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[Sarishma]

We have modelled a process in ASPEN Plus. To find the energy consumption for the process in ASPEN there were two different ways;

1. ASPEN Economic Analyzer

2. Utilites from simulation environment

 

The ASPEN Economic Analyzer gives the breakdown of energy into electricty, heat and cooling water. The electricty consumption with respect to increase in flow is non-linear while the energy required for heating and cooling water increases linearly.

The Utilites from simulation environment gives the detailed energy consumption at the equipment level. The energy consumption (electricity, heat and cooling water) with respect to increase in flow is linear. 

So to analyze electricity conusmption for different flow rates in ASPEN which approach is correct, ASPEN Economic Analyzer or Utilites from simulation environment?

 

How does ASPEN model energy consumption? Does it include the increase in efficiency of equipments as the flow rate increases (Energy of scale)? 

 

Thank you in advance.

[dmode_ChE]

Hi  Sarishma,

   

    To respond to your questions I have added some comments below.   It would help if you are able to also contact the Aspen Support site for more details.

 

    *   Energy consumption for the process can be obtained from the Utilites (Steam, Power, etc..)  

    *  In your question you mention ASPEN Economic Analyzer but I am not sure if that is a typo and you meant  Aspen Energy Analyzer since that is the topic of this thread.

        if it is  Aspen Energy analyzer, and you want to understand in more detail how you can  optimize the energy consumption then you could use  Aspen Energy Analyzer

        to get some insights  regarding that.  You would be able to determine where the utilities weren't being used efficiently in the process and  look at options  to remove the                inefficiencies.

     *  I unable to comment on  the Aspen Economic Analyzer since I haven't used that product.

    *  To  analyze electricity consumption for different flow rates  ins  Aspen,  you could do  a sensitivity or  Case study.  For  a sensitivity study if your were interested in one 

        or two units  that  consume  electricity and how the consumption changes with flow rate a  sensitivity would work.   You can also consider to do a Case study if  the flow rate

        impacts  all the power using units in the  process and get  a result that way.

 

   *   The Unit  operations follow all the mass and energy conservation laws  and  so consumption will depend on the amount  of throughput.   To heat  a 10 kg/hr stream  x

       degrees would require more energy input  than  heating the same stream at a throughput of  1 kg/hr.