Illustration of Refrigeration with Aspen HYSYS

Using Aspen HYSYS V8.0

Revised: November 26, 2012

2012 Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved

Objectives

Learn how to specify compressors, heaters, and valves in Aspen HYSYS. Understand how a refrigeration cycle works.

2012 Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved

Background
Applications of refrigeration are almost everywhere (e.g., AC units in cars, houses, buildings and other facilities). Refrigeration is also frequently used in the refinery and chemical industries.

Refrigeration needs in cryogenic processes are especially challenging to satisfy.

2012 Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved

Key Teaching Points

Heat is typically transferred from a high temperature medium to a low temperature medium. With a refrigeration system, heat is pumped from a low temperature medium to a high temperature medium. The discharge pressure of the Compressor block is specified. The compressed and cooled coolant expands adiabatically through the Valve block to 1 bar. The expansion causes the coolant to partially vaporize. The vaporization of a liquid takes heat. If there is no external heat available, the heat will come from the liquid itself by reducing its own temperature.

2012 Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved

Recommended Further Exercises

Propane is a widely used medium for cooling systems in the chemical industry. Use propane to create a similar refrigeration cycle in Aspen HYSYS. Try to make the temperature of the stream exiting the expansion valve as low as possible.

2012 Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved

Copyright
Copyright 2012 by Aspen Technology, Inc. (AspenTech). All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of AspenTech. ASPENTECH MAKES NO WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THIS WORK and assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. In no event will AspenTech be liable to you for damages, including any loss of profits, lost savings, or other incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use of the information contained in, or the digital files supplied with or for use with, this work. This work and its contents are provided for educational purposes only. AspenTech, aspenONE, and the Aspen leaf logo, are trademarks of Aspen Technology, Inc.. Brands and product names mentioned in this documentation are trademarks or service marks of their respective companies.

2012 Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved