LAPSE:2025.0378
Published Article
LAPSE:2025.0378
Comparative and Statistical Study on Aspen Plus Interfaces Used for Stochastic Optimization
June 27, 2025
Abstract
New research on complex intensified distillation schemes has popularized the use of several commercial process simulation software. The interfaces between process simulation and optimization-oriented software have allowed the use of rigorous and robust models. This type of optimization is mentioned in the literature as "Black Box Optimization", since successive evaluations exploits the information from the simulator without altering the model that represents the given process. Among process simulation software, Aspen Plus® has become popular due to their rigorous calculations, model customization, and results reliability. This work proposes a comparative study for Aspen Plus software and Microsoft Excel VBA®, Python® and MATLAB® interfaces. Five distillation schemes were analyzed: conventional column, reactive column, extractive column, column with side rectifier and a Petlyuk column. The optimization of the ?????? (Total Annual Cost) was carried out by a modified Simulated Annealing Algorithm (m-SAA). The evaluation criteria are the time per iteration (????) and ?????? values. The results indicate that the best option to carry out the optimization was by using the VBA interface, however the one carried out with Python did not differ radically (12%).
New research on complex intensified distillation schemes has popularized the use of several commercial process simulation software. The interfaces between process simulation and optimization-oriented software have allowed the use of rigorous and robust models. This type of optimization is mentioned in the literature as "Black Box Optimization", since successive evaluations exploits the information from the simulator without altering the model that represents the given process. Among process simulation software, Aspen Plus® has become popular due to their rigorous calculations, model customization, and results reliability. This work proposes a comparative study for Aspen Plus software and Microsoft Excel VBA®, Python® and MATLAB® interfaces. Five distillation schemes were analyzed: conventional column, reactive column, extractive column, column with side rectifier and a Petlyuk column. The optimization of the ?????? (Total Annual Cost) was carried out by a modified Simulated Annealing Algorithm (m-SAA). The evaluation criteria are the time per iteration (????) and ?????? values. The results indicate that the best option to carry out the optimization was by using the VBA interface, however the one carried out with Python did not differ radically (12%).
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Suggested Citation
Velázquez JJH, Hernández ELP, Vega LA, Espinoza DEC, Avila JRA, Ruiz JC. Comparative and Statistical Study on Aspen Plus Interfaces Used for Stochastic Optimization. Systems and Control Transactions 4:1409-1414 (2025) https://doi.org/10.69997/sct.102858
Author Affiliations
Velázquez JJH: Universidad de Guanajuato, Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Guanajuato, 36050, Mexico; Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Guanajuato, Departamento de Ingeniería en Industrias Alimentarias, Guanajuato, 36262, Mexico
Hernández ELP: Universidad de Guanajuato, Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Guanajuato, 36050, Mexico
Vega LA: Universidad de Guanajuato, Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Guanajuato, 36050, Mexico
Espinoza DEC: Universidad de Guanajuato, Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Guanajuato, 36050, Mexico
Avila JRA: Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Departamento de Ingeniería, Lima, 15074, Peru
Ruiz JC: Universidad de Guanajuato, Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Guanajuato, 36050, Mexico
Hernández ELP: Universidad de Guanajuato, Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Guanajuato, 36050, Mexico
Vega LA: Universidad de Guanajuato, Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Guanajuato, 36050, Mexico
Espinoza DEC: Universidad de Guanajuato, Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Guanajuato, 36050, Mexico
Avila JRA: Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Departamento de Ingeniería, Lima, 15074, Peru
Ruiz JC: Universidad de Guanajuato, Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Guanajuato, 36050, Mexico
Journal Name
Systems and Control Transactions
Volume
4
First Page
1409
Last Page
1414
Year
2025
Publication Date
2025-07-01
Version Comments
Original Submission
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PII: 1409-1414-1358-SCT-4-2025, Publication Type: Journal Article
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LAPSE:2025.0378
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Jun 27, 2025
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References Cited
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