(198d) Using Aspen Plus Solids-Handling Blocks in Particle Technology Education

Aspen Plus provides a library of solids-handling blocks including a crystallizer, solids crusher, a solids washer, a solids-solids separation screen, and various gas-solid and liquid-solid separation blocks. These solids-handling blocks provide an opportunity to introduce students to a rigorous particle process design and simulation tool. This paper describes a design project using these blocks in a PT course taught at University of Kentucky to model the removal of solid particles from a process gas stream. The students design a particle separation system using the Aspen Plus gas-solids separation blocks that include fabric filters (a baghouse), an ESP, a cyclone, and a venturi scrubber. Each student is given a unique particle size distribution in the untreated process stream, and must design a gas-solid separation process that will attain a required level of particle removal in each size range. Students learn an appreciation for the removal capabilities of the different separation technologies, and that multiple removal technologies are required to treat particle laden gas streams with a wide range of particle sizes.