time frame, usually the 50% expended point. The System will compare the user-entered Escalation Index (EI) to the User Base Index (UBI) and apply the ratio (EI/UBI) to all costs in that category (see example below).
EXAMPLES OF ESCALATION
A user may elect to escalate by specifying an index value for each of the four categories to be escalated.
For this and successive examples, we will assume:
The Material Index for the version of the system being used is tabulated at 1200 (check Icarus Reference Manual (Chapter 33, page 33-3), for the value tabulated for the current version of the System.
The value for a System-developed cost is 10000 and symbolized by S=10000.
The value for a user-entered cost is 2000 and symbolized by C=2000.
The materials category is expected to escalate with the time at 10% per year compounded for 2 years from the time of the System base. The overall escalation is then 1.10 x 1.10 = 1.21 (or a 21% increase).
Example 1
For this illustration, suppose the User Base Index is not provided. Then, the entire cost base for this category is that defined by the System. Escalation would be figured using indices as follows:
UBI = SBI = 1200, and
UBI/SBI = 1.00
EI/UBI = 1.21
EI = 1200 x 1.21 = 1452
If the escalation method is SPREAD, both the System-developed cost and user-entered costs would be reported as escalated values
S: 10000 x 1.21 = 12100
C: 2000 x 1.21 = 2420
If the escalation method is ACCUM, the System-developed cost and user-entered costs would be reported at the UBI:
S: 10000
C: 2000
and the escalation portion of each would be accumulated for summary reporting:
ESC (S): 10000 x .21 = 2100
ESC (C): 2000 x .21 = 420
Example 2
For this example, suppose the User Base Index is entered as 1260. Then the entire cost base for this category is that condition defined by the user value of the cost index. Cost reporting would be figured using the following indices:
SBI = 1200
UBI - 1260 (a 10% escalation increase)
EI = 1452
UBI/SBI = 1.05
EI/SBI = 1.21
EI/UBI = 1.152
Now, if the escalation method is SPREAD, the System-developed cost value would be adjusted to the User base and then escalated and reported as 12100:
S: 10000 x UBI/SBI x EI/UBI = 10000 x EI/SBI = 12100
The user-entered value would be considered at the user base condition and would be escalated and reported as 2304:
C: 2000 x EI/UBI = 2000 x 1.152 = 2304
However, if the escalation method is ACCUM, the following values would be reported:
S: 10000 x UBI/SBI = 10500
C: 2000
and the following would be escalation costs to be accumulated for summary reporting:
ESC (S): 10500 x 0.152 = 1600
ESC (C): 2000 x 0.152 = 304 |
Problem Statement: Some users face problems finding the result of pile quantities in the Item Estimate Report and would like to know how to add and change pile quantity in piling foundation for a storage tank.
This | Solution: Document describes how to add pile quantity for piling foundation.
Solution
Getting Pile to get Added Automatically
First, at the Area Civil level, you must specify that you do want piling developed (Area | Civil | Pile Requirement | Pile).
If you do not do this, then the system will never develop piling automatically, it will always develop normal spread footings.
Second, at the Project Civil level (Project | Design Basis | Civil & Steel specs), you should specify the soil conditions at the site. If the soil is very good (high bearing capacity), again piling will never be developed automatically. If the soil is very poor, then the system may develop piling. For example, try entering the poorest quality soil, and then add 4 tanks: 5,000 GALLON, 50,0000, 500,000 and 5,000,000. The first two tanks got piling, but the second two did not... they got SAND MAT FOUNDATIONS, a sand bed which bears the weight of the tank. If the system develops piling, then you will see the piling as an AREA expense immediately after the foundation.
How to add Pile Manually
If your conditions do not create the piling automatically, you can still add them manually.
1. One method is to access the Civil Installation Bulks for on a tank (click the Bulks & Adj button and select Civil). One way is starting with Aspen ICARUS 2000 V.7.0, there was a new field added for Number of piles. The system will develop the number of piles which you specify in that field.
2. Another way is to use Site Work, Pilings (Add components | Site Development | Piling) and add as many piles to the job as are required. It is very common in some locations to pile the whole site (thereby improving the quality of the soil) then put in the equipment. The way to do this in the system is to put all the piling in one area with the specification for the poor soil. Then add the equipment to different areas which now have good soil, due to the fact that pilings have been driven.
Keywords: pile, piling
References: None |
Problem Statement: When I evaluate my project, I see an Equipment Cost and a Direct Cost for each component. What is the difference? | Solution: The equipment cost is the cost of only the piece of equipment, and the direct cost includes the equipment, piping, civil, structural steel, instrumentation, electrical, insulation, and paint associated with the equipment. This includes both material and manhours
Keywords: equipment cost, direct cost
References: None |
Problem Statement: I don't know what version or build that I am running for my Aspen Icarus software. How can I find out this information? | Solution: There are 2 ways to find out the version and build numbers for your Aspen Icarus software:
1. You can go to the HELP - ABOUT menu from within your Aspen Icarus software, and it will tell you what version number, build number and built date you have installed.
Ex:
aspenONE 2004.0.3 (13.2.1.1678) - the build number is 1678
Built August 24, 2005
2. If you don't want to run the software to find this out, you can do the following:
Open Windows Explorer and change directories to: 'c:\Program Files\AspenTech\Aspen Icarus x.xx\Program\Sys'
Then look for a file called Version.txt, and open this file using Notepad.
The contents of the file will look something like this:
Version=13.2.1
Build Number=1678
Date=August 24, 2005
Suite=aspenONE
Release=2004.0.3
Keywords: version
build
help
References: None |
Problem Statement: Why do I get ball valves in my output report when I specify that I want a Globe valve? | Solution: Check your pipe diameters. The ICARUS software will generate a BALL VALVE with a line diameters of greater than 18, even if a Globe Valve is specified. This is because of the LARGE diameter of the pipe line specified. In the ICARUS Technology, Globe Valves are typically used for smaller diameter pipe, available up to 4 IN diameter [100MM].
If you look on page 21-21 of the ICARUS
Keywords: valve
globe
ball
References: Manual, you will see a chart that includes size ranges for system generated GLOBE, BALL and BUTTERFLY Valves.
Here, it documents the rules the system will use for the different types of valves and typical diameter ranges. Also, the system will automatically select your standard valve type according to the diameter of your pipe if you have set the design basis (either Project Level or Area level) under Instrumentation for CONTROL VALVE TYPE to STD.
You can see the defaults for the Standard Valve Type on page 21-21 under the Control Valve Options section.
Wordaround:
If the valves that the system generates do not meet your needs, then you will need to manually add the material and manhours for that valve. This would be the case for other VALVES as well, such as a VALVE that is General, Manual Operated Type.
Ex:
If you must have a GLOBE VALVE that is larger than 18, then you can do one of the following to get what you need into your project:
Use the system-selected/designed BALL VALVE for larger diameters or,
Specify your OWN, user-entered material/manhour additions for your LARGE GLOBE VALVE through Material/Manhour Additions on the component or as a separate library item. |
Problem Statement: How can I turn off my steam tracing manifolds (headers and returns) for some of my piping items?
The headers and returns are already existing, so I don't need more. | Solution: One can delete the subheaders by opening the General Piping Specs in the Project Basis, and choose '-' for the Steam tracing sub-header opt field.
The only caveat to setting this, is that deleting the subheaders will affect ALL components in the project.
An enhancement request has already been made to development to include this field as an option at the component level.
Keywords: header, return, manifold, piping, off, subheders, subheader, returns, headers, manifolds
References: None |
Problem Statement: Is it possible to assign a COA to conduit and conduit fittings by size, as well as material? | Solution: It is possible to assign a COA that way. We can create COA exceptions based on the material symbol and the “pipe diameter” fields in the allocations form to denote the conduit size. We will have to define new COAs and create exceptions for internal COAs 721 and 722 for conduit and fittings. One caveat is that the exception based on diameter won't work for the “INSTALL CONDUIT” line item.
Also, If you want to create an exception based on both material and diameter then you should specify the material symbol.
Keywords: COA, conduit
References: None |
Problem Statement: How to make sure previously used line size equations are used in an imported Kbase project from an Icarus 2000 project file. | Solution: 1. There are 5 files associated with line size equations:
LINESIZE.EQN
LINSZEQN.CTX
LINSZEQN.DAT
LINSZEQN.RPN
LINSZEQN.REP
Copy these line size equation files (from the c:\icarus\ic2000\PIDs\ folder) to the directories specified below.
It is strongly recommended to rename the existing files in these directories, so as not to replace them with the equations that are copied over.
For v2006.5 and later:
Copy these 5 files to this directory:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\AspenTech\Shared Aspen Icarus 2006.5 Files\PIDs
Then, run the Line Sizing Equation Editor in the Library Mode. The library mode is when you are running Kbase, but don't open a project. This is accessed from the Libraries Tab in the Palette Window.
Once the Library editor opens, you can make any changes or additions to your equations, and then hit the Compile button.
To use these equations with new projects, you will need to be in Library mode and use the PID editor to make the drawings. Once lines are added, you can right click on the lines and select 'View Piping Line Properties' to select the equations to use for diameter and/or length.
For v2006 and earlier:
Copy these 5 files to both of these directories:
C:\Program Files\AspenTech\Aspen Icarus xx.x\Program\Sys\Libraries\PIDs
C:\Program Files\AspenTech\Aspen Icarus xx.x\Data\PIDs
Then, run the Line Sizing Equation Editor in the Library Mode. The library mode is when you are running Kbase, but don't open a project. This is accessed from the Libraries Tab in the Palette Window.
Once the editor opens, you can make any changes or additions to your equations, and then hit the Compile button.
To use these equations with new projects, you will need to be in Library mode and use the PID editor to make the drawings. Once lines are added, you can right click on the lines and select 'View Piping Line Properties' to select the equations to use for diameter and/or length.
If using a new project created from importing an Icarus 2000 specs file
Icarus 2000 specs files do retain the line sizing equations (the specs file will have the line sizing equation numbers on the NB cards). When importing an Icarus 2000 specs file, the line size equations are carried over to the newly created Kbase project
However, to ensure the line sizing equations are used in the Kbase project, you will need to copy the line sizing equation files to the locations mentioned above. You won't be able to edit these equations graphically on a P&ID unless new drawings are created.
OtherSolution documents you might find helpful:
Tutorial and Best Practices for Using the Aspen Kbase P&ID Editor
http://support.aspentech.com/webteamcgi/SolutionDisplay_view.cgi?key=112277
HOW TO SET A DEFAULT P&ID FOR AN EQUIPMENT MODEL LIBRARY (EML) ITEM - http://support.aspentech.com/webteamcgi/SolutionDisplay_view.cgi?key=112278
How to use the Line Size Equation Editor in Aspen Kbase
http://support.aspentech.com/webteamcgi/SolutionDisplay_view.cgi?key=114149
How to customize or create your own equipment symbols to use with the KBase P&ID editor?
http://support.aspentech.com/webteamcgi/SolutionDisplay_view.cgi?key=114137
How to Import a Custom Equipment Symbol
http://support.aspentech.com/webteamcgi/SolutionDisplay_view.cgi?key=114424
Keywords: equations
equation
line size
linesize
line
sizing
complie
References: None |
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