Optimize Process Designs for Capital and Operating Costs with

Activated Economics
Webinar Q&A
This document summarizes the responses to questions posed before and during the webinar. Additional
questions should be directed to AspenTech Support.
Submitted Before the Webinar:
Q: Do AspenTech employees work as consultants to evaluate companies capital cost estimates?
A: AspenTech does not offer those services at this time. AspenTech can assist with using the software
and also with implementation. We do not staff cost estimators, but we do work with several third
parties that specialize in cost estimation in an early phase that we can put you in touch with if youre
interested in having external companies check your estimates or implement AspenTech Economic
Evaluation products.
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Q: What is the accuracy of cost estimates generated with Activated Economics in Aspen Plus and
Aspen HYSYS?
A: Activated Economics represents a relative feasibility and conceptual design cost for your process. This
would be the equivalent of a Stage V estimate. By using other AspenTech Economic Evaluation products,
such as Aspen Capital Cost Estimator, users are able to provide very detailed and accurate estimates up
to and including Stage II estimates.
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Q: Does the Aspen Economics include estimates for fermentation and purification processes, such as
chromatography and ultrafiltration? What is the range of production scales that can be modeled?
A: Typically, we do not model small scale processes (pilot scale or bench scale processes) but we do
model full size processes. There is a large variety of models available out of the box; however, if a model
is missing, users are able to input custom models. For example, a fermentation vessel might have some
unique properties; therefore, you could run one of our vessels and adjust it to fit your unique
requirements. You can then put that in the mapping dialogue and it will run the model youve specified.
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Q: My current version of Aspen Plus is V7.2; will I be able to use most of the functions presented in
the webinar?
A: Youll need to upgrade to V8.4 to perform many of the functionalities shown in the demo. If your
company has V8.0 or V8.2, you can access some of the functionality but we strongly suggest you
upgrade as weve made many improvements to Activated Economics in the latest release (V8.4).

Submitted During the Webinar:

Q: Is there an example file that shows how to approach problems that use equipment blocks that are
not standard items in Aspen Plus and Aspen Process Economic Analyzer, for example a membrane
module?
A: This is a very good suggestion. We dont have an example file that shows how to approach these
problems, but it would certainly be useful to put either a viewlet or a tutorial together for doing that.
Typically, you would need a unit operation block in Aspen Plus or Aspen HYSYS that can map to some
piece of equipment in our system and then apply this custom model to get to what you want.
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Q: How do you make a complete report out of the data when finished? Are they all exported to Excel
one at a time?
A: The equipment grid produced by Aspen Plus or Aspen HYSYS (which is already in Excel format) can be
exported to Excel or copied and pasted into Excel. Additionally, on the Economics Ribbon, you can
generate a detailed report using Aspen Process Economic Analyzer (a standalone cost estimation tool
used to develop the estimates given by Activated Economics). Finally, estimates developed with
Activated Economics can be exported into Aspen Process Economic Analyzer or Aspen Capital Cost
Estimator for additional reports, enabling you to drill down into the various aspects of a project.
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Q: What approach is taken when the model has equipment that is beyond the size/capacity data that
is in Aspen Process Economic Analyzer, for example large blowers?
A: AspenTech Economic Evaluation products consider the size and capacity limitations of pieces of
equipment; therefore, if the system reports that a blower is too large, you may want to look into
whether a blower of that size is obtainable from a manufacturer. Our data comes directly from process
equipment manufacturers to ensure our cost models match the size and capacity limitations of their
product portfolios. If your unit is outside of those bounds, add a rule in the template that says when the
turbine gets to a particular size, split it into two units, etc.
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Q: I did not get the methodology of how piping, instrument, civil, foundation, and capital cost can be
estimated from standalone equipment without implantation constraint information or soil
information?
A: AspenTech Economic Evaluation products all use a volumetric modeling approach to cost estimation.
Based on the application of the unit operation in question, we select a virtual P&ID for that unit, or the
user can select one. The unit sizing, weight, dimensions, etc. are developed using the stream data and
the given default parameters present within the flowsheet or cost template. Soil constraints are
controlled in the costing template, which means it will default to one of our five cost basis areas.
Customizing the template will allow you to be as accurate as possible given that you know all of the
constraints.

Q: How does this functionality work in Aspen HYSYS?

A: The functionality works the exact same way in Aspen HYSYS as it does in Aspen Plus (demonstrated in
the webinar). For further information on how to use Activated Economics in Aspen Plus or Aspen HYSYS,
please view our Computer-Based Training, Jump Start Guides, or viewlets. All of these materials can be
found on the AspenTech Support website or from within the product using aspenONE Exchange.
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Q: Is there a CBT available for Activated Economics?
A: Yes, the CBT is available from within the product using aspenONE Exchange if you are running V8.0 or
higher.
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Q: Does the formal Aspen Plus and Aspen HYSYS training cover this functionality?
A: Yes, though somewhat briefly, so we would suggest using these webinars or the Jump Start Guides
and online materials specific to AspenTech Economic Evaluation products and Activated Economics.
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Q: I understand that cost information is updated at the end of each year; are they updated via patches
during the year?
A: Cost data is updated on a yearly basis using a number of public and private sources. Cost updates
represent data from the first quarter of the year and can be obtained by downloading the latest release;
it is not a patch. Some companies further index their costs for items that may fluctuate more rapidly and
this is demonstrated in this On-Demand Webinar: Calibrating Aspen Capital Cost Estimator for Increased
Accuracy featuring Strategic Estimating Systems.
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Q: Can Activated Economics be used for refining applications?
A: Yes, the first case study presented in the webinar used Activated Economics for a refining application.
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Q: I joined the presentation very late due to connection problem. Is there going to be a recording of
the presentation for later viewing?
A: The On-Demand recording of this webinar can be found here: Optimize Process Designs for Capital
and Operating Costs with Activated Economics.
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Q: How many different process plants can be compared in one go?
A: We dont have a direct case comparison tool in APEA, but we do offer the ability to export the data in
each case to an excel sheet so that you can compare as many cases as you would like through Excel.
There is also a webinar by Burns and McDonnell in conjunction with us where they use our product
Aspen Simulation Workbook to look at multiple process and economic parameters over a number of
different scenarios to do a full optimization.
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Q: Is it also possible to do life cycle emissions along with product life cycle cost?
A: You can use the utilities in the simulation to identify emissions factors. Additionally, Aspen Plus and
Aspen HYSYS have features incorporated to evaluate and survey emissions data. With Activated Energy
in Aspen Plus and Aspen HYSYS, users can easily analyze greenhouse gas emissions and Activated
Economics will evaluate potential emission reduction scenarios.

Q: I am interested in absolute economics and would like a default custom module for different regions
of the world based on AspenTechs database. I realize labor costs, productivities, etc. are all different
but Id like to see what AspenTech suggests for these values.
A: This is accommodated to an extent with our five different country basis, but would need to be
customized in the template and data for more specific regions. Activated Economics is really designed to
help you hone in on process economics and feasibility for a project; comparing option A against B to see
the economic impact of design changes. The more detailed process of defining specific labor rates, hand
excavation factors, etc. would be performed using Aspen Capital Cost Estimator. These are not typically
important considerations for the early conceptual phase that Activated Economics is useful for.
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Q: Do you use Lang or Power factors in your model building?
A: We do not factor anything in our system. We use a volumetric approach, as described in the webinar.
Equipment is built, sized, and evaluated based on the application, stream data, and any applicable
information present in the simulation/template files.
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Q: The air compressor component in ACCE states it has an air filter. What kind of air filter is this and
does ACCE include the structural supports as theyre large?
A: The air filters are included in the cost of the item, but we do not include the structural members for
the support of the filters (we do include the equipment foundation and other bulks). These could be
added to a custom model and represented in the mapping that way.
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Q: How automatic is the generation of the equipment list? In other words, what amount of
information is necessary to input manually (numbering, designation, etc.)?
A: The equipment list is generated based on the default mappings for each piece of equipment. For
every unit operation in Aspen Plus or Aspen HYSYS, we have a default mapping and automatically
generate a list of equipment. We use the process simulation name to map the equipment to start with,
linking it back to the process. You dont have to manually name or input anything, but you are free to
override the defaults if needed.
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Q: Can you specify something other than CS as default material for all equipment, for instance SS
316L?
A: CS is the typical default for many of the items in the standard templates, but if you wanted to use SS
as a blanket default for the project you can create a custom template and it will choose that material
where possible for you. This will work for many items, but there are a few unit operations which only
support a small amount of metallurgies. You can also select individual units in the equipment grid and
select what materials you want to use for the unit from a large drop-down list.
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Q: Is refractory material included in the MOC options?
A: Yes, it is a material of selection for vessels. For example, if you wanted to build a gasifier you could
put in abrasive lining materials or firebrick.

Q: In relation to revams, how can AspenTech estimate equipment that has some modifications but
maintains structural bulks and so on?
A: In Activated Economics, you have some control over whether this is part of a revamp project. You
have the ability in the equipment grid to declare if something is a spare pump, for example, or to
designate if a piece of equipment already exists and you only want to re-pipe it. More detailed
functionality is available in Aspen In-Plant Cost Estimator, which is a product designed specifically for
applications in the plant, such as revamp projects.
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Q: What is the best way to handle blocks used in the simulation to bridge between units but have no
real cost?
A: We handle these the same way we handle mixers and splitters. We dont know based on your
simulation if the mixer or splitter is a T in the pipe or an actual piece of equipment. We map them to a
placeholder, zero-cost item. We recommend you keep these mappings as they are, in case it becomes
necessary to remap and define these later on in the process.
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Q: Does ACCE have Double Wall Horizontal Vessels, for example, Internal Vessel 316SS and the Outer
Vessel CS?
A: We have them present in the system as multi-walled vessels. We do not allow you to define
different materials for the different walls, but you would be able to specify a lining in this case where
the shell was CS and the lining was 316 SS.
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Q: Will automatic, optimal, rule-based material selection be added in the future?
A: No, the material selection process is extremely complex. We have been looking at this for years and
the fact that small concentration changes can require changes in metallurgy means we cant allow rulebased designations.
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Q: How many tokens per user are required for Activated Economics?
A: On activating economics, the token value for APEA (24 tokens) will be checked out on top of the
Aspen Plus or Aspen HYSYS license. Closing Activated Economics will return the tokens.
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Q: What does Activated in the product actually refer to?
A: Our Activated features (Energy, Economics and EDR as of V8.4) are an improvement over the older
integrated features. Activated, here, refers to the ability to readily start and stop the product/feature
within the simulation environment. In previous integrated versions, the capabilities for economics and
energy required sharing files between the separate standalone products. With Activation, the simulation
environments seamlessly interact with our activated products so that a full range of functionality from
those products is present in the simulation, without ever having to leave the simulation environment or
open a separate, standalone program or product.

Q: Does your model estimate spacing between equipment to see if the unit(s) will be available within
the plot plan?
A: We do have the capability to estimate area size based on the equipment selected. This is based on
the equipment footprint, plus a safety zone based on fire requirements. We do not check whether this
will fit within your plot areathat would require manual review.
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Q: Is it possible to add different utility costs for different years or provide a multiplier?
A: In Activated Economics, it is not possible to adjust the utility costs for different years. In APEA, there
is an advanced Economics module that allows each individual cost to be adjusted by time to see the
impact.
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Q: How are costs for control rooms, labs, etc. estimated?
A: Estimates for plant requirements, such as control rooms, labs, roads, etc. can be generated with
Aspen Capital Cost Estimator (ACCE). In ACCE, there are multiple building models that can be selected
for a project. For the purposes of Activated Economics, these are assumed to be the same between the
various cases that are being compared.
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Q: Will this economic analysis lead to a feasibility decision?
A: Activated Economics excels in the early stages of conceptual design and relative process comparison,
including process economic feasibility. The investment and process metrics available through Activated
Economics provides a summary of key figures which can be used to determine the relative profitability
(and therefore the economic feasibility) of a process. Generally, the feasibility decision requires other
decisions beyond the scope of Process Economics, such as how raw material and product costs might
impact this decision.
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Q: Are auxiliary equipment such as piping, insulation, or heat tracing considered for the estimates?
A: Auxiliary equipment is included in the equipment mapping for unit operation as bulks and is an
integral part of the estimate. Our volumetric modeling system allows for building equipment from the
ground upincluding bulk items like pipingto get a full estimate. Heat tracing is not considered in
Activated Economics, but can easily be added when using APEA or ACCE.