Associated example file: “Pipeline Steady State.

hsc”

Steady State Gas Gathering Network Modeling

with Aspen HYSYS Hydraulics
Anum Qassam, Sr Product Manager, Upstream & Safety
 Pipe Flow Hydraulics Analysis

ASPENTECH SOLUTION
Objective

This self-guided demo shows how to model a gas

gathering network in steady state using Aspen HYSYS
Hydraulics (i.e. AHH).

© 2018 Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. 3

Problem Statement
In this example, multiple sources of gas with
different quality are combined and transported
together.

The design of the platforms and piping network

needs to be verified to maintain a delivered gas that
meets the Wobbe Index specification at the Terminal
Station.

This tutorial will show how to construct a pipeline

network model to verify the gas delivery design.

This same model can provide a framework to

develop more optimal design options or to assess
future tie-ins or revamps.

© 2018 Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. 4

Step 1. Open the file “Pipeline 101 [Link]”
In the starter file, each platform fluid has been fully
defined, and the pressure requirement at the gas
terminal has also been defined.

From here, we will build out the hydraulic network

which gathers the flow from each platform, and
ultimately delivers to the gas terminal.

Gas Terminal
pressure specification

Source fluids

© 2018 Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. 5

Key Concept:
Property package selection with Aspen HYSYS Hydraulics (i.e. AHH)
When planning to use AHH, special attention is required when selecting a fluid
package and associated property package. In this tutorial, a fluid package
(Aspen Properties), property package (Peng-Robinson) and component list
have already been added.

Aspen HYSYS supports three groups of property packages: HYSYS, Aspen

Properties and COMThermo.

AHH only supports Aspen Properties or COMThermo property package

groups.

Aspen Properties is the recommended fluid package to use for hydraulic

modeling because it provides the fastest performance.
Component list Fluid package selection
If you have already characterized your fluid using the HYSYS fluid package
with the Peng-Robinson or SRK property package, the fluid will be
automatically mapped to the COMThermo fluid package and Peng-Robinson
or SRK property package, as appropriate.

Currently, the only HYSYS property packages that are converted automatically
to COMThermo are Peng-Robinson and SRK. If you choose a HYSYS property
package that is neither of these (e.g. CPA), then the fluid will be mapped to the
COMThermo Peng-Robinson property package for use within the AHH Sub-
Flowsheet.

Property package selection

© 2018 Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. 6
Step 2. Add a hydraulics sub-flowsheet
In the simulation environment:

▪ Open the model palette (shortcut: F4)

▪ Find the AHH unit operation

▪ Add the AHH unit operation to the main flowsheet

Locate AHH unit operation
▪ Connect inlet and outlet streams to the
subflowsheet as shown

Place unit operation on flowsheet & connect

© 2018 Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. 7

Key Concept:
Aspen Hydraulics Sub-flowsheet
The AHH unit operation is available only within Aspen HYSYS – and it checks
out an extra 13 tokens using the HYSYS Upstream token license. All unit
operation models within the hydraulics flowsheet are distinct and separate
from models in Aspen HYSYS. This means that the fundamental equations
used to model each unit operation in AHH is different from the equations used to
model the same unit operation in main HYSYS.

Further, the models used in AHH Steady State are different from the models Ribbon buttons to navigate
between flowsheets
used in AHH Dynamics. This tutorial only discusses the models in AHH Steady
State.

AHH Steady State is an equation-oriented modeling environment, which means

that the whole flowsheet solves together. This is in contrast to HYSYS, which
solves unit operations sequentially, as soon as they are defined to zero degrees
of freedom.

There are many ways to work with sub-flowsheets in Aspen HYSYS. For this
demonstration, you will primarily be working within the Hydraulics subflowsheet,
so use the Go to Parent and Enter Subflowsheet buttons on the Flowsheet
ribbon to navigate between the main flowsheet and any subflowsheets.

AHH Model Palette

You can also right click on the subflowsheet object and keep the flowsheet open
in its own tab.

© 2018 Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. 8

Step 3. Enter the Hydraulics flowsheet
To enter the AHH subflowsheet, select on the AHH
icon, then click Enter Subflowsheet on the
Flowsheet/Modify ribbon.

Enter the AHH flowsheet

© 2018 Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. 9

Step 4. Construct the network
This sketch represents the pipeline network that we
will construct in AHH.
We will assume all pipe lengths are 1 mile

8” STD
8” STD

12” STD

12” STD 12” STD 18” STD 18” STD

© 2018 Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. 10

Step 4. Construct the network
Add unit operations
When adding unit operations, pipes
must exist on both sides of any
fittings (tees, mixers, elbows,
enlargements, etc).

Boundary nodes will be

automatically added to the
beginning and end of the network.

Set the topolgy

© 2018 Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. 11

Step 4. Construct the network
Connect the unit operations
Holding Ctrl will bring HYSYS into
attach mode. Automatically added
boundary node

Connect up the unit operations as

shown.

You cannot add or delete boundary

nodes – only streams and unit
operations. Boundary nodes are
automatically added and removed
by the software.
Connect all unit operations

© 2018 Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. 12

Step 5. Define the pipes
The Pipe Segment Editor is
recommended for quickly specifying
pipe details.

Pipe details
Specify the pipe details according
to the screenshots on the right.

In this case we will use the Tulsa

correlation with the Chen friction
factor correlation.

We will also include both the

acceleration pressure drop and
static head losses.

Which pipes to edit

To define multiple pipes

simultaneously

© 2018 Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. 13

Step 6. Define the mixers
Double click on each mixer unit operation to open the mixer
form.

Confirm the settings on the Design tab, in the Data section.

Tip: Often it is easier to specify one mixer, then copy/paste

across the flowsheet to reduce data entry.

© 2018 Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. 14

Step 7. Define the streams
Understanding boundary conditions
AHH is primarily intended to solve systems where the mass flow(s) into the network are known, and the outlet
pressure(s) are known.

AHH can also solve networks where only the inlet and outlet pressures are known. Pressure-only networks are
not discussed in this tutorial.

© 2018 Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. 15

Step 7. Define the streams
Define the composition
All inlet streams must have compositions defined. Always confirm that compositions are specified.

In this tutorial, the compositions are defined by the streams in the main flowsheet.

© 2018 Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. 16

Step 7. Define the streams
Specifying boundary conditions
Any stream pressures or flows must be activated in
the System Constraints form. This helps to prevent
over- or under-specification of the flowsheet.

We will use the System Constraints window to define

the system boundary conditions

In this example, we will use the mass flows from the

inlet streams, and the pressure on the outlet stream to
solve the system.

Keep in mind that, if you aren’t careful, you can cause

inconsistencies between the main flowsheet and the
sub-flowsheet.

© 2018 Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. 17

Key Concept:
Boundary Conditions
AHH will solve the system using the active constraints defined in the System Constraints form. This means that if you’ve over-specified an inlet stream on the Main
Flowsheet of HYSYS, AHH will ignore any excessive specifications.

To illustrate this, I’ve artificially changed the pressure of PL-X1 to 2 psia. Notice that the stream specification in the Main Flowsheet doesn’t affect the calculated results
in AHH. As such, there is a discontinuity between the Main Flowsheet results and AHH.

In the event of over-specification, delete the over-specified variable in HYSYS. Once hydraulics solves, it will put the calculated variable (pressure, in this case), back
into the main flowsheet stream.

Active constraints

Recommend to delete this

excess specification
Pressure discontinuity

© 2018 Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. 18

Results
Once the system solves, the flowsheet objects will turn dark blue.

You can double-click on the flowsheet objects for detailed results like fluid velocity, density, pressure profiles
and more.

Additional flow assurance factors like CO2 corrosion, erosional velocity limits, hydrate risk, and slug risk can
also be analyzed.

Subset of key results

© 2018 Aspen Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. 19

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