ProMax Tutorial
Terry A. Ring
CH EN 4253
Process Simulation Software
• Steady State Process
Simulation
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AspenPlus
ProMax
ChemCad
Hysis
HySim
ProSim
CADSim
OLI Process Simulator
KemSimp
Chemical Workbench Code
Ascend IV
• Dynamic Process
Simulation
– Aspen Dynamics
– CADSim
– Simulation Solutions, Inc.
Overview
Differences to Aspen
•
Aspen
– Next Button
– Many units that perform a given
function
• Degrees of Freedom are chosen
for you
– Setup for kinetic reactions are
tricky
•
ProMax
– More Thermo Package Choices
– Fewer units that perform a given
function
• You choose the Degrees of
Freedom
– Reaction setup is more straight
forward
– Detailed design of
• HX
– Reboilers
– Condensers
– Accounts for particle sizes
• Simple block models
– Automatic Plant Costing (Icarus)
• Distillation Columns
– Does not deal with particle sizes
– No Plant Costing
– Some minor bugs not worked out
Steps to Run
• Aspen (Left Hand Bar)
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Title
Components
Thermopackage
Process Flow Sheet
Feed Stream
Unit Specifications
• Fixed degrees of freedom
– Run
– Results
– Report
• ProMax
– Environment
• Components
• Thermopackage
– Process Flow Sheet
– Feed Stream
– Unit Specifications
• Various degrees of
freedom
– Run
– Results
– Report
Degrees of Freedom
• Statistical Mechanics –Gasses
– Gives Heat Capacity of Gasses = NR/2
Position (x, y and z)
Rotation (x, y and z)
Vibration
Total
Monatomic
Linear molecules
3
0
0
3
3
2
3N - 5
3N
Non-Linear
molecules
3
3
3N - 6
3N
Degrees of Freedom
• Phase Diagram
– F = C-P+2
• C=Components
• P=Phases
• 2 = T and P
• Process Simulation
• ND= Nvariables-Nequations
• Nvariables for each stream
– Mole fractions
– Mole flow rate
– Enthalpy (T,P)
• Nequations
– Overall Component mole
balance
– Mole fractions add to 1.0
for each stream
– Enthalpy Balance
Example-I
• Problem 5.12
• Alternatives in preparing a feed. A
process under design requires that 100
lbmol/hr of toluene at 70F and 20 psia be
brought to 450 F and 75 psia.
• Flow sheets using Peng-Robinson
– Boil-Superheat-Compress
– Pump to 75 psi-Boil-Superheat
Problem -2
• Use Gibbs
CO  2 H 2  CH 3OH
Minimization reactor
in Aspen to determine CO  H 2  H 2O  C (s)
the products of
reaction at 10 atm and
200 C.
• Feed equimolar in CO
and H2
Example-4
• Distillation/Flash
• Isopropanol – Water
– 100 lbmole/hr
• Flash at 90C
• Distillation
– R=2
– BUR=3