Analyze and Troubleshoot Compressor Systems Easily with Activated

Dynamics in Aspen HYSYS V8.6

Webinar Q&A
This document summarizes the responses to questions posed before and during the webinar. Additional
questions should be directed to AspenTech Support.

Non-Technical Questions
Q: What are on-demand webinars? How can one access these?
A: An on-demand webinar is a recording of a live webinar. All of AspenTechs webinars are available in
an on-demand version on our public website for you to view at your own convenience by going here:
http://www.aspentech.com/events/on-demand-webinars/.
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Q: Will slides/a recording of this webinar be available after it concludes? If so, how are those
accessed?
A: All attendees will receive a Thank You email a few days after the webinar with a link to the audio
recording, as well as an option to receive the presentation slides after filling out a brief survey.
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Technical Questions
Q: Is the dynamic feature a part of Version 8.6 or is it a separate add-on that needs to be
purchased?
A: Activated Dynamics is a part of Aspen HYSYS V8.6.
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Q: How reliable is Aspen HYSYS V8.6 when modeling a compressor system? How is it linked with
the Anti-Surge Control?
A: Aspen HYSYS has an extensive and robust model library for simulating the entire compressor system.
Also, with Aspen HYSYS you get access to an extensive and reliable property database that allows you
to examine thermodynamic interactions of different gases accurately. The entire compressor system can
be modeled in Aspen HYSYS, including the Anti-Surge Controller.
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Q: In Aspen Plus , curves can be added in many formats, such as pressure ratio or head versus
flow. Is this available in Aspen HYSYS V8.6?
A: Compressor performance curves can be added in pressure ratio/head vs. flow and efficiency vs. flow.
There are also 5 different curve input options for single molecular weight, multiple molecular weights,
multiple IGV, non-dimensional, and quasi-dimensionless.
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Q: Can templates for dynamic modeling of equipment be transferred over to Aspen Plus?
A: No, templates cannot be transferred to Aspen Plus.

Q: If the non-dimensional curve input option is selected, but these curves are not provided by the
vendor, are they calculated within Aspen HYSYS?
A: The curves provided by the manufacturer can be converted to non-dimensional curves using Aspen
HYSYS. After switching to the non-dimensional curve input option mode, you can convert your existing
curves.

Figure 1: You can convert manufacturer curves to non-dimensional curves with a click of a button, after
specifying the impeller diameter.
Q: What do you suggest for vendors who do not provide cubic equations?
A: Please refer to the response above.
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Q: Will these non-dimensional curves allow accurate simulation of the compressor at varying inlet
conditions (i.e. temperature and pressure)?
A: Yes, the quasi-dimensional and non-dimensional curves can be used for simulation of the compressor
at varying inlet conditions.
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Q: Can you please explain why non-dimensional curves will help in the Anti-Surge analysis?
A: Non-dimensional curves will allow for better simulation within the surge region. You can extrapolate
the curves provided by the manufacturer for other operating regions, such as the surge and reverse flow
region.
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Q: How does Aspen HYSYS react if the operating point of the compressor is in the surge region or
stonewall region? Does it automatically generate the extension of the curves?
A: The non-dimensional compressor curve option enables you to model behavior close to the surge
region more accurately. Aspen HYSYS will automatically extrapolate your existing curves to the surge
region and stonewall region, but it will not be as accurate as using your own data.
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Q: Does the same tool exist near the stonewall region?
A: Please see the answer to the above question.

Q: Is the interstated cooler temperature included in dynamic simulation?

A: You can create an interstage cooler and view the temperature of it in Aspen HYSYS.
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Q: What are other available pre-made models under Activated Dynamics other than compressors?
A: Activated Dynamics only supports compressors with V8.6.
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Q: Do you also have pump dynamic models?
A: Yes, pumps can also be simulated in dynamics.
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Q: Do you have a pump dynamic model template as a compressor?
A: Activated Dynamics only supports compressors with V8.6.
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Q: Does Aspen HYSYS have a program where they partner with well-known equipment
manufacturers to model their equipment, thus providing a library of off-the-shelf equipment to add
to a PFD?

A: We have an application available in aspenONE Exchange called Pump-Flo. This program has pump
information from many different pump manufacturers.
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Q: Can Activated Dynamics for Compressor Surge be integrated with other process model
dynamics?
A: Yes. Once you create a dynamic subflowsheet using one of the pre-made templates or your custom
template, you can add any other equipment model and connect them to study the process dynamics
within the dynamic subflowsheet.
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Q: Can the dynamic compressor model be integrated into an existing dynamic model of a plant,
or can you only add it to the subflowsheet?
A: After creating a dynamic subflowsheet, you can copy and paste the contents to the parent flowsheet to
include in your design.
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Q: What are Parameters A, B, and C referring to?
A: Parameters A, B, and C are used to characterize the relationship between surge flow and head in the
polynomial used within the surge controller. If you enter the data for the surge curve, these polynomials
will be fitted to your surge curve data by Aspen HYSYS.

Figure 2: Parameters in the surge controller are automatically filled in in the dynamic subflowsheet (once
surge data is entered).
Q: Why isnt there a coefficient D in the compressor surge controller?
A: The variable, coefficient D, was removed with V8.6 for improved accuracy.
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Q: Do you also help size surge control valves? Can the simulator size the Anti-Surge valve?
A: Aspen HYSYS will provide help for sizing the Anti-Surge valve. There are different valve manufacturer
equations available for sizing.

Figure 3: Valve sizing form in Aspen HYSYS.

Q: How is hydraulics around the compressor loop calculated in the automated dynamic
subflowsheet template?
A: The hydraulics around the compressor loop is calculated using the normal Aspen HYSYS Dynamics
solver. The system is solved as an entire pressure-flow network.
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Q: Is it possible to customize the scenarios in which the dynamic behavior is analyzed?
A: Yes, you can customize these scenarios and create new ones.
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Q: Is there a template available for multi-process stage compressors driven on the same shaft?
How can a fuel gas controller of a turbine drive be incorporated in the template?
A: There is not a pre-made template available for multi-process stage compressors. You can create and
use your own with the custom template option. You can incorporate a fuel gas controller by implementing
a controller on the energy input stream to the compressor.
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Q: Can you study compressors in a series or in parallel configurations?
A: Yes, you can create a custom template model in order to study compressors in a series or in parallel,
as you have the full flexibility to add any unit operation available in the model palette. There is only one
restriction: the template needs to contain at least one (or more) compressor(s).
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Q: Is it possible to predict the curves from historical data near one operation point?
A: If you have at least two compressor performance curves entered, Aspen HYSYS will incorporate the
Fan law to extrapolate further curves.
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Q: Can this feature be readily used to model natural gas piping networks? If not, what are the
required modifications?
A: You can use Activated Dynamics combined with Aspen HYSYS Upstream (Hydraulics), available
within Aspen HYSYS, to model natural gas piping networks.
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Q: For the pipe segments, what sort of heat transfer model is incorporated by Activated
Dynamics?
A: The heat transfer model in Activated Dynamics is the same as the Aspen HYSYS heat transfer model
for pipe segments. Heat loss can be specified by overall HTC, segment HTC, estimate HTC, or overall
heat loss.
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Q: What if the compressor is driven by a Gas Turbine? Does Aspen HYSYS have that object?
A: Aspen HYSYS can be used to simulate a compressor driven by a gas turbine. You can link the energy
streams of the two units to provide a power specification.

Q: Which is the best polytropic method to be used for more reliable correlations?
A: There are 3 polytropic methods to calculate the polytropic head and efficiency in centrifugal
compressors:

Schultz
Huntington
Reference (for an integration of the Schultz and Huntington methods)

These methods are based on different assumptions about the polytropic path from inlet to discharge

conditions. You can find more information on exactly what the assumptions and underlying equations
for each method are in the Help Manual, accessible by clicking on the ? button in Aspen HYSYS.
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Q: I need to test a dynamic centrifugal compressor control simulation. I configured the pressure
and Anti-Surge controllers using a parallel surge curve as the set point. How do I change the flow
in order to test the controllers functionality?
A: The event scheduler or transfer function block can be used to introduce disturbances and test
controller response.
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Q: Do you need an Aspen HYSYS Dynamics, Aspen HYSYS Dynamic Runtime, or an Aspen
HYSYS Steady-State license?
A: One Aspen HYSYS Dynamics license is used for Activated Dynamics in Aspen HYSYS V8.6. You can
create any number of dynamics subflowsheets and only one Aspen HYSYS Dynamics license is
consumed.