Build 132 Release Notes

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Navigation: User Guide -> Revision History

• Build 132 was the second official Build for SysCAD 9.2, officially released on 26^th March 2010.
• See Revision History for a list of improvements and fixes after the first release of Build 132.
• 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 to SysCAD 9.2 Build 131.

New (or significantly changed) Functionality

New Model: Set Tag Controller

1. Allows the user to set any number of units tags from a single measured or user value.
2. May be used as a simple ratio controller.

Reaction Block (RB)

1. Created Content Reaction Block (CRB). This is the same as the existing Reaction Block (RB) except that it performs reactions on the content of a dynamic tank (previously known as Reactions On-Content).
2. New Mass Ratio extent type (to add to existing Molar Ratio extent type)
3. Equilibrium extent type improved and also implemented for Content Reaction Block (CRB). Implemented rules to test for reactions which can not use this extent type.
4. New Dynamic Fraction extent type for Content Reaction Block (CRB). This method allows a fraction per time period to be specified and hence is independent of the step size used in the project.
5. New Ignore Energy Balance option. This option allows the user to switch off the Energy Balance within the reaction block, resulting in less work for SysCAD and hence an increase in solver speed. The overall energy balance is still maintained.
6. New reporting fields to show the Heat of Reaction (HOR) at Reference Conditions of 0°C and 101.325kPa.
7. New Approach heat exchange method. This combines the two previous methods of ApproachT and Approach Ambient.
8. Fixed error where for a user specified HOR and the reaction is in reverse direction the HOR applied was incorrect.
9. Heat of Dilution in Reaction Energy Calculations changes. The heat of formation for a heat of dilution species in reactions is now its heat of formation at infinite dilution.
10. Partial Pressure of Gases in Reaction Energy Calculations changes, including new reporting terms, new methods and a change in the overall methodology. There are now no overall difference in energy regardless of method chosen.
11. Data in inactive reaction blocks is now cleared.
12. Descriptions of the extents for each reaction and Heat Exchange options are now shown as tags which can be reported (rather than simply as descriptions in the access window).
13. If a Heat of Reaction override is specified without a temperature and pressure, then it is now assumed to be at standard conditions (25°C and 101.325kPa) (previously feed conditions were assumed).
14. Removed reverse reactions (<-). Reversible reactions are still available.
15. Do not allow steam or water to be used as a Reaction Source or Reaction Sink.
16. Improved energy balance and audit reporting.
17. Rearranged tags in access window.

Reaction Editor

1. Enhancements to support new reaction types and options
2. Improved checking of valid input ranges
3. Miscellaneous usability improvements

Tanks and Ties

1. In ProBal, if a Tank or Tie has inputs connected but no outputs connected then SysCAD will not run. Previously SysCAD ran but did not send any material to the tank or tie.
2. Heat Exchanger (HX) in Tanks:
   • Moved option for before or after Evaluation Block (EB or CEB) to front tab page
   • Now prevents temperature crossover
   • Implemented Effectiveness_NTU method

Dynamic Tank

1. Improved sequence of evaluation and options for an inline tank:
   • Created Content Evaluation Block which contains Content Reaction Block (CRB) and Content Vapour Liquid Equilibrium (CVLE). This replaces the Reactions-On-Content and VLE-On-Content options. This allows there to be two Reaction and VLE blocks in the one tank, one acting on the feed (as part of the EB) and one acting on the content (as part of the CEB). See also Dynamic Tank - Content Evaluation Block Sub-Models.
   • Outlet temperature is now calculated correctly.
   • The operating pressure of the tank can now be set (instead of being atmospheric)
   • Vapour Control - improved and new option added for specifying the vapour space as a fixed fraction of the actual volume of the whole tank.
2. Added new option to show QCFeed which is the total flow into the tank contents immediately after any EB actions.
3. Exit Rules renamed to Filter methods. The list has been simplified to remove duplicate options.
4. Various tag changes to provide clarity and consistency.
5. Access windows and tags rearranged.
6. Improved tank preset options.
7. Removed option for "buffered" tanks. All tanks are now "inline".

Feeder

1. Fixed issues with specifying mole fractions.
2. Mole Frac and Mole Flow are now always available as View selections, regardless of view options selected in Plant Model.
3. In dynamic, improved the Batch method options. NOTE: If your project was previously using this method, you will have to specifically choose Total Mass for the new field 'Batch Method' for this to continue to work in your project.

Pipe

1. Removed Flow.On tag in ProBal
2. In dynamic, improved the Batch method options.

Cyclone

1. Added new Efficiency Curve method.
2. Improved the calculations for the finest size fraction.

Falling Film Evaporator 2

1. Added new option for Recirculation of Liquor.

Added PGM Functionality

1. New data type Memo implemented. (See Data Types for more information)
2. Alternate data type declarations available: Integer (same as Long), Real (same as Double) and String (same as Str). (See Data Types for more information)
3. New variable declaration options: concealed, nan, hidden, tag, stopped, range, comment, help. (See Declaring variable options using { })
4. New function SetConcealedState to allow users to implement PGM logic to hide or show tags in the PGM access window.
5. Removed the special constants OnLoaded, OnEmpty and OnPreset

Species Balance in Links Table

1. Added new species balance values in the Links Table. These values will allow users to complete an overall project balance on the species displayed:
   • All true Feeders and Sinks will show if there is an increase or decrease of the selected species;
   • All units with Reactions will show if there has been an increase or decrease in the selected species due to reaction.
2. Water and Steam changes are displayed by default.
3. The user may customise the display by changing the setting on the Plant Model - Settings tab. This may involve adding other species of interest and/or removing water or steam.

LockUp|Species Lockup

1. Allow users to choose phases or individual species to contain lockup.
2. Improved display showing material that is locked up and available.

Usability Improvements

1. Insert Unit improvements:
   • changed insert icon to display name of model being inserted to help prevent user from mistakeningly inserting a model which looks like the one they want (but isn't).
   • improved dialog box layout, including display of graphic image of selected mathematical model.
2. Insert Link / Redraw Link - added a Next button to allow users to insert/redraw another link without having to reselect the command (similar to how Insert Unit works)
3. Improved the Change Symbol dialog box.
4. Improved visibility of Evaluation Block sub-models sequences.
5. Added new Access Window Options to reset formatting, conversions and visibility of tags
6. Improved the behaviour/navigation when using two Access Windows
7. Various tag changes and rearrangements (e.g. moving the 'On' button up to the top of the access window)

Other improvements

Species Data and Configuration

1. Improved User Property and Specie Calculations and options. For example: tidy up conversion selection (use SI), allow concealed calculations and added power (^) function. (See Calculation Configuration for more information)
2. Expanded display of additional properties for individual species on the Species Data ($SDB) pages.
3. Added additional checks when Editing User Species Database 9.2 if individual phases do not have the expected occurrence (e.g. if individual phase 's' does not have solid occurrence)
4. Improved handling of multiple size distributions in the one project.

Improved Automatic Phase Change Options

1. When solubility is switched off the solubility saturation levels can still be displayed in pipes, etc.
2. Added a new option to Evaluation Blocks that can be used to enable automatic phase change functionality (such as solubility) for that unit evaluation block. This can be used to effectively switch automatic phase change functionality on in selected units while leaving the global automatic phase change functionality action off.

Encryption

1. Files can be encrypted via the web-based File Encryption Service.
2. Improved management and display of encrypted PGM, RCT and DXF files.
3. By encrypting flowsheets (DXF files) a SysCAD project (or sections of it) can be made read-only.

Solver and Recycle Improvements

1. Improved integral solver methods (Runge-Kutta) for dynamic.
2. Removed the buffered option from any models that may contain surge. This affects how these units operate (internal evaluation sequence) and the response of a recycle if the recycle included a tank configured as a buffered tank.
3. In dynamic, implemented new functionality in tear management for recycles. A new option accumulates the errors when a recycle does not converge within a dynamic time step. This imbalance is visible (new tags in recycle tear) and is used in subsequent time steps to correct the error as the system becomes more stable. This allows the user to set a low maximum iteration count (that is iterations within a time step) to be used when converging a recycle therefore giving a faster step time. This is an important improvement in managing the response to a step change, and allows larger step time sizes to be selected to achieve a larger overall simulation solution time. In the past, portions of this functionality was achieved through the use of buffered tanks in recycles. Some care was required in the configuration of those tanks.
4. The dynamic recycle tear stream has been enhanced to allow the user to manage recycle convergence and view information and statistics on recycle convergence. Various tear reporting and action items can be configured in Plant Model.
5. In ProBal while solving and a recycle is not converged, this is now reported in the Tear Flange rather than the pipe. The tear graphic colour changes to warning colour while the recycle is not converged. The access window for the tear has been improved to display additional information about the state of convergence for the recycle tear.
6. Various other minor solver improvements

Audit/Closure Improvements

1. Separated Audit and Closure options on Settings Tab page of Plant Model. Closure relates to reporting of balance errors and Audit relates to displaying of Audit information for each model.
2. Implemented new tears (recycle) options in Plant Model for reporting for ProBal and Dynamic.
3. Links Table has been re-arranged into separate tables for inputs and outputs to assist in reporting.

User Visibility Improvements

1. Quick View ini file now saved in cfg files folder (not in project)
2. Improvements to Demand logic - separated flash train and general demand
3. Fixed error where in the access window for a field that has a referenced tag, sometimes the triangle display showing this was missing. (See Controlled and Referenced Variables for more information)
4. Plant Model - added new Status tab page to display number of messages and conditions. Also shows maximum errors in audits and tears.

Changes that may affect results

1. In the Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger model, the tag 'IgnoreAreaLimit' has been changed to 'CondenseAll'. The functionality has not changed, but if this was enabled in SysCAD 9.1, then the user must enable the new tag in SysCAD 9.2.
2. For a reaction acting in reverse where the user specified a Heat of Reaction (HOR) override, the HOR is now calculated correctly. This may affect projects where this set of circumstances was encountered.
3. If a Heat of Reaction override was specified without a temperature and pressure in an existing project, it is now assumed to be at standard conditions (25°C and 101.325kPa). Previously feed conditions were assumed and therefore this may change results.
4. In the Cyclone model the calculation for the split of the finest size fraction has been corrected and this will change results in projects using Cyclones.
5. The improved sequence of evaluation for an inline tank in Dynamic Transfer mode may change results for existing Dynamic projects.
6. The behaviour of all units with surge in dynamic projects may be different due to the removal of buffered modes of operation.
7. In dynamic, if your project was previously using the Batch functionality in a Feeder, you will have to specifically choose Total Mass for the new field 'Batch Method' for this to continue to work in your project.

Discontinued functionality

Objective to improve usability and reduce support queries.

1. Buffered tanks
2. Remove unused or rarely used options and tag results in various models.