Dyn-001 Revised: Oct 17, 2012

Dynamic Analysis of a CSTR with Aspen Plus®

1. Lesson Objective:

 Understand the basic workflow to create and run a dynamic simulation using Aspen Plus Dynamics
 Setup a simple dynamic simulation of a CSTR
 Observe the effect of perturbations through changes in the controller settings

2. Prerequisites

 Aspen Plus V7.3.2

3. Background

Dynamic Simulation in Chemical Engineering

Dynamic simulation is an extension of steady-state process simulation whereby time-dependence is built into
the models via derivative terms i.e. accumulation of mass and energy. The advent of dynamic simulation means
that the time-dependent description and control of real processes in real or simulated time are possible. This
includes the description of starting up and shutting down a plant, changes of conditions during a reaction,
holdups, thermal changes and more. Dynamic simulations require increased calculation time and are
mathematically more complex than steady-state simulations. They can be seen as repeatedly calculated steady-
state simulations (based on a fixed time step) with constantly changing parameters. Dynamic simulation can be
used in both an online and offline fashion. The online case being model predictive control, where the real-time
simulation results are used to predict the changes that would occur for a control input change, and the control
parameters are optimized based on the results. Offline process simulation can be used in the design,
troubleshooting and optimization of process plant as well as the conduction of case studies to assess the
impacts of process modifications.

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Aspen Plus’ Basic Workflow for Dynamic Simulation Study

Step 2: Prepare Dynamic Simulation; Add Dynamic Data

Step 3: Export Simulation to Aspen Plus Dynamics®

Step 4: Simulation in Aspen Plus Dynamics®

Step 5: Change control system, apply disturbanes, and more....

Export to Dynamics

The examples presented are solely intended to illustrate specific concepts and principles. They may not
reflect an industrial application or real situation.

4. Problem Statement and Aspen Plus Solution

Problem: Use the provided Aspen Plus file Dyn_001_CSTR_Start.bkp, prepare a dynamic simulation flowsheet
by adding required dynamic data, and export the simulation to Aspen Plus Dynamics. Then, perform the
following studies to investigate how the reactor system behaves dynamically:

 Manipulate the level controller set point

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Aspen Plus Solution:

4.01. Start Aspen Plus V7.3.2. Open Dyn_001_CSTR_Start.bkp.

4.02. Go to the Dynamics tab on the ribbon, and press the Dynamic Mode button.

You will then notice that the simulation requires more data to prepare the dynamic simulation:

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4.03. Go to Blocks | CSTR | Dynamics and enter 1 meter for the Length of the reactor.

(FAQ) Vessel Geometry Dynamic Data

Vessel Type:
- Instantaneous: Default vessel type for most vessels – requires no input for
vessel geometry
- Vertical
- Horizontal

Vessel Geometry:
- Head Type
 Elliptical
 Hemispherical
 Flat
- Length
- Diameter

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4.04. Press the Next Input (F4) button and the following dialog window will appear. Then, press OK to run
the simulation.

4.05. The simulation should complete without warning or error. Go to the Dynamics tab and make sure that
all the buttons are enabled. Find the Flow Driven button and press it.

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4.06. You will then be prompted to specify the Aspen Plus Dynamics file to be exported. Enter the file name
Dynamics_CSTR_Fdriven.dynf, and press the Save button. After a few moments Aspen Plus Dynamics
will automatically open.

(FAQ) Types of Dynamic Simulations

 Flow driven
 Feed flowrate and pressures are specified
 Flowrate is not controlled by pressure differences
 Useful for a first approach of the dynamic behavior of the process
 Good for liquid processes (usually good flow controllability)

 Pressure driven
 Feed and product pressures are specified
 Flowrate results from pressure difference
 A bit more complex to specify (because you need to balance the pressures in Aspen Plus
with valves, pumps, ...) but more rigorous

4.07. From this point on, we will be working in Aspen Plus Dynamics V8.0, which should have automatically
opened after saving the .dynf file. In Aspen Plus Dynamics, change the run mode to Initialization, and
press Run (F5).

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The Run complete dialog will appear to notify you that the initialization run has completed with
convergence. Press OK.

4.08. Display stream results plot. Right click on the PRODUCT stream to open the context menu, go to Form
and select TPFmPlot and Results. TPFmPlot is an in-built plot form to show Mass Flow, Pressure, and
Temperature versus time. The Results form is a table form which shows key results in the stream at the
current time.

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4.09. Change the run mode to Dynamic.

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4.10. We will run following scenario to investigate the reactor dynamics:

 Run the dynamic simulation for 1 hour (Note: this is in simulation time, not in real time)
 Change the Level Controller (CSTR_LC) set point = 0.5 meter
 Run the dynamic simulation for 1 hour; find how the product stream results are being affected

(1) Press F9 or go to Run menu | Run Options. Check the Pause at option
and enter 1 hour for the value. Press OK.

(2) Run the dynamic simulation. It will be paused after 1 hour of simulation
time.

(3) On the flowsheet, right click on CSTR_LC and select Forms | Configure.
Enter 0.5 meter for the new set point. Go to Run Options (F9), and enter 2
hours for the next pause time.

(4) Start the dynamic simulation. It will be paused after 1 hour. You will see the results below.

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4.11. Change in feed rate. We will now experiment with another scenario to investigate the reactor dynamics.

 Linear ramp up the feed rate of component CIS from 100 to 200 kmol/hr in 1 hour
 Linear ramp down the feed rate of component CIS from 200 to 0 kmol/hr in 0.5 hour

(1) For a ramp change in feed, right click on the FEED stream, and select Forms | Manipulate. In the
Manipulate table, right click FcR(“CIS”) value, select Ramp. It will open Variable Ramp window.

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(2) The scenario (100  200  0kmol/hr) will give following results in the Product stream.

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5. Conclusion

You should now be familiar with how to take a simple Aspen Plus simulation and convert it to an Aspen
Dynamics simulation. In Aspen Plus Dynamics you should be familiar with how to initialize a simulation, create
custom plots, display results, and make changes in process conditions. Changes in controller set points or other
process conditions can have large effects on the overall process and it is important to understand these effects
when designing or operating a process.

6. Copyright

Copyright © 2012 by Aspen Technology, Inc. (“AspenTech”). All rights reserved. This work may not be
reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of
AspenTech. ASPENTECH MAKES NO WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, WITH
RESPECT TO THIS WORK and assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. In no event will AspenTech be
liable to you for damages, including any loss of profits, lost savings, or other incidental or consequential
damages arising out of the use of the information contained in, or the digital files supplied with or for use with,
this work. This work and its contents are provided for educational purposes only.

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