Aspen RefSYS™

Next-generation process simulator for petroleum refining

Aspen RefSYS layers powerful new features onto the Aspen HYSYS® process simulator to simplify and improve petroleum refining simulations. Based on the well-accepted Aspen HYSYS interface, Aspen RefSYS streams are driven with crude assays that support an extensive set of stream petroleum properties. Complex, multi-unit simulations can be quickly configured incorporating key units like the naphtha reformer or FCC and associated fractionation. Aspen RefSYS is a core element of aspenONE™ Process Engineering for Refining and Marketing.

Features

  • Stream Assays: Stream compositions and properties are driven by crude assay data that can be consistent with assays used in LP planning programs (e.g., Aspen PIMS™ Assay Tables).
  • Petroleum Properties: Stream properties include an extensive set of petroleum properties such as gravity, sulfur, nitrogen, cloud point, conradson carbon, metals, etc.
  • Stream Structure: Stream compositions have been revolutionized with streamlined and efficient component slates in which pseudo-component properties are not fixed but are blended to follow moves in the underlying assays.
  • Crude Manager Links: The Spiral Software Crude Manager program is closely and conveniently linked to Aspen RefSYS to supply crude assay data in Aspen RefSYS format.
  • Other Assay Management Links: As an alternative to Spiral Software Crude Manager, various options are available to import crude assay data from other crude assay management programs, Aspen PIMS Assay Tables, or Aspen HYSYS Oil Manager.
  • Improved Unit Operations: Aspen HYSYS unit operations expand to include Aspen RefSYS stream data and new Aspen RefSYS unit operations models for distillation, reaction, and blending, greatly simplifying complex flowsheets.
  • Rigorous Reactors: Rigorous models are available for FCC, naphtha reforming, and hydroprocessing that use friendly Aspen HYSYS interfaces for calibration and integration into larger flowsheets.
  • Third-Party Reactor Model Integration: Other reactor models can be integrated using Aspen Simulation Workbook™.

Benefits

  • Improved crude distillation unit modeling: Aspen HYSYS crude and vacuum unit distillation models can be quickly converted to Aspen RefSYS using crude assay data consistent with the LP planning models (e.g., Aspen PIMS). The new Aspen RefSYS models can quickly evaluate and optimize crude feedstock changes taking into account key properties like sulfur and cloud point. Further, model output is fully consistent with the LP planning models like Aspen PIMS, and can be used to improve the LP planning models to optimize refinery crude feedstock selection.
  • Improved reactor unit modeling: Aspen RefSYS contains new reactor models, both simple and rigorous. The simple models allow simulation of complex systems with an easy-to-use base and shift format. Rigorous models are now more accessible than ever for higher accuracy using the friendly Aspen HYSYS interfaces. The combination of the simple and rigorous reactors provides powerful new work processes to support and improve Aspen PIMS reactor submodels for improved optimization of refinery operations.
  • Multi-unit simulation: Aspen RefSYS provides new features and work processes to quickly configure complex, multiple-unit simulations. Multi-unit simulations can investigate complex interactions in the refinery that are crucial for refinery profitability. For example, a crude and vacuum unit model can be quickly integrated with an FCC model to evaluate new deep-cut vacuum unit operations given the FCC reactor, regenerator, and fractionation constraints.

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