Modelling Software Question...

[ewitt]

Newb here!

I'm looking into purchasing modeling software, and am going through the process of gathering info on each of them (Aspen, HYSYS, ChemCad, and SimSci).

I'm looking for some head to head comparisons from folks who have used more than one of these packages (pros, cons, capabilities, deficiencies, etc...).

Are some more user friendly than others?
Is one more commonly used than others?
Do some have a more difficult time converging than others?
Do some have more components in the database than others?
Do some companies offer better tech support than others?
etc...

I'll be modeling steam cycles, acid gas removal processes (Amine, Selexol, etc...), and various reactors and separations equipment (nothing too exotic).

Thanks!

 

[MortenA]

Its a very broad question and if i were to make a joke i would reply:

-yes
-yes
-yes
-yes
-yes

Anyway based on my experience with three process simulation tools (HYSYS, PROII (not resently however) and WinSim (Design II):

1) What is user friendlyness? This is after all a specialists program and to some user friendlines will be great flexibility and options for customising - just the thing that would make the average "word" user drop dead in the tracks. HYSYS seems like both a very flexible and yet easy to handle piece of softeware
2) HYSYS seems to be the most common in oil&gas. This may however be dependant on local user base. If one large user (e.g. an oil company or local univericity) has started using a package then all other users in the same country may follow?
3) Not to my knowledge. They may not always agree 100% on the result (this can be a hassel if you are a consult and have allowed to use another program than what the client is "used to")
4) I dont know. To my knowledge you can add components as required to all of them. Some of the properitaire amine mixtures might however require special licenses (=extra cost)
5) I have not tried the PROII support. HYSYS support is excellent. Winsim is also good

Best regards

Morten

 

[ewitt]

Thanks Morten.

I think you answered the question you posed in #2 with your response in #3.

I just think that if I'm dealing with a vendor or client, it would be nice if we were speaking the same "language".

 

[MortenA]

If you are a consultant and wants to aquire your own program you will get into this dilemma sooner or later: The client has another program. However - my experience is that if you know your basic theory then once you master one of the the others are fairly easy to get into.

Looking at my post it seems very HYSYS friendly. This is mostly due to HYSYS beeing the program that i most frequently use. My company also has a WinSim license that i use less frequently. I like HYSYS the best. We have also aquired a dynamic license - but its tied up to another office than the one im in. I have however attended a 3 day course and it seems like an interesting extension. I think that it will be very usefull in e.g. commisioning - if we can get a customer who wants to try this.

Best regards

Morten

 

[Rocco8]

Are you in a chemical plant, a petrochemical plant, a refinery or a natural gas processing facility?

Do you need to model sulfur recovery units?

Do you have need for a heat exchanger package?

Do you have need for a hydraulics package?

Do you wish to do dynamic simulation?

One you answer this, I will provide more information on your choices.

 

[dcasto]

Once you throw cost into the equation I think you'll see you can overcome all the questions. $25,000 vs $3,000 per year is a sizable hurdle. Those that have acess to multiple programs are not worrying about cost.

I agree with Morten, once you master the concepts and understand the limits, you can use them all. I converted a complex, inter connected heat exchanged, parrallel train fractionation train in less than a week from hysys to WinSim. We had to do this because the Hysys licience was not transferable when we bought the company that owned the fractionators.