Crystallizer Example in Aspen Plus
Products: Aspen Plus
Last Updated: 03-Nov-2020
Versions: V14.5, V14.3, V14.2, V14.0, V12.1, V12.0, V11.0, V10.0, V9.0, V8.8, V8.6, V8.4, V8.2, V8.0,
V7.3.2, V7.3, V7.2, V7.1, V7.0
Article ID: 000085424
Primary Subject: Solids Capabilities
Problem Statement
Problem Statement
Crystallizer Example in Aspen Plus
The attached file was created in Aspen Plus 12.1 and will run in 12.1 and higher.
Solution
The Aspen Plus Crystallizer block can be used to represent a mixed-suspension mixed-product removal crystallizer. The product
magma density and residence time are calculated from an overall material and energy balance and phase equilibrium. This model
can also calculate the crystal product size distribution based on the crystal nucleation rate, size dependent growth-rate and
equipment parameters.
Three approaches are available under saturation calculation method in Crystallizer block
? Solubility method: Identify the crystallizing component as solid product on the Setup Crystallization sheet. Enter
solubility data on the Setup Solubility sheet. This data applies to the reactant species in the mixed substream.
? Chemistry method: Create a new Chemistry on the Reactions Chemistry object manager. Enter the crystallization
as a salt reaction on the Reactions | Chemistry | Stoichiometry sheet. On the Block Options | Properties sheet of the
crystallizer, enter the Chemistry ID and select True Species for Simulation Approach. You must specify the crystallizing
component as a Salt Component ID on the Setup | Specifications sheet.
? User Subroutine method: Identify the crystallizing component on the Setup | Crystallization sheet and the solubility
data basis and solvent ID on the Setup | Solubility sheet. Specify a user subroutine to calculate saturation concentration or
crystallizer yield on the Advanced | User Subroutine sheet.
In general, when using the Solubility method, you should blank out the Chemistry ID field on the Block Options | Properties sheet.
If you specify chemistry when using the Solubility method, the chemistry must not contain the crystallizing component.
Aspen Plus calculates the crystal size distribution statistics once you select the Calculate PSD from Growth Kinetics option on the
PSD | PSD sheet.
This example contains a crystallizer block to illustrate the first and second approaches with Particle Size Distribution consideration
(PSD) & without Particle Size Distribution consideration.
Keywords
Crystallizer, PSD, solubility
