I've been using Aspen Plus software to simulate sludge gasification and far I've relied on the information and explanations provided in literature to specify the equipment. However, I'm currently facing an issue where Aspen doesn't seem capable of sizing the gasifier and decomposer that need to operate at temperatures of 500 and 800 degrees Celsius. After attempting to change the materials used for both the shell and jacket, I continue to receive an error message stating that "The equipment exceeds the temperature." How can I resolve this error?
The error message you're encountering in Aspen Plus indicates that the specified equipment exceeds the allowable temperature limit for the materials used in the shell and jacket. To resolve this error and properly size the gasifier and decomposer for your sludge gasification simulation, you can take the following steps:
Remember that accurate material properties, proper modeling, and a good understanding of the process are crucial for successful equipment sizing and simulation in Aspen Plus. Additionally, always ensure that your chosen materials and equipment are suitable for the high-temperature conditions you are working with in your sludge gasification process. Delaram Bayat
To properly size equipment with high operating temperatures in Aspen Plus, you need to use rigorous heat exchanger models that can account for the effects of temperature, pressure, and phase changes on the heat transfer and pressure drop1. You can convert simple heat exchanger models to rigorous models by following these steps1:
- In the Data Browser, select the Setup tab and then the Specifications sub-tab.
- In the Specifications sheet, select the heat exchanger block that you want to convert to a rigorous model.
- In the Model field, select a rigorous model from the drop-down list. For example, you can choose Shell & Tube or Plate-Fin.
- In the Rating field, select Yes to enable rating calculations for the heat exchanger.
- In the Data Browser, select the Design Spec tab and then the Heat Exchangers sub-tab.
- In the Heat Exchangers sheet, enter the required design specifications for the heat exchanger, such as geometry, materials, and fouling factors. You can also use default values or import data from a file.
- Run the simulation and check the results in the Results tab. You can view the heat duty, outlet temperatures, heat transfer coefficient, pressure drop, and other parameters for the heat exchanger.
For more information on how to size heat exchangers from Aspen Plus, you can refer to these resources:
- ASPEN PLUS® User Guide, Chapter 7: Physical Property Methods
- Jump Start Guide to Sizing Heat Exchangers from Aspen Plus, a self-guided demo from AspenTech
- ASPEN PLUS 12.1 Instructional Tutorials, a PDF document from University of Washington
Learn more:
1. aspentech.com2. web.ist.utl.pt3. aspentech.com4. courses.washington.edu5. aspentech.com
Good luck
One possible solution is to use the HeatX block instead of the Heater or Cooler blocks for the gasifier and decomposer. The HeatX block allows you to specify the design pressure and temperature of the shell and tube sides, as well as the material of construction1. You can also use the Rating option to calculate the heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop for the heat exchanger2. To use the HeatX block, you need to follow these steps2:
- In the Data Browser, select the Setup tab and then the Specifications sub-tab.
- In the Specifications sheet, select the Heater or Cooler block that you want to replace with a HeatX block.
- In the Model field, select HeatX from the drop-down list.
- In the Rating field, select Yes to enable rating calculations for the heat exchanger.
- In the Data Browser, select the Design Spec tab and then the Heat Exchangers sub-tab.
- In the Heat Exchangers sheet, enter the required design specifications for the heat exchanger, such as geometry, materials, and fouling factors. You can also use default values or import data from a file.
- Run the simulation and check the results in the Results tab. You can view the heat duty, outlet temperatures, heat transfer coefficient, pressure drop, and other parameters for the heat exchanger.
Another possible solution is to use a custom model for the gasifier and decomposer. A custom model allows you to define your own equations and variables for a unit operation3. You can use the Aspen Custom Modeler (ACM) tool to create and export a custom model to Aspen Plus3. To use a custom model, you need to follow these steps3:
- Launch ACM from the Start menu or from Aspen Plus.
- Create a new project or open an existing one in ACM.
- Define your custom model using ACM’s graphical interface or code editor. You can also use ACM’s libraries and templates to speed up the process.
- Validate and test your custom model using ACM’s simulation and debugging features.
- Export your custom model to Aspen Plus using ACM’s export wizard.
- In Aspen Plus, create a new block or replace an existing one with your custom model. You can find your custom model in the Model Library under Custom Models.
- Enter the required input data for your custom model in Aspen Plus.
- Run the simulation and check the results in Aspen Plus.
Learn more:
1. reddit.com2. web.ist.utl.pt3. user.eng.umd.edu
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