Aspen Flare
System Analyzer
Aspen Flare System Analyzer
Version: 7.0
Copyright (c) 1981-2008 by Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved.
Aspen Flare System Analyzer, Aspen Flarenet, and the aspen leaf logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Aspen Technology, Inc., Cambridge, MA. All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
This document is intended as a guide to using AspenTech's software. This documentation contains AspenTech proprietary and confidential information and may not be disclosed, used, or copied without the prior consent of AspenTech or as set forth in the applicable license agreement. Users are solely responsible for the proper use of the software and the application of the results obtained.
Although AspenTech has tested the software and reviewed the documentation, the sole warranty for the software may be found in the applicable license agreement between AspenTech and the user. ASPENTECH MAKES NO WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THIS DOCUMENTATION, ITS QUALITY, PERFORMANCE, MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
Aspen Technology, Inc. 200 Wheeler Road Burlington, MA 01803-5501 USA Phone: (781) 221-6400 Toll free: (888) 996-7001 Website http://www.aspentech.com
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Contents
1 Introduction ...2
About this document ... 2
Audience... 2
Related Documentation ... 2
Technical Support ... 3
2 Interface ...2
Overview ... 2
Terminology ... 3
Menu Bar ... 5
Toolbar... 5
Status Bar... 7
Editing Data Views ... 8
Changing Column Width ... 8
Changing Column Order ... 9
Setting Preferences ...10
General Tab...10
Defaults Tab ...12
Databases Tab ...13
Reports Tab...14
PFD Tab...15
Formatting Tab ...16
Import/Export Tab...17
Windows Menu ...17
Help Menu...18
3 Creating and Saving Cases ...19
Creating a New Case ...19
Opening an Existing Case ...21
Saving a Case...22
4 Components ...23
Overview ...23
Selecting Components ...24
Component Types ...24
Component List...24
Matching the Name String ...25
Removing Selected Components...25
Adding/Editing Components...26
Add Hypothetical Component/Edit Component View ...26
3
Flare System Analyzer
Editing Database Components...30
Estimating Unknown Properties ...30
Organizing the Component List ...31
Sorting the Component List ...31
Move Single Component ...31
Swapping two components ...31
Changing the Components...31
Combining Components ...31
Binary Interaction Parameters...32
5 Scenarios ...34
Overview ...34
Scenario Manager ...35
Adding/Editing Scenarios...36
General Tab...36
Constraints Tab...37
Sources Tab ...38
Estimates Tab...38
Scenario Tools ...40
Adding Single Source Scenarios...40
6 Pipe Network...41
Overview ...41
Pipe Manager...41
Ignoring/Restoring Pipes ...42
Connections Tab ...44
Dimensions Tab ...45
Fittings Tab ...47
Heat Transfer Tab ...48
Methods Tab...50
Summary Tab...53
Multiple Editing ...53
Pipe Class Editor ...54
7 Nodes ...55
Overview ...55
Node Manager ...55
Ignoring/Restoring Nodes...56
Connection Nodes ...57
Connector ...57
Flow Bleed ...60
Horizontal Separator...62
Orifice Plate...68
Tee ...72
Vertical Separator ...76
Boundary Nodes ...81
Control Valve...81
Relief Valve ...90
Source Tools...97
Flare Tip ...98
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8 Calculations...103
Calculation Options ...103
General Tab...103
Scenarios Tab ...106
Methods Tab...107
Warnings Tab ...112
Initialization Tab ...116
Check Model ...117
Starting the Calculations ...118
Efficient Modeling Techniques ...119
Data Entry ...120
Calculation Speed...120
Sizing Calculations ...122
9 Databases ...123
Overview ...123
Database Features ...124
Selection Filter...124
Maneuvering Through the Table ...125
Printing...125
Adding/Deleting Data...125
Setting The Password ...126
Pipe Schedule Database Editor ...126
Fittings Database Editor ...128
Component Database Editor ...129
Importing Component Data ...129
10 Viewing Data and Results...131
Overview ...131
Components Data ...131
Scenarios Data ...133
Pipes Data ...133
Sources Data...134
Nodes Data ...135
Messages...135
Problems Tab...136
Data Echo Tab ...136
Solver Tab ...137
Sizing Tab ...137
Loops tab...138
Pressure/Flow Summary ...139
Compositions...140
Physical Properties ...140
Profile ...142
Flow Map ...143
Scenario Summary...145
Graph Control...146
Control Tab ...147
Axes Tab...149
ChartGroup Tab ...151
ChartStyles Tab ...154
3
Flare System Analyzer
Titles Tab ...155
Legend Tab ...157
ChartArea Tab ...159
Plot Area Tab...161
ChartLabel Tab ...163
View3D tab ...165
Markers Tab ...166
Trace Window...167
11 PFD ...168
Overview ...168
Object Inspection ...170
PFD Toolbar ...170
PFD Toolbar Icons ...171
Print Options ...173
Stream Label Options ...174
Viewports Option...174
Installing Objects ...175
Connecting Objects ...176
Manipulating the PFD...176
Selecting PFD Objects ...176
Unselecting Objects ...177
Moving Objects ...177
Locating Objects on the PFD ...177
Regenerate PFD ...178
Printing and Saving the PFD Image...178
Changing the PFD View Options...179
12 Printing, Importing and Exporting...180
Overview ...180
Printing ...182
FMT Files...183
Location-Specific Printing ...185
Printer Setup ...186
Import Wizard ...186
Import Data Layouts...186
Using the Import Wizard ...187
Importing Source Data...197
ASCII Text Files ...197
Importing HYSYS Source Data...202
Export Wizard...204
Export Data Layouts ...204
Using the Export Wizard ...204
Import/Export Examples ...214
Default XML Import ...214
Access Database Import Using Select Criteria ...215
Import of Updated Source Data from Excel ...222
Export to Access Database For Flare System Analyzer 3.05 ...225
Export Pipe Data Table to Excel ...226
Merge Cases Through Export/Import Wizards ...229
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13 Automation ...231
Overview ...231
Objects...232
Object Hierarchy ...232
The Flare System Analyzer Type Library ...233
Object Browser ...233
Automation Syntax...236
Flare System Analyzer Object Reference...242
Application ...243
Bleed...244
Bleeds ...245
Component ...245
Components ...247
Connector ...247
Connectors...248
ControlValve...248
ControlValves ...250
HorizontalSeparator...250
HorizontalSeparators ...251
Nodes...251
OrificePlate...252
OrificePlates ...252
Pipe ...253
Pipes ...256
ReliefValve ...257
ReliefValves...259
Scenario ...260
Scenarios ...261
Solver ...262
Tee ...263
Tees...263
Tip ...264
Tips...266
VerticalSeparator ...267
VerticalSeparators ...267
Example – Automation In Visual Basic...268
A Theoretical Basis...276
Pressure Drop...276
Pipe Pressure Drop Method ...276
Fittings Pressure Change Methods...285
Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium ...295
Compressible Gas...295
Vapor Pressure ...295
Soave Redlich Kwong...296
Peng Robinson ...297
Physical Properties ...298
Vapor Density...298
Liquid Density...298
Vapor Viscosity ...299
Liquid Viscosity ...299
Thermal Conductivity ...302
3
Flare System Analyzer
Enthalpy ...302
Noise ...306
B File Format...308
Import/Export Details ...308
Process Descriptions ...308
Definition File Formats ...312
Recognized Objects and Items ...319
FMT Files Format...339
C References ...354
D Glossary of Terms ...356
Adiabatic Flow ...356
Choked Flow...356
Critical Pressure...356
Critical Temperature ...356
Dongle ...356
Equivalent Length ...357
Isothermal Flow ...357
MABP ...357
Mach Number ...357
Node ...357
Reduced Pressure...357
Reduced Temperature...358
Scenario ...358
Schedule...358
Security Device...358
Source...358
Static Pressure ...358
Tailpipe ...358
Total Pressure ...358
Velocity Pressure ...359
Index ...360
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1 Introduction
This section provides information on the following topics:
• About this Document
• Audience
• Related Documentation
• Technical Support
About this document
The guide provides a detailed description of all the features and functionality
within Aspen Flare System Analyzer (previously called "Aspen Flarenet").
Audience
This guide is intended for process and process systems engineers.
Related Documentation
Title Content
Flare System Analyzer Getting Started Guide
Tutorials covering the basic use of Flare System Analyzer
1 Introduction 3
Technical Support
AspenTech customers with a valid license and software maintenance
agreement can register to access the online AspenTech Support Center at:
http://support.aspentech.com
This Web support site allows you to:
• Access current product documentation
• Search for tech tips, solutions and frequently asked questions (FAQs)
• Search for and download application examples
• Search for and download service packs and product updates
• Submit and track technical issues
• Send suggestions
• Report product defects
• Review lists of known deficiencies and defects
Registered users can also subscribe to our Technical Support e-Bulletins.
These e-Bulletins are used to alert users to important technical support
information such as:
• Technical advisories
• Product updates and releases
Customer support is also available by phone, fax, and email. The most
up-to-date contact information is available at the AspenTech Support Center at
http://support.aspentech.com.
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2 Interface
This section provides information on the following topics:
• Overview
• Menu bar
• Toolbar
• Status Bar
• Editing Data Views
• Setting Preferences
• Windows Menu
• Help Menu
Overview
Aspen Flare System Analyzer (previosly called "Aspen Flarenet") is designed
to give you a great deal of flexibility in the way in which you enter, modify
and view the data and results which comprise your model of a flare system.
This chapter describes the various components of the Flare System Analyzer
interface. If you need help with any particular task, the on-line help can give
you step-by-step instructions.
2 Interface 3
Terminology
The terminology used to describe these components throughout this manual
is given in the following table.
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Term Definition
Button Most views contain buttons. They perform a specific action when selected (either by clicking the left mouse button or via the appropriate hot key combination).
Icon Icons are like buttons, they perform a specific action when selected (by clicking the left mouse button).
Checkbox Data items or settings that have an On/Off status are indicated by checkboxes. Selecting the checkbox will turn it on, selecting it again will turn it off.
Data View A window that contains a non-editable view of the model data and/or the calculation results.
view A modal window which allows you to enter the model data. You cannot access any other element in the model until this form has been closed.
Drop-Down List A drop-down list is indicated by a down arrow next to a field. If you click on this arrow, a list of available options for that field will be displayed.
Input Field Data items that are alphanumeric in nature are entered into an input field. In general, the data that is entered in a field is checked for validity before you can continue.
Menu Bar The Menu Bar displays all of the program functions, which can be accessed by clicking on the appropriate menu item. This is described in more detail later in the chapter.
Modal/Non-Modal
View When a view is modal, you cannot access any other element in the simulation until you close it. Non-modal views do not restrict you in this manner. You can leave a non-modal view open and interact with any other view or menu item.
Scenario Selector This drop-down list shows the current scenario selected for the case. On clicking the down arrow, located beside the field, a list of all the scenarios will be displayed.
Calculation Mode
Selector This drop-down list shows the current calculation mode selected. Clicking the down arrow allows you to choose from Rating, Design or Debottleneck calculations.
Scroll Bar Whenever the information associated with a view or list exceeds what can be displayed, you may move through the view or list by using the scroll bar.
Scroll Button Part of the Scroll Bar, allowing you to slide the list up or down, or left or right.
Status Bar This displays the current model status. For more information, see Status Bar.
Title Bar Indicates the Flare System Analyzer file currently loaded. Toolbar The Toolbar contains a number of controls (icons/buttons) which
give short-cut access to the most commonly used program functions. This is described in more detail later in this chapter. Tool Tip Whenever you pass the mouse pointer over one of the
icons/buttons on the toolbar, a Tool Tip will be displayed. It will contain a summary description of the action that will take place if you click on that icon/button.
2 Interface 5
Menu Bar
The menu bar allows access to all the program functions via menus and
sub-menus.
The menu bar contains commands for each of the main areas of program
functionality:
Menu Description
File Work with files (New, Open, Save), supply Case Description, import/export files, print, adjust printer setup, and set preferences. Also a list of previously opened cases is displayed at the bottom of the menu.
Build Access the Managers for Components, Scenarios, Pipes and Nodes. Tools Access various Flare System Analyzer utilities.
Calculations Set calculation options and start calculations.
Database Manages the pipe schedule, pipe fittings, and pure component databases and allows you to set a password.
View Look at summaries of the Data, the Results, and the Process Flow Diagram (PFD).
Windows Arrange the display of windows (Cascade, Tile, etc.) Help Access on-line help and program version information.
As an alternative to using the mouse to click on the menu item, you can hit
the alt key, then the underlined letter key. For example, to import source
data from the HYSIM process simulator as shown above you would hit the alt
key, and then while holding down the alt, press the f,
Iand h keys in
sequence (abbreviated as alt f i h).
Toolbar
The Toolbar contains a set of controls which give short-cut access to some of
the program functions without the need to navigate through a series of
menus and/or sub-menus.
Name Icon Description
New Case Starts a new case.
Open Case Opens a case that has been previously saved to disk.
Save Case Saves a case to disk using the current file name. If you want to save the case with a different file name, use the Save As command in the File menu.
Print Data and Results
Opens a Print view, which allows you to print the entries from the Database, Data and Results groups. You can either print to a printer or to a file.
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Display Metric Units Displays data and results in Metric units.
Display British Units Displays data and results in British units.
Display PFD Displays the Process Flow Diagram.
Display Pipe Data View Displays the Pipe data view.
Display Source Data View Displays the Source data view.
Display Node Data View Displays the Node data view.
Open Pressure/Flow
Summary View Displays the Pressure/Flow Summary view. Open Profile Graphical
View Displays the graphical Profile view.
Start Calculations Starts the Flare System Analyzer calculations.
2 Interface 7
There are also two drop-down lists in the toolbar:
Name Description
Calculation Mode Selector
This drop-down list selects and displays the current calculation mode.
The options are:
Rating - It is used to check the existing flare system in a plant.
This method calculates the pressure profile for the existing pipe network.
Design - It is used to design a new flare system for the plant.
During calculation it adjusts the diameters of all pipes until all the design constraints of MABP velocity, etc. have been met. These diameters can be smaller than the initially defined data.
Debottleneck - It is used to determine which areas of the flare
system must be increased in size due to either the uprating of the existing plant and hence flare loading, or the tie-in of new plant. This mode can only increase pipe diameters from their current size, it cannot reduce them.
Scenario Selector This drop-down list show the current scenario selected for the case. On clicking the down arrow, located beside the field, a list of all the scenarios will be displayed.
The Tool Bar can be hidden by unchecking the Show Toolbar checkbox in the
Preferences view.
Status Bar
Fig 1.3
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The status bar displays the current status of the model. There are two general
regions in the status bar:
The calculation time can be reduced by hiding the status bar, which is
particularly useful for large cases.
• The first region displays the program status - If Edit is displayed, you can
make changes to your model. After calculations, this field will display
Done.
• The second region displays important information during calculations, such
as the iteration error and the current pipe being solved.
Note: The Status Bar can be hidden by unchecking the Show Status Bar
checkbox in the Preferences view.
Editing Data Views
You can change the position and width of some of the columns in each of the
data views such as the Pressure/Flow Summary view.
Changing Column Width
1. To change the width of a column, move the mouse pointer until it is over
the vertical column separator line to the right of the column that you want
to resize (e.g. Flowrate). The mouse pointer will change to a
double-headed arrow.
Fig 1.4
2. Click and hold down the primary mouse button, then drag the separator
line to the new position.
3. The column width set here remains in effect for the duration of the current
2 Interface 9
Changing Column Order
1. To reposition columns, first select the columns by positioning the mouse
pointer in the column heading(s) (you will see a down arrow), then
clicking. The column heading will now be shaded.
Fig 1.5
2. Now click anywhere in the shaded region and hold down the primary
mouse button. The move column cursor will be shown, and there will be
its now two colored arrows either side of the header which contains the
cursor. While holding down the mouse button, drag the column(s) to their
new position. The two colored arrows either side of the header will move
as you drag the column(s) and indicate where the selected column(s) will
be transferred. In this case, the Mass Flowrate and the Molar Flowrate
columns will be positioned between the Noise and the Source Back
Pressure columns.
Fig 1.6
3. Release the mouse button. The selected column(s) will remain in their
new location within the data view.
Note: You can highlight multiple columns by clicking and dragging the mouse
over the adjacent columns you want to select. Alternatively, you could hold
the
SHIFTkey and click on the additional adjacent columns you want to select.
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Fig 1.7
4. The change in column order remains in effect for the duration of the
current session and is saved when you exit Flare System Analyzer.
Setting Preferences
The Preferences view allows you to specify default information for the
simulation case.
1. To access the Preferences view, select Preferences from the File menu
(alt f p). The Preferences view will be displayed.
The information on the Preferences view is divided into different tabs:
General, Defaults, Databases, Reports, Import/Export and PFD tab.
General Tab
2 Interface 11
The following fields are available on this tab:
Options Description
Show Status Bar Select this checkbox to display the Status bar.
Unchecking this option to hide the Status Bar can speed up calculations in large cases.
Show Tool Bar Activate this checkbox to display the Tool bar.
Timed Backup Select this checkbox to activate a periodically backup of the current case. File is saved back to the directory as Backup.fnw.
Backup Frequency This field is only accessed if the Timed Backup checkbox is selected. The default value is 10 minutes.
Compress Files If checked, the data files will be saved in a compressed format that can reduce the file size of the saved cases by a factor of up to 50.
Edit Objects On Add On activating this checkbox, the editor view will be displayed as the nodes/pipes are added to the PFD. Units Specify the units set to be used for the simulation. The
available unit sets are Metric and British.
Work Directory Specify the directory for temporary files, which should be writeable.
Auto Flash Source Nodes Activate the Auto Flash Source Nodes checkbox to automatically flash the source fluid when it is edited. Otherwise sources are flashed during the calculation. Display Total Pressure Select this checkbox to display the total pressure, which
is a sum of the static pressure and the velocity pressure, instead of the static pressure.
Display Velocity Properties Used By Pressure Drop Calculation
Select this checkbox to display properties that are velocity dependant based upon the velocities derived from rated flow rather than from the nominal flow.
Save Phase Properties Phase properties can be saved by activating this checkbox. The disk space/memory requirements are significantly effected by this option, especially for large cases. It is advised to select this option only if you have a high specification PC.
Hide Results For
Uncalculated Pipes Selecting this option will hide the results for pipes that have not been calculated in the last run of the model. This prevents cluttering of the results view with uncalculated values from sections of the flare network that might have been ignored.
Trace Buffer Size This field specifies the size in bytes of the text buffer displayed by the Trace window. Larger values will allow more text to be stored. The default value of 32000 is adequate for most cases.
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Defaults Tab
The default data values given on the Default tab applies only to new
instances of pipe class of pipes and nodes. The value for each instance may
be freely edited at any stage.
Fig 1.9
The options available on this tab are:
Options Description
Composition Basis Select composition basis for each of the relief sources:
Molecular Weight - The molecular weight of the fluid is
given. Mole fractions are estimated by Flare System Analyzer, based upon the list of installed components.
Mole/Mass Fractions - A full component-by-component
composition must be given for the fluid.
CS = Carbon Steel
SS = Stainless Steel
Tee Type Select the tee type to be set as a default for all the tees in the model. The available tee types are 90o, 60o, 45o and 30o tee.
Pipe Material This is the default material to be used in new pipes. The two materials available for selection are Carbon Steel and Stainless Steel.
Use Pipe Class Activate this checkbox to use the pipe class to restrict the available uses for pipes.
CS/SS Roughness Set the material roughness to be used in calculation. The default CS Roughness is 0.04572 mm and SS Roughness is 0.02540 mm.
2 Interface 13
Databases Tab
The databases for the Components, Pipe Schedules and Pipe Fittings can
be specified here.
Fig 1.10
If the Save Database Directories With Model check box in checked then
these locations are stored with the model. This is useful if the databases have
been modified for use with specific models.
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Reports Tab
You can specify the directories in which to save the report definition for each
of the entries in the Report list
Fig 1.11
If the Save Report Format Paths With Model check box in checked then
these locations are stored with the model. This is useful if the report formats
have been modified for use with specific models.
2 Interface 15
PFD Tab
Fig 1.12
The options available on this tab are:
Option Description
Use Wire Frame
Icons When selected, pipe and node icons in the PFD are drawn as wireframe outlines rather than shaded pictures. Selecting this option can speed the drawing of the PFD for large models. If the PFD is already open it must be closed and reopened to see the change.
Font Name Allows selection of the font to be used for pipe and node labels in the PFD.
Font Size Allows definition of the size of the font used for pipe and node labels in the PFD.
2.5 x Scale factor The factor to be used by Flare System Analyzer to scale the PFD when importing models created in earlier versions of Flare System Analyzer.
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Formatting Tab
Fig 1.13
The options available on this tab are:
Option Description Data Formatting
Group
Display Using
Significant Figures Activate this check box to display all results to a number of significant figures rather than to a fixed number of decimal places.
Sig. Figures The number of significant figures used for the display of results.
Printing Group
Use Header Activate this check box to add a header at the top of each printed page.
Use Footer Activate this check box to add a footer at the Bottom of each printed page.
Binding margin A margin of this size is placed along the long side of printouts to allow for binding.
Tiled Scale Factor For tiled printouts of the PFD view, the diagram will be scaled by this factor. Larger values will tile the printout over more pages.
2 Interface 17
Import/Export Tab
You can specify the name and location of the Import and Export definition
files to be used when transferring information between Flare System Analyzer
and Access, Excel or XML files. Entries allow specification of the default
definition files and the base definition files to be used for creating new
customized import export definition files.
Fig 1.14
If the Save Import/Export Paths With Model check box in checked then
these locations are stored with the model. This is useful if the definition files
have been modified for use with specific models.
Windows Menu
This is a general Windows application function. The options are:
Option Description
Cascade Cascade all currently-open windows. Tile
Horizontally
Tile all currently-open windows horizontally.
Tile Vertically Tile all currently-open windows vertically. Arrange Icons Organize icons at the bottom of the screen.
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Open All Open all the windows, which can be accessed through the View menu bar
Close All Close all windows.
Help Menu
The options under the Help menu are:
Option Description
Contents Displays the Flare System Analyzer Help contents.
Using Help Displays the general Windows Help on using Help. Technical Support Displays a list of world wide Technical Support offices. About The About option displays the About Flare System Analyzer
3 Creating and Saving Cases 19
3 Creating and Saving Cases
This section provides information on the following topics:
• Creating a New Case
• Opening an Existing Case
• Saving a Case
Creating a New Case
When you start Flare System Analyzer, a new case is automatically created.
When you start Flare System Analyzer, the Desktop area will be blank. Before
you can work, you must either create a new case, or retrieve a saved case.
1. To start a new case, do one of the following:
• Select New from the File menu in the menu bar.
• Use the hot key combination alt f n.
• Click on the New Case icon in the toolbar.
The Case Description view will be displayed.
Fig 2.1
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Enter appropriate data into the User Name, Job Code, Project, and
Description fields and then click the OK button.
Note: The case description can be modified later by selecting Description
from the File menu.
2. After you enter the case description information, the Component Manager
view appears as shown in the figure below:
Fig 2.2
3. Select the desired components as described in Components and click OK.
3 Creating and Saving Cases 21
Opening an Existing Case
When you open a case that has previously been stored on disk, all data from
the current case is cleared; however, the arrangement of any windows that
are already open is maintained.
1 To open an existing case, do one of the following:
o
Select Open from the File menu.
oUse the hot key combination alt f o.
oClick the Open Case icon on the toolbar.
2 The File Open view appears.
3 Select the file to be opened by doing one of the following:
o
Type the file name (including exact directory path if necessary) into
the Filename field and click the OK button.
o
Search the directory using the Look in drop-down menu and upon
finding the file, click once on the file name to highlight it and then click
the OK button.
o
Search the directory using the Look in drop-down menu and upon
finding the file, double click the file name.
4 It is also possible to open a recently used file by selecting it from the list
at the bottom of the File menu.
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Saving a Case
Cases may either be saved using the current case name or under a new
name.
1 To save a case using the current file name, do one of the following:
• Select Save from the File menu.
• Use the hot key combination alt f s.
• Click on the Save Case icon on the toolbar.
2 To save a case using a new name, do one of the following:
• Select Save As from the File menu.
• Use the hot key combination alt f a.
3 When you’re saving the case for the first time or with a new name, the
Save Flare System Analyzer Model view will appears.
4 Select the file to be saved by directly entering it, or selecting the
appropriate file from the list in the view which contains all the files and
folders. The Save in drop-down list can be used to change the directory
and/or drive.
5 Clear the Filename field, type in the file name you want to give to the
case in and click on the OK button.
Note: You do not have to include the .fnw extension. Flare System Analyzer
will add it on automatically.
You will be asked to confirm that you want to overwrite if an existing file is
named.
4 Components 23
4 Components
This section provides information on the following topics:
• Overview
• Selecting Components
• Adding/Editing Components
• Organizing the Component List
• Binary Interaction Parameters
Overview
Data for all components that will be used in the simulation must be selected
before the sources are defined. These components may be taken from the
standard component library, or you may define your own components, known
as hypothetical components.
You may select components from the Component Manager, which can be
accessed by selecting Components from the Build menu.
The Component Manager view will be displayed:
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Fig 3.1
This view displays all of the Database and Selected components, and
provides various tools which you can use to add and edit database and
hypothetical components.
Selecting Components
Component Types
You may filter the list of available components to include only those belonging
to a specific family. The All and None buttons turn all of the filters on and
off, respectively, while the Invert button toggles the status of each checkbox
individually. As an example, if only the Hydrocarbons (HC) and Misc options
were on, and you pressed the Invert button, then these two options would
be turned off, and the remaining options would be turned on.
Component List
Components can be chosen from the Database list, and added to the
Selected group, using one of the following methods:
• Arrow Keys - The < > or < > arrow keys move the highlight up one
component, and the < > or < > arrow keys move the highlight down
one component.
• PageUp/PageDown - Use these keyboard keys to advance an entire
page forward or backward.
4 Components 25
• Home/End - The <Home> key moves to the start of the list and the
<End> key moves to the end of the list.
• Scroll Bar - With the mouse, use the scroll bar to move up and down
through the list.
You can highlight multiple components to add to the Selected list using the
normal windows shift-click and ctrl-click options in the Database list.
• Enter a character - When you type a letter or number, you will move to
the next component in the list which starts with that character. If you
repeatedly enter the same character, you will cycle through all of the
components which start with that character.
Note: You can select multiple components by using the
SHIFTor
CTRLkeys as
you select components.
To add a component, you must first highlight it (by moving through the list
until that component is highlighted), then transfer it by double-clicking on it
or clicking the Add button.
Matching the Name String
The interpretation of your input is limited to the Component Types which are
checked.
Another way to add components is through the Selection Filter feature. The
Selection Filter cell accepts keyboard input, and is used to locate the
component(s) in the current list that best matches your input.
You may use wildcard characters as follows:
• ? - Represents a single character.
• * - Represents a group of characters of undefined length.
• Any filter string has an implied '*' character at the end.
Some examples are shown here:
As you are typing into the Selection Filter cell, the component list is
updated, matching what you have presently typed. You may not have to enter
the complete name or formula before it appears in the component list.
Filter Result
methan methanol, methane, etc.
*anol methanol, ethanol, propanol, etc.
?-propanol 1-propanol, 2-propanol *ane methane, ethane, propane, i-butane, etc.
Removing Selected Components
You can remove any component from the Selected Component list:
You can select multiple components using shift-click and ctrl-click options.
1 Highlight the component(s) you want to delete.
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2 Click either the Delete button on the Component Manager view, or press
the delete key.
Once the component(s) are removed from the list, any source compositions
that used this component will be normalized.
Adding/Editing Components
To create a new component (hypothetical), click the Hypothetical button.
Hypothetical components are set up in the same manner as database
components. Previously defined hypothetical components can be changed by
selecting them in the Selected Component list and then clicking the Edit
button.
Add Hypothetical Component/Edit
Component View
Upon clicking either the Hypothetical button or the Edit button the
Component Editor view opens up.
Identification Tab
The minimum data requirements for creating a component are specified here:
Fig 3.2
Component Types:
Hydrocarbon
Miscellaneous
Amine
Alcohol
Ketone
4 Components 27
Aldehyde
Ester
Carboxylic Acid
Halogen
Nitrile
Phenol
Ether
The following fields are available on this tab:
Input Field Description
Name An alphanumeric name for the component (e.g. - Hypo -1). Up to 15 characters are accepted.
Type The type of component (or family) can be selected from the drop-down menu provided. There is a wide selection of families to choose from, which allows better estimation methods to be chosen for that component.
ID The ID number is provided automatically for new components and cannot be edited.
Mol. Wt. The molecular weight of the component. Valid values are between 2 and 500.
NBP The normal boiling point of the component.
Std. Density The density of the component as liquid at 1 atm and 60 F. Watson K The Watson characterization factor.
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Critical Tab
Critical properties are specified here.
Fig 3.3
The following fields are available on this tab:
Input Field Description
Critical Pressure The critical pressure of the component. If the component represents more than a single real component, the pseudo critical pressure should be used. Valid values are between 0.01 bar abs and 500 bar abs.
Critical Temp. The critical temperature of the component. If the component represents more than a single real component, the pseudo critical temperature should be used. Valid values are between 5 K and 1500 K.
Critical Volume The critical volume of the component. If the component represents more than a single real component, the pseudo critical volume should be used. Valid values are between 0.001 m3/kg and 10 m3/kg.
Acentric Factor The acentric factor of the component. Valid values are between -1 and 10.
Acentric Factor (SRK)
The Soave-Redlich-Kwong acentric factor of the component (also called the COSTALD Acentricity).
4 Components 29
Other Tab
Coefficients for the polynomial equations for the prediction of Ideal Gas
thermodynamic properties and parameters for the viscosity calculations are
specified here:
Fig 3.4
The following fields are available on this tab:
Input Field Description
Hi A, Hi B, Hi C, Hi D, Hi E, and
Hi F The coefficients for the ideal gas specific enthalpy equation: H
i = A+BT+C T2+DT3+ET4+FT5
Entropy Coef. The coefficient for the entropy equation.
Viscosity A and Viscosity B Viscosity coefficients used in the NBS Method (Ely and Hanley, 1983).
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Editing Database Components
If you want to change the data for one of the database components, e.g.
Methane, you will find that opening the Component Edit view for this
component will display read only values that cannot be changed.
Fig 3.5
In order to update the data for a database component it must first be
changed to a hypothetical component.
At the very minimum, you need to specify the Molecular Weight. However, it
is a good practice to specify at least two of the following properties:
• Molecular Weight
• Normal Boiling Point
• Standard Density
This is done by clicking the Hypothetical button on the Component Editor
view. Flare System Analyzer will convert the displayed database component
to a hypothetical as indicated by the adding of a * character to the name and
by changing the component ID to -1. The data values can then be updated.
Estimating Unknown Properties
If any of the above data is unknown, then click Estimate to fill-in the
unknown properties.
Supply as many properties as are known, so that the estimation can be as
accurate as possible.
4 Components 31
Organizing the Component List
The Selected Components list can be organized in the following different
ways.
Sorting the Component List
The Sort button allows the whole component list to be sorted by the criteria
selected from the following pop up list:
Sorting Option Description
Name Arranged components alphabetically in descending order. Molecular Weight Components are listed according to increasing molecular
weight. Normal Boiling Point
(NBP) Select this to arrange components in increasing NBP value. Group Group the components by type.
Move Single Component
A single component may be moved up and down the list by clicking on it in
the list of selected components and then clicking either the up or down arrow
buttons.
Swapping two components
In the Component Manager view, select the first component in the Selected
Component list by clicking on it. Then select the second component either
using the
SHIFTkey if the two are in sequence or pressing the ctrl key and
then clicking on the component. Swap the two components by clicking the
Swap button.
Changing the Components
You can switch the components in the Selected Component list with the
ones in the Database list while maintaining the source mole fractions.
In the Component Manager view, select the components in both the Selected
Components and the Database lists. Click the Change button to switch the
two components.
Combining Components
Multiple components can be combined and represented by a single component
to reduce the number of components in the model.
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This is done by selecting the components you want to combine by
control-clicking them in the Selected Components list and then control-clicking the
Combine button. A pop-up view will then ask you to select which of these
combined components should be used as the target component to combine
your selected components into. Once the target component has been selected
the combined components will update each source in the model by summing
the composition of all of the combined components and assigning it to the
target component.
Reducing the number of components in this way is useful since it can greatly
speed the calculations. This is especially true where a model contains sources
defined with a long list of hypothetical components.
For example consider a model containing the hypothetical components BP200,
BP225, BP250, BP275, BP300 boiling at 200 °C, 225 °C, 250 °C, 275 °C and
300 °C respectively. Since these components are likely to stay in the liquid
phase throughout the flare system, they may be combined into a single
component, BP250 without significant loss of accuracy. As another example,
in a purely gas phase flare system it is possible to combine isomers such as
i-Butane and n-i-Butane into a single component n-i-Butane without
compromising results.
Binary Interaction Parameters
Binary Interaction Coefficients, often known as K
IJ’s are factors that are used
in equations of state to better fit the interaction between pairs of components
and hence improve the accuracy of VLE calculations. Flare System Analyzer
allows the user to specify binary interaction parameters for the Peng Robinson
and Soave Redlich Kwong VLE methods or to estimate them through the
Binary Coeffs tab of the Component Manager view as shown here.
4 Components 33
To define binary interaction coefficients first select either the Peng Robinson
or Soave Redlich Kwong VLE method using the drop-down list at the top of
the view.
Note: Binary interaction coefficients are not used by either the Ideal Gas or
Lee Kesler VLE methods at present. The view will show the binary interaction
coefficient matrix for the selected VLE method.
Individual binary interaction parameters are set by selecting the required
entry in the matrix and typing in the new value.
Note: The matrix is symmetrical i.e. K
JI is the same value as KJI and updatingan entry will also update the corresponding entry in the table. E.g. updating
the entry in the Methane column, Propane row will also update the entry in
the Propane column, Methane row.
Individual binary interaction parameters may be estimated by selecting the
required entry in the matrix and clicking the Estimate button. The estimation
method is based on the components boiling point, standard liquid density and
critical volume.
It is possible to set several binary interaction parameters at the same time
either by clicking the Select All button to select the whole matrix or by
control-clicking the two corners of a rectangular area in the matrix. The
selected entries can then be estimated by clicking the Estimate button or set
to 0.0 by clicking the Zero HC-HC button.
The Reset All button causes all interaction parameters to be set to their
default values. Generally this is 0.0 for hydrocarbon components with non
zero values being supplied only for common polar components.
If the Auto Estimate check box is checked then the interaction parameters
for new components are automatically estimated as they are added to the
model.
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5 Scenarios
This section provides information on the following topics:
• Overview
• Scenario Manager
• Adding/Editing Scenarios
• Scenario Tools
Overview
A scenario defines a set of source conditions (flows, compositions, pressures
and temperatures) for the entire network. The design of a typical flare header
system will be comprised of many scenarios for each of which the header
system must have adequate hydraulic capacity. Typical scenarios might
correspond to:
• Plantwide power failure.
• Plantwide cooling medium or instrument air failure.
• Localized control valve failure.
• Localized fire or Depressurization.
The scenario management features within Flare System Analyzer allow you to
simultaneously design and rate the header system for all of the possible relief
scenarios.
Note: Although the major relief scenarios will normally constrain the size of
the main headers, care should be taken in the evaluation of velocities in the
individual relief valve tailpipes and sub headers. When looking at relief valves
which might operate alone, lower back pressures in the main headers may
lead to localized high velocities and consequently choked flow in the tail pipes.
As well as having different source conditions, each scenario can have unique
design limitations that will be used either to size the pipes or to highlight
problems when an existing flare system is being rated. For example, a Mach
number limit of 0.30 might be applied for normal flaring compared to a Mach
number limit of 0.50 or greater at the peak flows encountered during plant
blowdown.
5 Scenarios 35
Scenario Manager
Scenarios can also be selected by selecting the scenario in the Scenario
selector on the tool bar.
Scenarios are managed via the Scenario Manager view. This view has buttons
that allow you to add, edit or delete scenarios as well as to select the current
scenario for which scenario specific data is displayed. All cases have at least
one scenario.
1. To access the Scenario Manager view, select Scenarios from the Build
menu.
The Scenario Manager view will be displayed.
Fig 4.1
The Scenario Manager view displays all Scenarios in the case, and indicates
the Current Scenario. Several buttons are available:
Button Description
Add Adds a new scenario.
Edit Edits the highlighted scenario.
Delete Removes the currently highlighted scenario. There must always be at least one scenario in the case.
Sort Arrange the scenario list alphabetically in descending order. Up and Down Arrow Move the highlighted scenario up and down the Scenario list. Swap Swap the two selected scenarios in the list.
Current To make a scenario the current one, highlight the appropriate scenario, and then click on the Current button.
OK Closes the Scenario Manager view.
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Adding/Editing Scenarios
Flare System Analyzer has no pre-programmed limits on the number of
scenarios which can be defined within a single case.
To add a scenario, click the Add button on the Scenario Manager view. If
there is already a scenario present in the Scenario list, clicking the Add
button will show a Clone Scenario Form view. You can select an existing
scenario from the list to be used to initialize the flows, compositions,
pressures and temperatures of all the sources in the new scenario.
The Next button allows you to continue adding scenarios without returning to
the Scenario Manager.
To edit a scenario, highlight it, and then click the Edit button. For adding and
editing a scenario, the views are similar except for the Next button on the
Scenario Editor view for adding a scenario.
General Tab
You may provide the following information on the General tab:
Fig 4.2
Data Description
Name An alphanumeric description of the scenario (e.g. Power Failure). Up to 40 characters are accepted.
System Back
Pressure The system back pressure at the flare tip exit. This will normally be atmospheric pressure, but can be set to represent system design conditions at the exit point. If left empty, the value on the Calculation Options Editor view will be used. The minimum value is 0.01 bar abs.
5 Scenarios 37
Constraints Tab
This tab requires the following information for both headers and tailpipes.
Fig 4.3
Tailpipes are indicated by the Tailpipe field on the Connections tab of the
Pipe Editor view. You may provide different design information (Mach
Number, Noise at 1 m, Vapor Velocity, Liquid Velocity) for the Headers and
Tailpipes. Any field may be left empty, in which case they will be ignored.
Data Description
Mach
Number The maximum allowable Mach number for all pipe segments. Calculated values that exceed this number will be highlighted in the results. Vapor
Velocity The maximum allowable vapor velocity. Calculated velocities that exceed this value will be indicated in the results. Liquid
Velocity The maximum allowable liquid velocity. Calculated velocities that exceed this value will be indicated in the results. Rho V2 It is the density times the velocity square. This value is normally used as
a limiting factor to prevent erosion.
Noise The maximum allowable sound pressure level at a distance of 1 meter for all pipe segments. This is an average value over the length of the pipe. Calculated values that exceed this specification will be highlighted in the results.
Note: Whilst rating the network you may define a Mach number constraint of
1.00, in order to highlight only choked flow conditions. This is not
recommended for design calculations where a more reasonable value such as
0.5 or 0.7 will lead to a more rapid solution towards the maximum allowable
back pressure constraints.
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Sources Tab
If a source is ignored, the MABP constraint is ignored by sizing calculations.
When you select the Sources tab, you will see a view similar to the one
shown in Figure 4.4. All sources are displayed on this tab.
Note: If you are setting up a new case, the Sources tab will not show any
sources.
Fig 4.4
This tab is useful in that you can easily toggle whether or not individual
sources are to be included in the current scenario, without having to either
unnecessarily delete sources or set the flow of a source to zero.
Estimates Tab
The Estimates tab allows some control over the selection and initialization of
flowrates for pipes which are to be used as tears in the solution of looped
systems. The use to which each field is put is dependant upon the Structure
Analyzer setting on the Solver tab of the Calculation Options Editor view.
The checkboxes in the No Tear column of the table allow you to prevent
pipes from being used as tears - select the checkbox to prevent a pipe from
being used as a tear or clear it to allow it. This setting has no effect if the
Simultaneous structural analyzer is used.
When the Convergent structural analyzer is used, the Molar Flow column
recommends a tear location and initial value for the flow at the tear location.
5 Scenarios 39
If the structural analyzer does find that the pipe may be a valid tear location
then this value is ignored.
When the Simultaneous structural analyzer is used, the Molar Flow column
is used to seed the analyzer. This value will always impact the initialization as
long as the structural analysis succeeds but the pipe will not necessarily be
selected as a tear pipe. In the event that the structural analysis fails with any
Molar Flow estimates then the model will be initialized by the default values.
Fig 4.5
Since the Simultaneous structural analyzer generally offers better
performance than the Convergent analyzer it will rarely be necessary to
specify information on the Estimates tab other than for the purpose of
improving the speed of convergence of the model. In the event that a model
proves problematic to converge, a number of additional columns are available
to tune the convergence algorithms. These may be exposed by stretching the
view horizontally.
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Fig 4.6
The Max. Step column defines the maximum change to the flow in a tear
pipe over a single iteration whilst the Max. Flow and Min. Flow columns
constrain the flow in a tear pipe. Not all these values are used by all the Loop
Solver algorithms.
Max. Step Max. Flow Min. Flow
Newton-Raphson 3 3 3
Brogden 3 3 3
Force Convergent
Levenberg-Marquardt 3 3
Conjugate Gradient Minimization Quasi-Newton Minimization
Scenario Tools
The complete analysis of a flare system should ideally include analysis of the
system for the scenarios in which each source relieves on its own. For a large
network with many sources, it can become tedious to define each of these
scenarios. These can automatically be added to your model as follows.
Adding Single Source Scenarios
Select Add Single Source Scenarios from the Tools menu or use the hot
key combination alt t n.
This will analyze your model and add a scenario for each source that has a
non-zero flow rate defined in at least one scenario. Source data will be copied
from the scenario in which it has the highest flow rate.
6 Pipe Network 41
6 Pipe Network
This section provides information on the following topics:
• Overview
• Pipe Manager
• Ignoring/Restoring Pipes
• Multiple Editing
Overview
The pipe network comprises a series of interconnected pipes. These pipes can
be added, edited and deleted from the Pipe Manager.
Pipe Manager
To access the Pipe Manager, select Pipes from the Build menu.
Fig 5.1
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The following buttons are available:
Button Description
Add Adds a new pipe. This new pipe will be named with a number depending upon the number of pipes already added.
Edit Allows you to edit the currently highlighted pipe. Delete Allows you to remove the currently highlighted pipe.
Sort Sort the pipes list alphabetically (in descending order) either by name or location.
Up and Down Arrow
Move the highlighted pipes up and down the list.
Swap Swap the two selected pipes in the list. OK Closes the view.
Ignoring/Restoring Pipes
When you ignore a single pipe, all upstream pipes are automatically ignored.
You can ignore single or multiple pipes within the model. When you ignore a
single pipe, all upstream nodes are automatically ignored. This enables you to
do what if type calculations, where part of the network can be excluded from
the calculation without the need for deletion and reinstallation of the
appropriate nodes.
To ignore a pipe:
1 Open the pipe editor view of the pipe that you want to ignore.
2 On the Connections tab, activate the Ignore checkbox.
6 Pipe Network 43
To restore a pipe that has previously been ignored:
1 Open the pipe editor view of the pipe that you want to restore.
2 On the Connections tab, deactivate the Ignore checkbox.
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Connections Tab
The name of the pipe segment and connectivity information is specified here.
Fig 5.3
The following fields are available on this tab:
Input Data Description
Name An alphanumeric description of the pipe segment. Up to 30 characters are accepted.
Location An alphanumeric description of the location within the plant for the segment. This is a useful parameter for grouping pipes together via the Sort command.
Upstream Node
This is the name of the node upstream of the pipe. The drop-down list allows you to select from a list of existing unconnected nodes in the model. Alternatively the name of a new node can be entered. If this is done you will be asked to specify the type of node through a pop-up list when you move to the next entry.
Downstream
Node This is the name of the node upstream of the pipe. The drop-down list allows you to select from a list of existing unconnected nodes in the model. Alternatively the name of a new node can be entered. If this is done you will be asked to specify the type of node through a pop-up list when you move to the next entry.
Tailpipe This drop-down list allows you to select whether the pipe should be treated as a tailpipe. If set to Yes and the Rated Flow for Tailpipes calculation option is selected in the Calculation Options view, the pressure drop for this pipe will be calculated using the rated flow in place of the relieving flow rate.
Ignore This checkbox may be selected to remove the pipe from calculations temporarily. When selected the pipe and all upstream nodes and pipes will be ignored during calculations.
6 Pipe Network 45
You have the option of modeling a pipe segment as a main header or a
tailpipe. The ability to classify a pipe as either a tailpipe or a header allows us
to perform calculations in which the pressure drop for tailpipes is determined
by the rated flow and that for headers is determined by the nominal flow. This
is in accordance with API-RP-521.
In the Scenario Editor view, you can set design limits for the Mach Number,
Vapor and Liquid Velocities, Rho V2 and Noise separately for the main
headers and the tailpipes.
Dimensions Tab
The physical dimensions and characteristics of the pipe segment are specified
here.
Fig 5.4
The following fields are available on this tab:
Input Data Description
Length The physical length of the pipe segment. This length is used in association with the fittings loss coefficients to calculate the equivalent length of the pipe. If you have equivalent length data for your network, enter this data here as the sum of the actual length plus the equivalent length of the fittings and enter zero for the fittings loss coefficients.
Elevation Change A positive elevation indicates that the outlet is higher than the inlet.