Chemical Engineering Department

Texas A&M Univ.

M. El-Halwagi

Workshop #13
Cost Estimation of an Air Compressor using ICARUS Process
Evaluator

An isentropic compressor (COMPR10) is used to compress 1000 ft3/min of air (21%

oxygen and 79% nitrogen) at 60 F and 14.7 psia to a pressure of 54.7 psia. Use Aspen
Plus to model this system. Then, use ICARUS Process Evaluator to estimate its fixed
cost.
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COMPR10

Instructions:

First, run an ASPEN simulation for the compressor. For the power of the compressor,
you should get a result of 142 hp.

Before connecting to ICARUS Process Evaluator, you have to define several properties
using a property set. Otherwise, you will get the following error message.

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How to enter these properties:

- Click on the Setup icon
Click on Setup

Click on Properties

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Click on Prop-Sets

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Click on New and accept the name of the new property set as PS-1

From the dropdown menu under Physcial Properties, look for TEMP and select
it. Choose units of oF.

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Continue in the same manner to add the other properties:

As follows:

When you are done, hit

then run the simulation and save it (as a .apw file).

Now you are ready to use ICARUS.

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How to Connect to ICARUS?

From your ASPEN simulation, go to File, then Send to, the ASPEN ICARUS1

After the initial ICARUS pop-up window, you will get the following:

On some of the lab computers, Windows Installer may pop up and tries to install ICARUS
(although ICARUS is already installed). Even when you click "cancel", the window may
repeatedly pop up. To avoid this case, open Aspen ICARUS Process Evaluator before clicking
on "File |Send to | ASPEN ICARUS". To open ICARUS Process Evaluator: All Programs |
ASPEN Tech | ASPEN Engineering Suite | ASPEN ICARUS 12.1 | ASPEN ICARUS Process
Evaluator 12.1

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Enter the project name (say Workshop 10) and the scenario name (say Scenario
1). Then click on OK.

By the way, in the background, you will see the ICARUS main window, palette, and

Palette

properties window.

Main
Window

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Properties
Window

The, you will get the following window:

Enter information on the project description and remarks. Also, choose whether you
will be using IP (inch-pound) units or metric. Then, click OK. Then, you will get the
following window:

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If you would like to make any changes in units, click on it. For instance, if you would
like to change the pressure units from psig to atm, click on Pressure, then Modify.
You will get the window below. Define your new unit (atm) and the conversion factor
0.068 (or 1/14.7).

If you do not wish to add new units, click on Close

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Next, you will get the following General Project Data window. Enter relevant info (e.g.,
your name, estimate day, month, and year).

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Then, you will be asked if you would like to load your simulation. Enter Yes.

Now, you will get an expanded window with the left side added (it has Project
Explorer. At the bottom left, it has three tabs Project Basis View, Project View, and
Process View).
Project
Explorer

Project
Basis
Project
View
View

Palette

Process
View

Main
Window
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Properties
Window

If you click on the Project View tab, you will notice that your simulation of the
compressor (COMPR10) is uploaded.

Click on project
View tab

Next, click on the mapping icon

Mapping
icon
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Then click OK to mapping all items:

You will get the mapping review window which ascertains that you are mapping the
compressor (COMPR10).

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Then, you will get the Interactive Sizing window. It has some info (e.g., horsepower)
but is missing the flowrate, pressure, etc. So, double click on COMPR10.

You will get the following window:

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Enter data where you see the ? (e.g., 1000 CFM for flowrate, 0 psig inlet pressure, 40
psig outlet pressure). Then click on Apply and OK.

Now, youre ready to run. Click on the evaluation icon:

Evaluation
icon

Then, click OK to evaluate the project.

If you get a message warning you that you need an intercooler (or other
errors/warnings), just click Continue (later, the program may tell you that you have a
scan error with the intercooler. Just ignore it).

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Now, you can get your results with different details by clicking on the tabs for Project
Summary, Cash Flow, or Executive Summary.

Your
Numbers

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