What are the best practices for modeling aircraft fuel systems in Aspen HYSYS?

1 Thermodynamic models

One of the first steps in modeling aircraft fuel systems in Aspen HYSYS is to select the appropriate thermodynamic models for your fluids and processes. Thermodynamic models are mathematical representations of the physical and chemical properties and behavior of fluids, such as density, viscosity, vapor pressure, enthalpy, and phase equilibrium. They are essential for predicting the performance and efficiency of fuel systems under different operating conditions and scenarios. Aspen HYSYS offers several thermodynamic models to choose from, depending on the type and composition of your fuel, the temperature and pressure ranges, and the accuracy and speed required. Some of the most common thermodynamic models for aircraft fuel systems are Peng-Robinson, Soave-Redlich-Kwong, and NRTL.

2 Components and streams

The next step in modeling aircraft fuel systems in Aspen HYSYS is to define the components and streams that make up your system. Components are the individual substances that constitute your fuel mixture, such as hydrocarbons, oxygen, nitrogen, water, and additives. Streams are the flows of fluids that connect the components and carry mass, energy, and momentum. You can define the components and streams in Aspen HYSYS by specifying their names, molecular formulas, compositions, temperatures, pressures, flow rates, and other properties. You can also use the built-in databases and calculators to find or estimate the properties of your components and streams.

3 Fuel system library

Another useful feature of Aspen HYSYS for modeling aircraft fuel systems is the fuel system library. The fuel system library is a collection of predefined components, streams, and unit operations that are commonly used in fuel systems, such as pumps, valves, tanks, heat exchangers, filters, separators, and injectors. You can use the fuel system library to quickly and easily build your system by dragging and dropping the elements onto the flowsheet and connecting them with streams. You can also customize the parameters and settings of each element to match your specific system design and requirements.

4 Validation and optimization

The final step in modeling aircraft fuel systems in Aspen HYSYS is to validate and optimize your results. Validation is the process of checking the accuracy and reliability of your model by comparing it with experimental data, empirical correlations, or other sources of information. Optimization is the process of finding the optimal values of your design variables, such as flow rates, pressures, temperatures, and dimensions, that maximize or minimize your objective function, such as performance, efficiency, cost, or emissions. You can use the various tools and features of Aspen HYSYS to perform validation and optimization tasks, such as sensitivity analysis, regression analysis, error analysis, case studies, and solvers.