Introduction to Aspen Plus
Sensitivity Analysis
Sensitivity Analysis
Introduction to Aspen Plus
2003 AspenTech. All Rights Reserved.
Lesson Objectives
Introduce the use of sensitivity analysis to study relationships between process variables
Aspen Plus References: User Guide , Chapter 20, Sensitivity Related Topics: User Guide , Chapter 18, Accessing Flowsheet Variables User Guide , Chapter 19, Calculator Blocks and In-Line Fortran
2003 AspenTech. All Rights Reserved.
2003 AspenTech. All Rights Reserved.
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Introduction to Aspen Plus
Sensitivity Analysis
Sensitivity Analysis
Allows user to study the effect of changes in input variables on process outputs. Changes made to a flowsheet input quantity in a sensitivity block do not affect the simulation. The sensitivity study is run independently of the base-case simulation. Located under /Data/Model Analysis Tools/Sensitivity Results can be viewed by looking at the Results form in the folder for the Sensitivity block. Plot results to easily visualize relationships between different variables.
2003 AspenTech. All Rights Reserved.
Uses of Sensitivity Analysis
Studying the effect of changes in input variables on process (model) outputs Graphically representing the effects of input variables Verifying that a solution to a design specification is feasible Rudimentary optimization Studying time varying variables using a quasi-steadystate approach
2003 AspenTech. All Rights Reserved.
2003 AspenTech. All Rights Reserved.
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Introduction to Aspen Plus
Sensitivity Analysis
Sensitivity Analysis Example
RECYCLE REACTOR COOL REAC-OUT COOL-OUT SEP
FEED
Filename: CUMENE-S.BKP
PRODUCT
Determine the effect of cooler outlet temperature on the purity of the product stream. What is the manipulated (varied) variable?
Cooler outlet temperature
What is the measured (sampled) variable?
Purity (mole fraction) of cumene in product stream
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Steps for Using Sensitivity Analysis
1. Specify measured (sampled) variable(s)
These are quantities calculated during the simulation to be used
in step 4 (Define sheet).
2. Specify manipulated (varied) variable(s)
These are the flowsheet variables to be varied (Vary sheet).
3. Specify range(s) for manipulated (varied) variable(s)
Variation for manipulated variable can be specified either as
equidistant points within an interval or as a list of values for the variable (Vary sheet).
4. Specify quantities to calculate and tabulate
Tabulated quantities can be any valid Fortran expression
containing variables defined in step 1 (Tabulate sheet).
2003 AspenTech. All Rights Reserved.
2003 AspenTech. All Rights Reserved.
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Introduction to Aspen Plus
Sensitivity Analysis
Plotting
1. Select the column containing the X-axis variable and then select X-Axis Variable from the Plot menu. 2. Select the column containing the Y-axis variable and then select Y-Axis Variable from the Plot menu. 3. (Optional) Select the column containing the parametric variable and then select Parametric Variable from the Plot menu. 4. Select Display Plot from the Plot menu. Note: To select a column, click on the heading of the column with the left mouse button.
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Sensitivity Analysis Results
What is happening below 75F and above 300F?
2003 AspenTech. All Rights Reserved.
2003 AspenTech. All Rights Reserved.
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Introduction to Aspen Plus
Sensitivity Analysis
Notes
1. Only quantities that have been input to the flowsheet should be varied or manipulated. 2. Multiple inputs can be varied. 3. The simulation is run for every combination of manipulated (varied) variables.
2003 AspenTech. All Rights Reserved.
Sensitivity Analysis Workshop
Objective: Use a sensitivity analysis to study the effect of the recycle flowrate on the reactor duty in the cyclohexane flowsheet
Part A Using the cyclohexane flowsheet (CYCLOHEX.BKP), plot the variation of reactor duty (block REACT) as the recycle split fraction in LFLOW is varied from 0.1 to 0.4. Part B In addition to the fraction split off as recycle (Part A), vary the conversion of benzene in the reactor from 0.9 to 1.0. Tabulate the reactor duty and construct a parametric plot showing the dependence of the reactor duty on recycle split fraction and conversion of benzene. Note: Both of these studies (parts A and B) should be set up within the same sensitivity analysis block.
2003 AspenTech. All Rights Reserved.
2003 AspenTech. All Rights Reserved.
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Introduction to Aspen Plus
Sensitivity Analysis
Cyclohexane Production Workshop
PURGE
Total flow = 330 kmol/hr T = 50C P = 25 bar Molefrac H2 = 0.975 N2 = 0.005 CH4 = 0.02 92% flow to stream H2RCY
H2RCY
VFLOW
H2IN
VAP FEED-MIX RXIN REACT HP-SEP RXOUT
T = 200C Pdrop = 1 bar Benzene conv = 0.998 T = 50C Pdrop = 0.5 bar
LTENDS
Theoretical Stages = 12 Reflux ratio = 1.2 Bottoms rate = 99 kmol/hr Partial Condenser with vapor distillate only Column Pressure = 15 bar Feed stage = 8
BZIN
T = 40C P = 1 bar Benzene flow = 100 kmol/hr
T = 150C P = 23 bar
LIQ COLFD LFLOW
CHRCY
30% flow to stream CHRCY
Use the RK-SOAVE property method
Filename: SENS.BKP
PRODUCT COLUMN
Specifycyclohexane mole recovery in PRODUCT stream equal to 0.9999 by varying Bottoms rate from 97 to 101 kmol/hr
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2003 AspenTech. All Rights Reserved.
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