This screencast provides a detailed overview
of simulation convergence and presentation
of results in Aspen Plus software.
This video will utilize the flowsheet developed
in the data input and running the simulation
screencast.
Once a simulation is run, Aspen will tell
you whether or not it was able to converge
on a solution.
Some common reasons for a simulation not converging
include choosing an invalid property method,
complex recycle structure, thermodynamic violations
such as temperature crossover in a heat exchanger,
and incorrectly entered unit operation information,
such as number of stages or the reflux ratio
in a distillation column.
Aspen will alert you of any problems associated
with the solution by reporting warnings and
errors at the bottom of the control panel
screen.
It is always a good idea to do a quick double
check on your results.
On the menu bar at the top of the screen,
click on stream summary.
Various process variables including temperature,
pressure, flowrate and vapor fraction are
displayed for each stream.
You should double check that all values make
physical sense and that the material balance
is correct.
You can add a stream table to your flowsheet
by clicking on the stream table button above
the stream table.
You can reposition the stream table by clicking
and dragging.
The flowsheet can then be printed and submitted
in a report.
Another useful appendix to end a report is
the input summary.
Go to the home tab at the top of the screen
and click the input button on the top menu
bar to open the input summary in notepad.
This report details all of the process information
entered by the user, such as the inlet stream
conditions and the unit operation parameters.
A third appendix to add to a report is an
individualized block report.
Click the report button on the top menu bar.
You can then select specific simulation blocks
you want to report for and click OK.
The generated report will open in notepad
and details a mass and energy balance and
stream conditions for inlet and outlet streams.
Watch the following video in the Youtube playlist
to see an application of the introduction
to Aspen Plus chapter on a chlorobenzene production
plant.
