Applicable Versions

Applies to Aspen HYSYS Version 3.2 - Current

Problem Statement
What is the meaning of the PV Work Term Contribution used by Aspen HYSYS?

Solution
The PV work term contribution is a coefficient that allows the user to tune the energy balance equation to reflect the
actual behaviour. An isoenthalpic process should have a value of zero and an isoentropic 100. In simple terms, during
a depressurisation, it can be thought as the work the vessel does to expel the material that is leaving the vessel.

Generally speaking the energy balance equation can be written as:

Time rate of change of internal energy inside the system = Flow of Energy in the system Flow of Energy Out of the
System + Heat added/subtracted + Shaft work [1]

dU
dQ
= N in H in N out H out +
+W
dt
dt

[2]

Where U is the internal energy, N is the molar flow, H is the Enthalpy, Q the heat flow and W is the shaft work
performed into the system.

As an example in this document it will be shown where this coefficient is placed within the energy balance equation
using the most common example where this coefficient or correction factor is used: vessel depressuring.

In that case the shaft work performed and the flow into the system is zero and the energy balance terms can be
written as this:

dQ
= h A (THoldUp Twall )
dt

[3]

Since by the thermodynamic definition of Enthalpy H=U+PV, the Rate of change of internal energy can be expanded
like this:

dTHoldUp d ( P V )
dU dH d ( P V )
=

= nCP

dt
dt
dt
dt
dt

[4]

Where:

h is the film heat transfer coefficient between the holdup fluid and the wall;

A is the heat transfer surface area between the fluid and the wall;

THoldUp is the holdup fluid temperature;

Twall is the inner wall temperature;

V is the vessel volume;

n is the molar holdup of the vessel;

C P is the molar heat capacity.

The energy balance equation is as follows:

h A (THoldUp Twall ) N out H out = n C P

dTHoldUp
dt

d (P V )
dt

[5]

The last term is the expansion work (i.e.: the work performed from the vessel to expel the fluid that is leaving the
vessel). For a vessel where the volume is constant, we get:

Wexp ansion =

d (P V )
dP
=V
dt
dt

[6]

HYSYS applies the PV work term as a correction factor to the expansion work:

Wexp ansion =

PVWorkTerm
dP
V
100
dt

[7]

From equation [7] it's clear that the PV work tern coefficient (PVWorkTerm) is a correction term as a correction factor in
front of the PV term (hence the name of the factor) in the thermodynamic definition of enthalpy (H=U+PV).

Depending on the term values then the expansion work Wexpansion is:

Maximum for PVWorkTerm = 100; this also means that the expansion is reversible (isoentropic).

Zero for PVWorkTerm = 0; the expansion is irreversible (isoenthalpic).

Hence the energy balance equation can be rewritten as follows:

h A (THoldUp Twall ) N out H out = n C P

dTHoldUp
dt

PV
WorkTerm
100

dP

V
dt

[6]

Reference:

1. http://support.aspetech.com, solution ID 108821, On the Modelling of Vessel Depressuring Using HYSYS 1.1
Dynamics.

Keywords
Depressuring, PV Work term., Dynamic Depressuring Utility