Excel-Hysys interface

Simulators like HYSYS and ASPEN Plus can be interfaced with Microsoft Excel or Visual Basic because of their ActiveX compliance. This feature can be used to optimize the process modeled in such simulators using powerful optimization algorithms written in high-level... 

Global SOO and MOO optimization methods, particularly recent ones, have been implemented and are readily available in Excel, MATLAB, C-i-i-, FORTRAN, and so on (Table 4.1). But, they may not be available in process simulators. So, interfacing between a process simulator (for example. Aspen HYSYS, Aspen Plus or ACM) and a global optimization program (for example, I-MODE in Excel) is necessary for improving the design of chemical processes. In particular, students and practitioners are familiar with Excel, and can easily use worksheets in Excel for computations, data analysis, plotting, and so on. 

Appendix 4C Interfacing of Aspen HYSYS v8.4 with Excel 2013... 

To illustrate the interfacing between Aspen HYSYS and Excel, an ammonia synthesis process (Figure 4.C.1) is taken from simulation examples available in Aspen HYSYS. This process consists of several reactors, separators and heat exchangers/coolers. The main steps of this interfacing are shown below. Some familiarity with Aspen HYSYS, Excel and VBA is required for adopting/using them. Note that sample Aspen HYSYS and Excel files for interfacing can be downloaded from this book s website. 

Simulate the ammonia synthesis process (Figure 4.C. 1 in Appendix 4C) in Aspen HYSYS. Identify important objectives, decision variables and constraints for this ammonia process. Interface the simulation file with the optimization program (in Excel or MATLAB), and then optimize the ammonia synthesis process. 

---