Revision History

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Navigation: User Guide ; or What's New

Contents 1 Changes in SysCAD 9.2 Build 132 2 Changes in SysCAD 9.2 Build 131 3 Changes in SysCAD 9.1 4 Changes in SysCAD 9.0 and earlier

Changes in SysCAD 9.2 Build 132

• Build 132 is the second official Build for SysCAD 9.2, officially released on 26th March 2010.
• For notes on upgrading SysCAD projects from 9.1 to 9.2 see Upgrade to SysCAD 9.2.
• See What's New for SysCAD 9.2 Build 132 Release Notes for a list of new features and changes from Build 131.

Important updates after first release of SysCAD 9.2 Build 132.7625

Note that the 132 Build numbers below reflect when the improvements or fixes were implemented. These Builds were not necessarily distributed, only a few of these would have been made available for download. Some general minor fixes and improvements are not listed below.

1. Build 7637: Add new warning to reaction file load when T&P for fixed HOR is not specified.
2. Build 7676: Fix for a crash in some heater models in dynamic mode.
3. Build 7708: Populate the QProd page of a sink (previously this had default or old data).
4. Build 7720: Improve robustness of direct contact heater. (Although it may be slower it solves correctly for a larger range of input and limit conditions).
5. Build 7735: Save list of recently opened projects in basefiles folder instead of windows system folder.
6. Build 7738: Fix for freeze for realtime dynamic projects on Vista and Windows7.
7. Build 7760: For shell and tube1 (condensing mode with CondenseAll) to give a warning for temperature crossover.
8. Build 7772: Improve occasional false reporting for unconverged recycle tear when there is no flow in the recycle.
9. Build 7806: Fix occasional crash on project save for projects with flash trains.
10. Build 7808: Fix copy and past error of values for fields with values of zero.
11. Build 7817: Added option to switch the washer and thickener models off (ie no separation action).
12. Build 7826: Improved shell&tube1 tag display.
13. Build 7828: Add option to Alumina3 Bayer feed calculator to specify solids as concentration.
14. Build 7834: Fix crash at startup that has occurred on a few machines.
15. Build 7842: For COM ScdProject class add new commands LoadScenario and SaveScenario.
16. Build 7849: For Excel TagSelect report, added option to first clear data in results table.
17. Build 7868: Fix VLE error when feed has very small amount of non-condensibles.
18. Build 7879: Improve management of access window field formats for General Controller and Reactions.
19. Build 7885: For profile, queue, events and SetTagList models, improved tag checking behaviour, reporting and operation.
20. Build 7901: Change PID behaviour and messages when setpoint is close to measured minimum or maximum. (Improves response for this case with 'poorly' configured setpoint value.)
21. Build 7908: Phase Change at Temperature improvements: Add messages at specie database load time when data is missing or incorrect. Fixed errors in phase change implementation which occurred in some cases. Improve display on "PC" access window for phase change at temperature.
22. Build 7947: Implemented new range check option for H2O region test for given temperature and pressure.
23. Build 7973: Fix for occasional crash in Alumina projects.
24. Build 7976: Add heatloss method in shell&tube2 for "Sensible HX" OpMode.
25. Build 7997: Fix for error that can sometimes occur when setting composition fractions in a feeder.
26. Build 8006: Minor improvements to solver status window list of non-converged variables.
27. Build 8032: For makeup block, add new "required is target" options to avoid condition messages when requirement is not strict.
28. Build 8034: Fix for database error that can sometimes occur when saving dynamic projects.
29. Build 8053: Improved range checks for specified project Min and Max P and T.
30. Build 8124: Add option to switch of new PID setpoint warnings where setpoint is close to InMin or InMax.
31. Build 8135: Improved archiver: Auto-reload on change. New functions CurrentDiff, SumTotal, Time, Time(operator,value), TimeInRange(...), TimeOutRange(...).
32. Build 8184: Rearranged shell&tube2 specification methods and demand connection options.
33. Build 8190: Significantly improved RB calculation speed. Leads to improved iteration times.
34. Build 8195: Fix mass balance error that can occur in ties when total feed is greater than required demand.
35. Build 8215: Enhanced Desuperheater model. Supports demand on both steam line and water demand. Model is more robust for a wider range of input conditions and solves significantly faster.
36. Build 8262: Shell&Tube1 and Shell&Tube2 now pass demand results through tube side.
37. Build 8286: Implement new constant enthalpy method in RB when RB.FullEnergyBalance is switched off. Improved related error messages.
38. Build 8294: Minor improvements for PID measured range warnings.
39. Build 8316: For dynamic mode with pipes in transfer flow mode, can now optionally apply pressure drops/boost in pipes, valves and pumps. Similar to ProBal where pressure changes are applied for the current flowrate.
40. Build 8321: Additional dynamic mode tank and multistore totaliser reporting tags.
41. Build 8326: New TimeTotal options in archiver and other minor archiver improvements.

Changes in SysCAD 9.2 Build 131

• Build 131 was the first official release of SysCAD 9.2 (31^st July 2009).
• For notes on upgrading SysCAD projects from 9.1 to 9.2 see Upgrade to SysCAD 9.2.
• See SysCAD 9.2 Release Notes for a list of new features and changes from SysCAD 9.1.

The following lists give a brief overview of these new features in SysCAD 9.2:

Stream Properties and Specie Database Improvements

1. Heat of Dilution.
2. Boiling Point Elevation.
3. Phase Change - including Solubility, Temperature phase changes and phase changes as a function of Mass Fraction.
4. Sulfuric Acid: Built in functionality for properties for H2SO4.
5. Partial Pressure - For vapour streams with multiple species, improved calculation and use of partial pressures in determining vapour stream properties. .
6. Custom Calculations - New functionality to specify calculations based on species in a stream.
7. Species Data ($SDB) Page - Significant improvements in the Specie Data Access window pages that display values of individual specie properties at user specified conditions.
8. Specie Database Editor has an improved user interface and a number of new features.
9. Configuration Editor has an updated user interface and a number of new features.

Units: New Functionality and Improvements

1. New Ion Exchange model.
2. Feeder improvements
3. Flotation Cell improvements
4. Layered Tank (dynamic mode improvement)
5. Multi-Storage (dynamic mode model) - Implemented new inbuilt bypass (and makeup) option for the Multi-Storage model.

Pipes: New Functionality and Improvements

1. Pipes by default in new projects are simple pipes with only have a Qo page. There will be no Qi page, simplifying the pipe and the access window.
2. Po is now the outlet pressure of the pipe, not the pressure of unit that is immediately downstream of the pipe. This provides clarity as all pressures shown in the pipe are related to the pipe inlet and outlet points.
3. General improvements in arrangement and inclusion of relevant tags for both ProBal and dynamic.
4. More specie views are available. For example Elemental Molar flows, etc. These are now selectable in Plant Model.
5. The relative humidity in a pipe is now displayed in the Saturation Values section of the Access Window.

Usability Improvements

1. Simplified and rearranged main menus, toolbar buttons and pop-up menus.
2. User can select alternative background colours such as white and gray as well as the original black, see Graphics Symbols Displaying Colours.
3. When changing a tag, the tag change is also made in PGM files of controllers. This option is enabled in on the Global tab page of the General Options.
4. Left mouse button double click can be used to navigate between connected crosspage connectors.
5. Only feeders can be used to connect cross-page connectors. A drop down list for choosing from all available sinks is provided rather than typing or copying tags from feeders or sinks.
6. Drop down lists for choosing Makeup Sources in a Makeup Block rather than typing or copying tags.
7. Improved functionality of demand calculations in the network, as well as implementing new messages to provide feedback on Demand calculations that are not met or not specified correctly.
8. New long multi-line equipment memo field on Info tab page of all models, which is ideal for longer descriptions in models.
9. New link fields on Info tab page of all models, which is ideal for URL links to web pages or external documents.
10. Implemented Summary Table of connections to a model on the Audit tab page of all models.
11. Rearranged top two rows of buttons and options of the Access window.
12. Improved arrangement and options in Plant Model access window.
13. New functionality to compare model changes made since a project was loaded. Ideal for reviewing changes before a save.
14. Implemented default set of quick view tags in Basefiles folder. Improved behaviour for then adapting the quickview tag list.

Solver and Other Improvements

1. In almost all cases SysCAD solves projects faster despite the fact that additional calculations and tests are performed in streams, unit models and the network solver.
2. Significant improvements in Audit Page, including re-organisation of the access window.
3. Implemented option to set pressure ("OperatingP") in all Mass Separation Models as well as most other unit models.
4. Implemented consistent behaviour and options for "extra" or "unexpected" vapours in all Mass Separation Models as well as all other unit models.
5. All unit models belong to an area model. Every project will automatically have one "Global Area". The user may insert other area models, which in turn will belong to the Global Area.
6. A tear stream is used for convergence of a recycle. In 9.1 these were shown as QiI pages in pipes. In 9.2 there are no QiI pages, instead there is a separate object that can be accessed from pipes that have tears, but can also be accessed from the new graphics symbol ("chevron" like graphics symbol) automatically shown on pipes.
7. Range Check options and usability has been extended. These are configured in Plant Model.
8. Simplified the list of set state or solver actions available. Single Reset action for ProBal and a few actions such as Empty & Reset for Dynamic.
9. Simplified and renamed from three to two main COM Automation interfaces. The new .tlb files are installed and registered.

Dynamic Mode: Solver and Other Improvements

1. Spill reporting has been improved in the Audit page of units and a new spill summary in any individual Area and PlantArea models.
2. A range of accumulation or totaliser tags and statistics are available with stream properties in Qo/QFeed/QProd/etc pages.
3. Significantly extended the Steady State Monitor (or "Change Monitor") used to determine if behaviour in units (with or without surge) and pipes has reached steady state.
4. Implemented runtime statistics page (View|Runtime Statistics menu option) for analysis of solver time on different models.

Further changes, fixes or improvements

1. The VLE calculation in the flash tank is independent of the pressure of the inlet streams.
2. Improved VLE display (for example the VLE page for the Flash Tank).
3. Removed use of MinSolidsCp in Alumina 3 Bayer Species Model.
4. Minor improvements to the Precipitation3 thermal override option and added White-Bateman Yield method.
5. Improving handling of vapours in closed tanks in dynamic mode.
6. Various unit model improvements such as improved warning messages, new options and additional result fields in many of the unit models.
7. Improved display of reaction extents.
8. Enthalpy values, heat capacities and densities of gases are now more correctly evaluated at the partial pressure of the species, rather than the total pressure.
9. Enthalpy values and heat capacities for water and steam have been improved slightly to match the IAPWS-97 standard.
10. Small error of 0.01 in the conversion from deg C to deg K has been corrected.
11. The hard-wired atomic masses of the elements have been improved and are now based on a single reference.
12. Hard-wired many of the common engineering conversion units.
13. General controller PGM files are placed in a controls sub folder of the project.
14. Now uses updated Crypkey 7.1 for licensing.
15. Rearranged where some of the user settings are saved.
16. Various SysCAD Projects Files name changes have been implemented.

Simplifications; rearrangement of options; and discontinued functionality Objective to improve usability and reduce support queries.

1. The "Flows" tab pages in feeders have been renamed to "QProd" for consistency with other models.
2. Standard Temperature hard wired to 25°C.
3. Can no longer use conversion units which contain a specie name as part of the conversion name.
4. Can no longer use property overrides (Density, BPE, Cp, etc).
5. Partial pressures are always used for VLE.
6. Can not input data in a feeder (or tank content) on a volume (or volume fraction) basis.
7. Changed tag for pressure method from PBPress to "OperatingP" which is used in models such as ties, tanks, etc.
8. Can no longer use Saturation for PBPressure (OperatingP) method in models such as ties, tanks, etc.
9. PID Controller: Removed the seldom used Original (PID2) method. Also added a separate option to select if a setpoint tag will be used, making the PID access window setpoint use much clearer.
10. Exit Rules on Dynamic Tanks simplified.
11. Removed some old or rarely used unit models.
12. Removed some old conversion types which have since been replaced.

NOTES:

• Please refer to Upgrade to SysCAD 9.2 for notes on upgrading 9.1 projects to SysCAD 9.2.

Important updates after first release of SysCAD 9.2 Build 131.6369

Note that the 131 Build numbers below reflect when the improvements or fixes were implemented. These Builds were not necessarily distributed, only a few of these would have been made available for download. Some general minor fixes and improvements are not listed below.

1. Build 6406: Improved Explorer window for navigating pages and models.
2. Build 6418: Improved graphics erase when using alternate colour schemes.
3. Build 6426: Improved behaviour for setting mass fractions of species by phase.
4. Build 6439: For dynamic, improved the model logic for the different set Action options. Updated the Dynamic Info Access window and dynamic options dialog where the actions to be applied at solver start are specified.
5. Build 6449: For dynamic, fixed errors when user changes temperature or specie masses for tank contents.
6. Build 6455: Fix for crash when closing Explorer window (or closing project).
7. Build 6473: Improved phase change (eg solubility) logic and messages, for example when solvent is not present.
8. Build 6482: Changed Bayer feed calculator tag from 'Calc' to 'BayerCalc' to prevent tag clash with user calculations.
9. Build 6488: Fixed error for new van't Hoff BPE method where data was not cleared between project loads leading to incorrect BPE results.
10. Build 6492: Further improvements in dynamic behaviour when setting individual Actions (eg Empty, Preset, etc).
11. Build 6537: Added new menu item "Window|Centre On Monitor" which will move and if necessary reset and resize windows so that they are visible on closest monitor. Shortcut is Ctrl+Shft+C.
12. Build 6544: Improved SSA Quality management. Importantly SSA.SetData as a user option has been removed, instead to change SSA data, user must select the "Modify" option for "SzSSAAct". Pipes with any quality action that is "Create", "Remove" or "Modify" can now not be simplified.
13. Build 6548: Improvements for Downtime and Scheduled Events dynamic models.
14. Build 6557: Improve display of multi-line "memo" fields in access windows.
15. Build 6568: Fix for error introduced in Build 6530 where tanks with heat exchange connected did not recover on project load.
16. Build 6577: Added new functionality for recycle streams in the Falling Film Evaporator 2.
17. Build 6877: Improved Precipitation3 model reporting of energy terms. Fixed temperature drop heatloss option.
18. Build 6906: Add LMTDFactor option to Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger 2.
19. Build 6944: Improved implementation of encrypted pgm and rct files as described in File Encryption Service.
20. Build 7346: Fix for issue with FinalConc method in simultaneous reactions.
21. Build 7383: Fix for BPE use in feeder when using saturated liquid.
22. Build 7460: Fix crash when using Excel TagSelect reports with errors in select syntax.

Changes in SysCAD 9.1

SysCAD 9.1 Build 127 is the last release of SysCAD 9.1.

Please see Revision History for SysCAD 9.1 for details on changes in SysCAD 9.1 versions.

Changes in SysCAD 9.0 and earlier

SysCAD 9.0 Build 115 is the last release of SysCAD 9.0. A SysCAD 9.0 Build 116 is available to SysCAD 9.0 users who upgrade to 9.1 but still need to run 9.0 projects. Build 116 is identical in functionality to Build 115 except that it uses a 9.1 license file.

See Revision History for SysCAD 9.0 for further details on changes in older versions.