Building Custom Simulation Models using Aspen Custom Modeler

Learn how to develop open equation models using Aspen Custom Modeler. Gain the practical skills to build and run custom models. Use automation to pass information to and from Microsoft? Excel and control the simulation.

Audience:

Engineers with little or no prior experience of Aspen Custom Modeler who need basic training to get started.

Training Details

  • Course Id:

    EAP2311

  • Duration:

    3 day(s)

  • CEUs Awarded:

    2.1

  • Level:

    Intermediate

Benefits

  • Gain the practical skills and knowledge to specify a complete problem description
  • Build a flowsheet and run simulations
  • Tabulate and plot simulation results
  • Use automation to pass information to and from Microsoft® Excel and control the simulation

Approach

  • Instruction on basic topics
  • Demonstrations of general features
  • Instructor-guided exercises
  • Hands-on workshops that apply learned concepts
  • Example problems
  • Detailed course notes

Pre-requisites

The course assumes little or no familiarity with the use of Aspen Custom Modeler Familiarity with process modeling and modeling techniques is expected.

Subsequent Courses

EAP101 Aspen Plus: Process Modeling EAP2411 Aspen Plus Dynamics

Agenda

Graphical User Interface
  • Describe navigation through ACM graphical user interface
  • Provides a quick tour of Aspen Custom Modeler with a simple example
  • Learn how to create a flowsheet
  • Workshop: Build a simple flowsheet and run the simulation.

Review of Equation Oriented Concepts
  • Explain; Equation Oriented modeling, Principle of system resolution, Steady state modes, Initialization and dynamic modes

Overview of the Modeling Language
  • Explain Aspen Custom Modeler language syntax for: Model, Variable Types, Port Types
  • Workshop:  Illustrate Variable Type, Port Type and Model.

Parameters
  • Identify and explain the parameter types used by Aspen Custom Modeler

Conditions
  • Explain Structural and Run Time conditions
  • Workshop: Extend a tank model to add an overflow port

Stream Types
  • Identify and explain stream types used by Aspen Custom Modeler
  • Workshop: Create a stream type to convert from volume flowrate to mass flowrate.

Language Details
  • Present less important details on modeling language and graphical user interface

Non Isothermal CSTR
  • Workshop: Build a model for a non-isothermal CSTR reactor,  cooled with a jacket

Sets and Arrays
  • Explain how to declare sets (group of elements).
  • Show how to use sets.

Multiports
  • Identify and explain multiports
  • Workshop: Illustrate the use of sets, arrays and multiports..

Forms (Tables and Plots)
  • Show how to display data in Aspen Custom Modeler graphical user interface using Forms
  • Explain different types of forms; Table, Plots, History Table
  • Workshop: Create model forms.

Submodels and Hierarchy Blocks
  • Explain submodels and Hierarchy blocks
  • Workshop: Build a model using submodels.

Structures
  • Identify and explain structure types.
  • Workshop: Use the structure type to store saturation pressure parameters.
  • Workshop: Use the structure type to store reaction data.

Handling Components and Physical Properties
  • Show how to set up properties to be used by Aspen Custom Modeler
  • Explain how to create Component lists
  • Show how to handle physical property calculation with procedures and submodels
  • Workshop: Use Aspen Properties for the physical property calculations in ACM

Snapshots and Results
  • Identify the purpose of snapshots and results
  • Explain usage of snapshot management tool
  • Show where snapshots and results are located
  • Rewind and Restart operations
  • Copy Values and Advanced Copy Values
  • Workshop: Illustrate the use of Rewind and Snapshots.

Tasks
  • Identify the purpose of tasks
  • Explain syntax of task instructions
  • Workshop: Use the task feature to model a lifting valve and a step change on a variable.

Solutions Methods
  • Identify and explain group decomposition, variable equivalencing and non-linear system resolution.
  • Discuss modeling advice recommendations
  • Review convergence troubleshooting options
  • Workshop: Use some of tools and settings available in Aspen Custom Modeler to troubleshooting convergence problems.

Integration Methods
  • Review integrator options
  • Present concept of index
  • Provide advice for troubleshooting

Scripts and Automation
  • Show Simulation scripts
  • Show how to run ACM from Excel (Automation)
  • Workshop: Complete the workshop to illustrate use of scripts in Aspen Custom Modeler
  • Complete the workshop to illustrate use of automation of Aspen Custom Modeler with Excel.

Optional Topics
  • Create procedures to interface ACM to FORTRAN/C/C++ calculations
  • Model partial differential equations
  • Introduction to Estimation
  • Review of optimization capabilities
  • Export ACM models to Aspen Plus (or Aspen HYSYS®)
  • Demonstrate Aspen Model Runner
  • Each lecture is typically followed by a workshop

Register for a Class

Date Class Type Location Price Language
Date(s): 04/8/2026 - 04/10/2026 Type: Public Virtual Location: Virtual-EMEA Price: (USD) 3000.00 Language: English Register
Date(s): 06/3/2026 - 06/5/2026 Type: Public Virtual Location: Virtual-EMEA Price: (USD) 3000.00 Language: English Register
Date(s): 05/6/2026 - 05/8/2026 Type: Public Classroom Location: C2, Reading International Business Park, Basingstoke Road
Reading , United Kingdom RG2 6DT 		Price: (USD) 3000.00 Language: English Register
Date(s): 04/28/2026 - 04/30/2026 Type: Public Classroom Location: 1 Fusionopolis Place, #04-20/23 Galaxis (West Lobby),
Singapore , Singapore 138522 		Price: (SGD) 2400.00 Language: English Register
Date(s): 04/7/2026 - 04/9/2026 Type: Public Classroom Location: Rm. 801, Hyundai Motor Tower, No. 38 Xiaoyun Road. Chao Yang District
Beijing , China 100027 		Price: (CNY) 4200.00 Language: Chinese Register
Date(s): 08/4/2026 - 08/6/2026 Type: Public Classroom Location: 1 Fusionopolis Place, #04-20/23 Galaxis (West Lobby),
Singapore , Singapore 138522 		Price: (SGD) 2400.00 Language: English Register
Date(s): 05/12/2026 - 05/14/2026 Type: Public Virtual Location: Virtual-Americas Price: (USD) 3000.00 Language: English Register
Date(s): 05/12/2026 - 05/14/2026 Type: Public Classroom Location: 2500 Citywest Blvd, Suite 1600
Houston , Texas USA 77042 		Price: (USD) 3000.00 Language: English Register
Date(s): 08/18/2026 - 08/20/2026 Type: Public Virtual Location: Virtual-APAC Price: (USD) 900.00 Language: English Register
Date(s): 08/19/2026 - 08/21/2026 Type: Public Classroom Location: C2, Reading International Business Park, Basingstoke Road
Reading , United Kingdom RG2 6DT 		Price: (USD) 3000.00 Language: English Register
Date(s): 07/8/2026 - 07/10/2026 Type: Public Virtual Location: Virtual-EMEA Price: (USD) 3000.00 Language: English Register
Date(s): 09/2/2026 - 09/4/2026 Type: Public Virtual Location: Virtual-EMEA Price: (USD) 3000.00 Language: English Register

Aspen Technology, Inc. awards Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for training classes conducted by our organization. One CEU is granted for every 10 hours of class participation.