Changes in version 4.0

SIM Suite v4.0 Service Pack 3 - Release Notes

These are the issues addressed by SIM Suite v4.0 Service Pack 3 (build 573).

Bug Fixes

Petro-SIM / Petro-SIM Express

  • Calibration enhancements based on feedback:
    • We now partially support column products which have a downstream tee linked meter as the synthesis source instead. The initial cut point and flow right might still be obtained in this scenarios, but volume interchange is not.
    • When determining the cut point for a product composed of downstream sources itself, it will now use configured synthesis sources for that stream rather than determine it manually.
  • Fixed an possibly uninitialised variable in synthesis.
  • Fixed a possible crash on load in a multi-axis Plot Utility.
  • Fixed delta SG adjustments in the assay adjuster.
  • Bugzilla #3568 - Correct issue with component mapper when removing components.
  • Bugzilla #3583 - Security Tests. Changed how the case protection mechanism closes the case to avoid possible timing issues and non reproducible crashes.
  • Bugzilla #3593 - Uninitialised variable in pour point synthesis rejection loop.
  • Bugzilla #3601 - Units Issue stops Excel link from working.
  • Bugzilla #3634 - Petro-SIM Generated ids for spreadsheet cells not being resolved from Excel.
  • Bugzilla #3635 - Remove the "Use Active" option when running predict with base case already open, it was inconsistent and confusing.
  • Bugzilla #3640 - Crash saving pasted objects.
  • Bugzilla #3646 - Optimizer is converged flag was not getting updated properly in a spreadsheet cell.
  • Bugzilla #3648 - Copyright information not up to date in the Help/About view.
  • Bugzilla #3663 - Better handle situations where meters link to spreadsheets and other objects in estimating measurements for data reconciliation.
  • Bugzilla #3669 - Fix issue when trying to export SIM model DAT files to an existing read-only file.
  • Bugzilla #3677 - Correct issue with component mapper mishandling asphaltene and ABN information in some situations.
  • Bugzilla #3733 - Correct issue migrating user assay properties from 3.3 assays to 4.0.
  • Report calculated DISTOP bottoms reboiler duty and ratio.
  • Fixed a number of crashes from crash reports.
  • Remove restriction of 5 minus streams in synthesis.
  • Modify the logic that checks for choking in valves to not report unnecessarily.
  • Minor linked table fix.
  • Added MW and GW units of measure in addition to kW.
  • Fixed a local stack corruption issue.
  • Minor assay related translation fix.
  • Carry over results page crashes when no streams attached.
  • Make test for naphtha components in estimation code out of HDS and Visbreaker smarter to trap situations where estimates are incomplete.
  • Fix initialization issue in Eff array used in HDS reactor to make it more flexible with regard to number of components.
  • Fix issue with refinery reactors in calibration occasionally trampling on third-party calculated values when updating calibration data.
  • Meter now redirects Stream Type synthesis property to it's stream type moniker when building calibration input pages for Excel.
  • Column pump-around flows & Ts were not getting resolved properly when building reporting workbooks.
  • Added info about whether or not Excel is running as admin for Excel add-in system info pages.
  • Changed a default calculation level issue that was causing utilities to not play nice with adjusts.
  • Std Gas Flow was not being calculated in internal units in the standard property calculator.
  • Bump up Excel add-in build number to make it more obvious from Help About what version is being used.
  • Improved synthesis transition diagnostics to tell you more about when hypos are required.
  • Improved sulfur synthesis matching in naphtha region in situations where property matching in force.
  • Corrected some translation issues for Russian version.
  • Enhanced LPAssayDataGen to allow selection of assay by discharge date or other user-selected date field.
  • Made Microsoft Excel ribbon bar version detection more rigorous to trap subtle differences in how language editions of Excel report version information.
  • Fixed issue handling reformer gas make in nft3/bbl units in Excel workbooks in situations where Petro-SIM's display units were scf/bbl.
  • Fixed an issue with AMSIM license not always being released properly.

FCC-SIM

  • Handle C4 recycle addition in wrapper.
  • Relax low LN yield checks when LN recycle present.
  • Add checking to FCC wrapper that the users recycle type selections are consistent with their internal cut setup.
  • Add Feed Cold Feed Temperature for FCC Results.
  • Add in Riser Slip Factor to FCC Results.
  • Resume the RI method for PNA characterization.
  • Correct octane property matching so that:
    • the MinT is corrected from 36e90 to 36.0.
    • monotonicity checks are bypassed when octane matching is being done against a template passed to synthesis .

Hxx-SIM

  • Add more reporting of internal HPS_ARRAY.
  • Expand diagnostic reporting to capture full line width generated by reactor.

DC-SIM

  • Make Coker Drum Vapor stream a logical connection.
  • Rename Effluent connection to DrumVap_FracInlet (Drum Vapor to Fractionator Inlet) for clarity.

OLEFIN-SIM

  • Fixed the units for: "R_RQHCDS_ID ! HC+DS heat absorption, mmbtu/hr" which is actually in Btu/hr and not mmbtu/hr.

License Tester and Security

  • Fixed some debug pop-ups that got left in the license server installation.
  • Fixed a registration issue that only happens on Windows Server 2008 R2.
  • Added trap in KBC Commuter Manager for LSFORCEHOST use that can prevent commuted licenses from working.

SIM Suite Registration Tool

  • Added some more info to the log that reg tool generates when using Detailed Logging option.

Installation

  • Updated installer to include Microsoft Office 2010 Primary Interop Assemblies.
  • Fix issue in Security Installer where it was installing one component unnecessarily.

SIM Suite v4.0 Service Pack 2 - Release Notes

These are the issues addressed by SIM Suite v4.0 Service Pack 2 (build 572). Please note that cases stored out in Service Pack 2 will not be able to read backwards into any older versions of v4.0.

There have been a large number of synthesis fixes and improvements in this version and we highly recommend re synthesizing all your assays when loading cases into this new build. We do realize however that this sometimes is an inconvenience so it has not been made a forced action when loading cases into v4 SP2. When loading cases regularly you will be asked if you would like to re-synthesize upon load. However if you load a case via automation the resynthesis step will be taken automatically.

New Features

  • Case-Gen option of v3 SIM reactor workbooks now available in v4 through the Petro-SIM Ribbon in Excel. You will find the option under the Reports dropdown button in the Utilities group.
  • Separators can now support entrainment calculations.
  • New Stream Properties - Wobbe Index, Water Dewpoint and Hydrocarbon Dewpoint can now be calculated.
  • Update Petro-SIM to support the Recycled Catalyst option of FCC.

Bug Fixes

Petro-SIM / Petro-SIM Express

  • Updated Russian help documentation and expanded Russian translation to include more synthesis diagnostic messages.
  • The Welcome page will time-out after 2 seconds if www.petro-sim.com is unreachable.
  • Bugzilla #475 - Renamed tray section Quick Size to make it more obvious what it is doing.
  • Bugzilla #2949 - LP needs to keep feeder block assays in synch better.
  • Bugzilla #3059 - make Specific Gravity (Dry), API Gravity (Dry) and Liq Mass Density (Std Cond) (Dry) calculate at standard P as well as standard T.
  • Bugzilla #3129 - Column auto-restart code can cause crash on longjmp.
  • Bugzilla #3131 - Make pseudocomponent C to H ratio estimation used in generating single stream S and N profiles understand C to H Ratio method 3.
  • Bugzilla #3163 - Assay migration was failing due to empty, zero-yield intermediate cuts.
  • Bugzilla #3245 - Can we specify 2 different y-axis scales/units in the plot utility.
  • Bugzilla #3280 - Added unzip option to ribbon bar.
  • Bugzilla #3281 - Tray sizing utility not generating correct warnings.
  • Bugzilla #3293 - Pure component recycles were not getting initialized properly when making basis changes.
  • Bugzilla #3294 - A multitude of PFD crashes.
  • Bugzilla #3302 - Added copy option to Excel reporting workbook.
  • Bugzilla #3323 - Old preferences files with deprecated conversions (e.g., SG15/4) now get initialized with more appropriate conversions (e.g., SG @Std. Cond.), and we trace a warning when anything changes.
  • Bugzilla #3328 - Crash when deleting unused assay from navigation pane.
  • Bugzilla #3331 - Move into subflowsheet leaves text box behind.
  • Bugzilla #3332 - Rename FCC calib factor XKUP2 (9) from "Slurry C3-C4" to "3+ Ring Aromatics in Feed".
  • Bugzilla #3337 - Crash report text file has the wrong case name.
  • Bugzilla #3339 - Recycle is smarter about overwriting its product assay.
  • Bugzilla #3341 - Hide some unused variables in heat exchanger navigator views.
  • Bugzilla #3342 - Crash when removing components.
  • Bugzilla #3342 - Rename o/p-Cumene to their real names o/p-Cymene.
  • Bugzilla #3345 - Choosing to calibrate entire PFD may choose older calibration and not add suitable objects.
  • Bugzilla #3347 - Allowing users to add multiple components to column specs.
  • Bugzilla #3348 - Should be able to right click and multi selected objects and add to current calibration.
  • Bugzilla #3349 - Amsim component mapping error.
  • Bugzilla #3359 - Comparison sheet in Excel apps not refreshing properly when rows are hidden.
  • Bugzilla #3340 - Magnify option does not magnify text in text widgets.
  • Bugzilla #3360 - If you open a column template, it will now display in the PFD Hierarchy even if you turn on the preference option to not show columns.
  • Bugzilla #3362 - Cape Open operation should be smarter about picking the right assay.
  • Bugzilla #3364 - Fix crash on close related to linked meters.
  • Bugzilla #3373 - Data set management needs OLE interface.
  • Bugzilla #3387 - Sour Water Stream - Data Recon (Data rec will now exclude pure and sour water streams without meters).
  • Bugzilla #3392 - Crash blending PBMVC.
  • Bugzilla #3393 - Distop re-calibration not using info from the column meter.
  • Bugzilla #3398 - Petro-SIM hangs when copying and pasting in the Assay Browser.
  • Bugzilla #3400 - Crash on LP Utility clone.
  • Bugzilla #3401 - Component splitter calibration fails.
  • Bugzilla #3402 - Component splitter solving but with wrong assay in products.
  • Bugzilla #3404 - crash viewing recycle variables on a workbook page.
  • Bugzilla #3413 - Case crashes due to bad calcby's if part of it is deleted
  • Bugzilla #3418 - Issue 1, column flowsheet and underlying distop model were not completely in sync.
  • Bugzilla #3418 - Correct issue with defaults handling in publish/subscribe.
  • Bugzilla #3419 - V4 Alky crash using Refinery-Naphtha Comp slate.
  • Bugzilla #3420 - V4 NHTR (2 Naph) with Naphtha 1 distillation missing in Calib.
  • Bugzilla #3427 - Crash deleting stream with 2 labels.
  • Bugzilla #3430 - Can now read from historian with non-English regional settings.
  • Bugzilla #3444 - FCC Fluegas streams now have an assay.
  • Bugzilla #3446 - Synthesis transition now copes with water in the feed stream.
  • Bugzilla #3453 - Exit basis environment transfer basis views shows unnecessary streams.
  • Bugzilla #3457 - crash while storing pfdtextitem after deleting a stream.
  • Bugzilla #3460 - Deleting PFD items causes crash
  • Bugzilla #3473 - Assay trace checkbox causes recycle to falsely think it is converged.
  • Bugzilla #3478 - Drop embedded object support for Excel 2003.
  • Bugzilla #3485 - crash in np_synoct when there are more than 4 C5 components in the component list.
  • Bugzilla #3487 - PFD OLE method has optional argument which is actually required.
  • Bugzilla #3491 - crash in thermo estimation code in HDS model.
  • Bugzilla #3494/5 - refinery reactor utility streams were not getting assays, potentially causing downstream operations to stop solving.
  • Bugzilla #3496 - Poor SG synthesis leading to calibration failure.
  • Bugzilla #3512 - HYSIM mentioned in a couple of error messages.
  • Bugzilla #3517 - fix type mismatch in handling assay tags for GRTMPS.
  • Bugzilla #3517 - correct file save methods in template code so it defaults to using the same file format as the template file.
  • Bugzilla #3521 - mode added to LP that lets it reset back to flowsheet values after running, not reset to basecase.
  • Bugzilla #3522 - don't show press drop warnings when iterating on length in pipe seg.
  • Bugzilla #3523 - pipe doesn't accept initial length guess.
  • Bugzilla #3526 - add crash protection around building KBCUnitop validation error messages.
  • Bugzilla #3552 - fixed out of bounds crash on load in the visbreaker when number of tubes > 100.
  • Bugzilla #3555 - Petro-SIM freezes consuming 100% CPU time due to PFD route problem.
  • Bugzilla #3556 - PFDTables were not using the correct version of calc_ounit.
  • Bugzilla #3559 - Correct polint failures in intexp in the same way as we did for interp. Fixes occasional synthesis failures.
  • Bugzilla #3579 - Make Assay Adjuster VABP property fixup correct composition after fixing mwt to be consistent with the assay lv% composition.
  • Database check write permissions will now return True for any check if the current user is a member of db_owner. Otherwise you are an admin on your machine and connect to a local database, then because you are an admin, SQL Server will respect any other roles.
  • Implemented a number of performance enhancements (especially around rigorous columns).
  • Fixed a number of crashes reported via crash report tool.
  • Change distop check on drum config to allow vacuum units to have one product only off the drum.
  • Add safety trap in np_syntbp for out of bounds.
  • Correct transfer of Distop duties to energy streams.
  • Gateway was not handling network paths properly when when trying to make KBC folder under My Documents.
  • Significantly reduced memory consumption when storing cases with very many streams to XML or DB.
  • Improvements to synthesis transitions: they now try to explain why they requires hypos (e.g., list missing pures in the target), have specifiable zero composition cut-off (so users can filter small naphtha compositions at their discretion), Comp. Group mapping was not working because it wasn't removing double-counting.
  • When meters are configured for data rec, they are now capable of turning off corrections where necessary. The input flow basis has changed from vol to mass, for instance, meters will have an error status (Measurement Variables Missing) if corrections are on.
  • Blender now targets liquid phase for viscosity constraints.
  • Table Manager was tracing spurious warnings about unresolved ids.
  • Improve case sheet detection in Excel workbooks when names get changed. Also add more protection for charts sheets being added.
  • Synthesis transition is more aggressive about identifying which pure comps are tripping the no hypos for synthesis error.
  • LP wasn't collecting swing properties from all bases when using base vectors.
  • Access to bulk properties in stream and refinery assay via OLE methods GetBulkPropertyNames and GetBulkProperty.
  • Save assay from stream to oils environment now also copies the bulk properties to the new Assay.
  • Implemented a fix for the likely reason ICalcTextSize sometimes fails.
  • Make C/H content non-modifiable by default in data rec utility.
  • SIM Suite versions can now be switched without the need for administrator rights.
  • Fix up the pipe to correctly wait for ambient temperature when estimating HTC. Also modify the view to make specifying in that Ambient Temperature a little easier.
  • Fix a Serialization issue that caused the Ribbon Bar's Help About to show the wrong add-in info.
  • Custom tables now work with Excel sheets that contain apostrophes in their names.
  • Added some components to the Pyrolysis.cml file.
  • Corrected transfer of reactor widecut data to synthesis so that Refractive Index is properly recognised.
  • Petro-SIM used to load the preference file on startup, and then any preference file specified in command line arguments. If a valid command line preference file is specified, it will now only ever load that one.
  • Petro-SIM no longer automatically registers itself for use via OLE, instead it now has a preference option to control this behaviour.
  • Fixed a possible inconsistency bug in the component splitter.
  • Fixed a crash when deleting a matrix from the view editor.
  • Calibration is now slightly smarter in terms of choosing which reactor effluent stream to plot along with the main reactor calibration stream.
  • Added some info to the ExcelAppDiagnostics workbook.
  • Synthesis fixes to pour pt, cloud pt, octanes, freeze pt, cacn, metals, nitrogen, sg, sulfur, viscosity, acidity for better data matching and curve generation.
  • Mixer was clearing substance variable on a failed assay, but not the actual composition, causing downstream tees etc. to wrongly try solving and causing other related issues.
  • Assay adjuster could create property vectors in its feed assay when checking for their existence, and if this assay was a recycle product it was causing a bogus "recycle not converged on assay properties" warning.
  • Property vector utilities now report tagged name for vector owners.
  • Increase maximum array size in kbclib bsfit and bsplin to avoid error messages in some cases.
  • Fixed a possible crash when solving set operations connected to heat exchanger specifications.
  • Fixed an issue in the Gibbs reactor that could cause reactions to be zeroed.
  • Fixed the initialisation of the order when specifying in a kinetic reaction stoichiometric coefficient.
  • No longer show the converged with non-eqm draws warning if the column is distop.
  • Fixed some divide by zeros in the avgliqdensity code that can gerneate NaN's in streams if viewing the StdLiqDensity property when the stream forgets.
  • Add a command line option to only register Petro-SIM to HKCU.
  • Fix a possible crash in the PFD.
  • Fixed an issue in the tray sizing where the tray properties page wouldn't update for trays that were not being sized.
  • Fixed an issue with journal slowing down things when trying to view utilities.
  • Fixed an issue with incorrect swing cut property calculations when Cut-Swing-Cut-Swing-Cut configuration is present.
  • Some minor tweaks to the plot utility to improve display.
  • Corrected recall of Visbreaker/Furnace cases where users had specified some but not all of the K1-Values. Unspecified values get filled in with adjustables by the specify method but these were not making it through on recall to KBCUnitop. Resulted in bogus tube metal temperatures.
  • Fixed an uninitialised variable in Distop.
  • Fixed and issue in VGO Cracker assay setup for nitrogen cuts with invalid use of data statements.
  • Synthesis updates. Key changes are:
    • Updates to synthesis to correct issues reported by TOTAL and others and to make the traditional mode better match Petrofine methodology. General change to properties that detect residues so they look at the 700+ volume rather than whether the final pseudocomponent is present: more robust for refinery_large. 700 C picked because it was the old cut point used by Petrofine.
    • Updates to Update Cut methodology on key backend properties (viscosity, nitrogen, metals and concarbon) to make methods more reliable when insufficient points to use only update cuts. Method works by combining update cuts with original measurements. Addition of UpdateBulk handling, allowing overall crude values to be entered more easily. Will be used where no other update measurements available.
    • correct octane estimation in naphtha modify NO mode so cyclopentane is handled properly and so that extrapolation gets done by the octane synthesis method and not the naphtha modify code.
    • tweak acidity synthesis iteration scheme to stop dropping points below 0 (corrects profile at back-end on Total YK Blend).
    • correct update residue cut handling in metals synthesis so gets it right more often.
    • correct balance stream numbering in update for nitrogen and sulfur.
    • ignores Freeze pt estimate in Cloud pt synthesis when the difference between the Freeze pt of a cut and the cloud pt of the next contiguous cut is less than 35 C.
    • fix sundry uninitialised variables and memory corruptions.
    • fix issue where the final component balancing mechanism can sometimes go awry
    • fix issue in update cut octane handling to implement scheme where cuts used for the octane synthesis are those from the update contiguous set (kicks in when this set used for composition)
    • fix issue in update concarbon synthesis where overlapping residue used incorrectly.
    • Print Viscosity Diagnostics - e.g., Print out the ABP of each stream.
    • Density conversion factor wasn't being applied causing very suspect std. dens to be reported in Petro-SIM.
    • Fix for PEREGRINO when back-end of viscosity curve turns downward (assumes balancing is not valid). Straightens-out curve before entering the optimizer.
    • Make synthesis checks for Basic > Total Nitrogen, Di-Arom > Total Arom and Tri-Arom > Total Arom more tolerant of tiny differences that can arise esp. for Basic Nitrogen in data.
    • Fix uninitialised variable in MW deblending.
    • Fix for Acidity - Total assay "Aquitain BTS". Includes Acidity in consistency check at the end of the optimizer.
    • Update mode: scale naphtha components in naphtha modify no mode where assay composition comes from update cuts, using ratio of update cut yields to reference yields in naphtha region
    • Traditional mode: suppress default fill-in from pure data for mercaptans, di-aromatics and tri-aromatics since <empty> better
    • Octanes - correct naphtha modify NO estimation method to be consistent with V3
    • Octanes - modify logic of synthesis method to extrapolate initial curve generation to max of 320 C or final measured pseudo. Fix issue where synthesis failure left bogus values in vector. (Coker Naphthas with long tails)
    • Viscosity synthesis - add single pass iteration logic back into np_syvisc to better handle back-end corrections. Fixes some situations where final component in stream can show large spike in viscosity.
    • Fixed a product-build only issue where synthesis cuts were sometimes getting added in the wrong order.
    • Fix for Concarbon in cases where a duplicate residue stream is present.
  • Add bounds checking to a loop finding the final component in viscosity synthesis.
  • Make sure OLE method CreateKBCAssayFromStream also copies assay bulk variables.
  • Crash report view now shows an "About Crash Reports" link which opens up a wiki page.
  • Added range bound checks set for Steam Stripping synthesis input value.
  • Khunitop now calls PushSynthesisList for safety before it executes. If opened via OLE, the solver can kick off during the OpenCase call, and before the user even has a chance to call Activate.
  • Update how synthesis checks for the extent of naphtha components supplied to recognise zero as a valid value.
  • Fix ShiftProp method used in ABP property adjustments from the Assay Adjuster unitop. Code was not set up to handle flexible component slates, leading to it failing to fill in when it should. Corrects issues LPU users were having with negative ABP adjustments.
  • Fix use of cache0 boiling points in kbclib when called from kbcunitop, where the cache was being used in an empty state. Fixes issue blending extended component data in multi-feed full Distop towers as well as correcting some other instances of the same issue.
  • Fix component estimation so that Benzene and Toluene do not get lost.
  • Fixed an issue in v4.0 with streams not solving correctly if a meter is pushing StdLiqVol into them.
  • Minor enhancement to table updates from named ranges.
  • Fixed the logic for reporting if a reactor has multiple meters attached in calibration, the current check was too lax as reactors can legitimately reference more than one meter for flow estimate generation.
  • Fixed a synth. trans. double-counting issue when there are trace amounts of "middle group" components (e.g., C7IP).
  • Fixed a pour point diagnostics issue where streams were out of order.
  • Added a checkbox to ExcelAppDiagnostics to turn on verbose exceptions for diagnosing quiet failures on users' machines.
  • When you import a refinery assay file, the location will be remembered and used as the starting folder when you import subsequent assays.
  • Fix for MON/Octanes synthesis.
  • Added better diagnostics in 4.0 for database connection failure due to the sqlite driver used in v4.1 being selected. Also, navigating to .mdb file will reset the driver to Jet.
  • Fixed a spreadsheet issue, where if you disconnect an import and then specify a number, it is handled as a text and no unit conversion is applied.
  • Fix the Relief Valve sizing page to properly show in steady state and also show the opening.
  • fix for Total - Basic Nitrogen - ignore extra residue cuts.
  • Archive button was not working with non-English regional settings in English Excel (plus a few other similar bugs). Also added a System Information form that shows OS version/language/display settings, as well as Excel version/language which should help diagnose future such issues.
  • fix some issues around serialization in the Excel add-in, also moved system info to Help/About so everything's in one place.
  • Fix issues arising when copy/pasting optimizer into flowsheet that already has an optimizer.
  • Fix an error that causes an incorrect pop-up warning about using alternate specs when you aren't
  • Visbreaker & Furnace models: Add coke thermal conductivity factor and tube metal thermal conductivity factor to calibration.
  • Change behaviour of "Change base case to active Petro-SIM case" Excel addin feature based on feedback. Instead of quietly overwriting the existing base case, the base case path in the workbook is set to the active case where possible (i.e., the case is not some variation of NoName).
  • fix numerous issues in the add-in and one in Petro-SIM around read-only base cases and base cases located in protected system folders (i.e., default install location). Also fixed issues around updating base case from active case when dealing with database base cases.
  • add KB variables for pumps, HXs, heater/coolers, separators, and valves so they show up in reporting workbooks. Also, fix bug in TableManager where minor ops were getting added to the major ops section.
  • Fixed the column profile page not showing whilst the column is running.
  • Fixed a mixer not giving an inconsistency when it should.
  • Fix for Acidity synthesis to correct errors for residue cuts.
  • Fixed a crash in the column rating solve code.
  • Older versions of the psxltoobar add-in have their button click handlers marked as private, so they cannot be COM-invoked by the ribbon bar add-in. The ribbon bar add-in now detects this scenario, and will forcibly make the toolbar add-in visible, so that it will at least work when invoked from the Add-Ins ribbon tab.
  • Fixed an infinite recursion loop in the LPU.
  • Component splitters now show Collaboration options.
  • Ensure that num props/num cuts display as ints, not reals, in synthesis assay view.
  • Fixed a possible crash when storing cases into the database.
  • Fixed a display issue in the case study when using non-unicode characters.
  • LPDataGen updates
    • make app support multiple LPUs in the basecase, working against one at a time.
    • make crude selection recognise update crudes and allow user to select how they get displayed.
  • Update LP Toolbar with some performance tweaks on base delta and with handling for cases that generate data sets with convergence issues.
  • Synthesis would put T and P from the synthesis target meter into the stream, but we now also consider another meter source for T and P values.
  • Added application OLE methods to determine database connectivity.
  • Petro-SIM now also saves the database connection string to the registry to make it easier to connect from elsewhere, plus fixed it up to contain the correct Oracle information, warn users about encrypted passwords.
  • Performance Improvement in the Blender.
  • Fixed an invalid recall error if you store out an amines case in the basis whilst you have an invalid component set (too many amines).
  • Fixed non-unicode characters in file names causing issues with auto-recovery.
  • Fixed an issue in the case study that could cause variables to be stored to the database with different names if the case is run invisibly.
  • Make SIM migration methods handle non-ascii characters in names, switching xml emcoding to UTF-8.
  • Changed the Heat Exchanger default solution method to Weighted.
  • Fixed a possible crash when loading XML file.
  • Fixed spreadsheet cells not recalling their LP Tag when stored out as XML.
  • Fixed an error in the VOC Total Non Exhaust property causing the numbers to come back incorrectly.
  • Added a second CorrVarValue spec to viscosity items in the KB to ensure that the Properties page and Excel apps have consistent properties instead of mixing and matching VBN and Hot Volume Blend.
  • In custom historians, if a connection argument is named "Password" it will now be masked.
  • Fix a crash when recalling a corrupt preference file.
  • Make a corrupt recall reset preferences back to defaults.
  • If you started to export a data set, then quit, then deleted one of the meters, there was a crash on save.
  • Fixed a crash introduced when adding support for applying default values in Collaboration subscriptions.
  • Don't show a password mask in the custom historian parameters if a password hasn't been entered yet.
  • Data Rec utility now uses meter's composite data set, so that it can use linked meter values.
  • Fixed a KB editor problem where you can not add back a previously removed item.
  • Fixed a hole in assay adjust process where VBN values could inadvertently be left in an adjusted viscosity vector.
  • Fixed an issue to ensure correct stream compositions are seen in calibration when a stream is composed of downstream sources.
  • Renamed the data recon override option to Lock Configuration and set it if the user changes something.
  • Datarec: Nitrogen and Sulfur properties are not modifiable by default.
  • Gateway mods to Petro-SIM/Monitor to support long collection and object ids throughout.
  • Updated C++ runtime library installs as per Microsoft security update.
  • Fixed a possible crash in the Dash solver.
  • Synthesis transition no longer adds/removes double-counting if no distributions are configured.
  • Change where diagnostics get turned on in prodsynth.
  • Fixed a bad view stretch in the fluid package transition view.
  • Clarified equilibrium reaction related error message.
  • Fixed runtime error in synthesis due to use of variables before assigning a value.
  • Fixed an issue where a synthesis transition could be incorrectly used to map between identical flowsheets.
  • Updated documentation and help files.
  • Fixed potential crash when reducing number of feeds in Rx wizards.
  • Clean up corrupted yield correlations in Rx base cases.
  • Fixed issue around generating unique correlation names.
  • Plant to Crude now defines newly added meters to be contiguous.
  • Improve the moniker change functionality for correlations to support text vars. This allows you to change the name of a feed stream, and yield correlation monikers in product meters will get updated to reflect the new name.
  • Fixed issue where asphaltenes/ABN were being lost across a blender.
  • Fixed an issue in the Object XML option not functioning properly.
  • Fixed an issue getting script property collection in the LP.
  • Added a flag that tells Petro-SIM to stay connected to Excel when using the table manager to avoid errors when running CPU intensive Excel spreadsheets that use table manager functionality, also add in a warning if we hit the trigger of the cause (Excel ignoring Petro-SIM requests to connect to it).
  • Added a "Delete All" button to the User Property view.
  • Assay fixer - fixed post-ABP adjustment logic to include SG and MWT in the set of properties considered.
  • Fixed a problem that could cause multiple copies of a variable to appear in the base delta table.
  • Fixed an issue where the column is incorrectly making a VapourByPass out of the reboiler boilup stream in cases with steam-stripped & reboiled side strippers which incorrectly stops the user from switching to distop.
  • Sub-flowsheets with names longer than 31 characters were causing reporting workbooks to fail, as this is the limit for Excel sheet name lengths.
  • Plant-to-crudes are now treated the same as refinery feeds when identifying flowsheet boundaries.
  • Fixed crash that can occur if the wrong Excel Add-In version is registered, and you shut down Excel at a certain point when building a workbook.
  • The yield property will now understand tagged stream names.
  • Changed some labels to not call blender recipes "Dry" when they are not.
  • Ensure that Total Feed makes it into Feeds section--not Products--for Calib Result.
  • Fix for the LP so adding a swing property doesn't reset all other swing property options back to defaults.
  • Gateway - expose methods to get/set/clear the umt register variables.
  • Updated Excel Custom tables examples to use form style control rather than VB6 style controls which Microsoft does not license under Windows 7 anymore.
  • Set RegisterAtStartup pref default to True, to match old behaviour on OS's earlier than Windows Vista.
  • Knowledge Base update for FCC C4s recycle options.
  • Update assay adjuster to adjust the Liq. Mass Density (Std. Cond) (Dry) property (PPSDEN) on a stream basis. Property was present previously but did not actually do anything: now takes precedence over Specific Gravity (Dry) which still works against the internal property vector AKSG.
  • Correct how Liq Mass Density (Std Cond) (Dry) gets calculated by KBCLIB to fix issue in synthesis cut property reporting.
  • LPAssayDataGen - update a couple of the queries to work properly against Jet.
  • Don't fill in unused upper bound columns when LPU is set to "Update Base Values".
  • Fix an issue where component properties aren't getting estimated when they should when adjusting only SG vector.
  • Fixed an error that could cause uninitialized variables when using the AMSIM package.
  • Added *.xlsb to the gateway Excel 2007 file filter, also make 2007 appear first in the list.
  • Petro-SIM will append "(Administrator)" to the title bar when running elevated. The Help-About window also will always say "Running With: (Administrative|Standard) privileges". Both of these will currently only be shown up in Vista and later.
  • Fix tech level 1 in Visbreaker so it synthesises viscosity, s and n without setup errors.
  • Fix an issue with calibrations not deleting their data rec utilities when in Petro-SIM Rx.
  • Change FOE/Heating Value pricing to use dry mass flow to keep it on same basis as the heating value calc. Also added the equations to the docs.
  • F11 and F12 now do not only look at the current environment flowsheet, but will first try the active form if it is the PFD, then the navigator selection, then the environment flowsheet.
  • Excel add-in now keeps a list of failed sheets when doing multi-sheet reporting workbook updates.
  • Added BackDoorVariableByName OLE method.
  • DataTable OLE interface:
    • Support arrays of VARIANTs and not just raw arrays.
    • Fixed some issues around the DataTable OLE interface not working if reference variants are passed in. Added `Reference_RecordValues, `Reference_RetrieveValues, `Reference_GetChange, `Reference_GetWhichChanged which can be used to record reference values and then see what has changed.
  • Fixed VarDefinitions::Add which was crashing on a bad cast, it now accepts an internalvariablewrapper or the variable inside that both.
  • Ensure that when objects are sent to calibration and an existing calibapp is used, that they are all added to the object collection.
  • Added a GetObjectsInCase OLE method, similar to GetObjectInCase.
  • Include a bulk property balance in the assay adjuster.
  • Fix a crash when copying and pasting unallowed things into an Rx case.
  • Add interfaces to KBCProfSIMGateway to make it easier to drive from an external application. Requested for use by LPAssayDataGen driver. Change includes fixes to the UMTTaskTable handling which had hidden errors casting to booleans and include extra logging of the basecase preparation step of LPAssayDataGen
  • Excel App fixes:
    • Bugzilla #3573, a Win7/Excel2010 issue where the add-in's VBScripts weren't always attaching to Petro-SIM.
    • VBScripts now take an extra argument for version-specific progid, to reduce chances of attaching to the wrong Petro-SIM instance.
    • No longer run using VBScript as the default task mode, instead run against the add-ins pointers, again to ensure that a consistent Petro-SIM instances is used.
  • Some refinery reactors were validating feed composition using an inadequate function, causing calibrations to fail due to spurious "Feeds not complete".
  • Updated sample files.
  • Modify the furnace view to update description for changed method name.

FCC-SIM

  • Fixed issue that prevents FCC calculated calibration factors being picked up properly where the starting case contains some initial tuning factor values.
  • Report RI based on v3 method always.
  • Correct how recycle flows are migrated in Metric Hour FCC cases.
  • Improve Rxcat activity calculation.
  • Add new tuning for cat/oil effect.
  • Bugzilla #3403 - Crash in FCC reactor CDB handling.
  • Bugzilla X3554 - Correct FCC migration to cope with feed data sheets that may or may not include viscosity.
  • Fixed up catalyst database handling to
    • make the Excel side only populate the catalyst name and %id from the catalyst database since the other data is not needed;
    • relax the FCC object status condition on the CDB file existing;
    • tweak the FCC .model description to avoid falling foul of -id rule checks because of how we handle the data.
    • stop the FCC reactor dll clobbering the CDB filename.
  • Fixed an incorrect data input requirement in the FCC when using catalyst modes other than the default.
  • ZSM-5 effect on naphtha and C4's recycles.
  • Correct the input location for hidden feature Ni passivation; change handling on FNAMES.
  • Implement FCC enhancements for ZSM-5, C4 Recycles and Naphtha recycles within the Excel interface and Petro-SIM.
  • FCC Summary page - fill in blanks in this page by adding extra results to the reactor for catalyst data, recycle rates, sulfur and hydrogen profiles.
  • Fix feed and recycle injection point order in FCC so that Reactor and MidRiser are not confused.
  • Raise fail bound on FCC Catalyst Aluminia content from 55% to 70%.
  • Add support for missing FCC O2 Injection rate enum entry 3.
  • Correct internal cut point setup for FCC when LN or MN recycle present.
  • Include split of riser 2 feed to riser 1 in the check for mid riser feed error.
  • Change migration code to insert 0.0 as default feed concarbon when value is missing.
  • Change IsFeedComplete test to allow the default preheat T value to be allowed in lieu of feed stream T.

Hxx-SIM

  • Do not report hxx.out if not solved successfully.
  • Report bed runaway temperature only for final status.
  • Modify temperature runaway error message to include multiple reactors.
  • Fixed an issue that could cause infinite loops.
  • Bugzilla #3370 - fix olefins handling for HXX effluent.
  • Fix basic N estimate bug for configurations with special feed.
  • Modualize cat metal deactivation.
  • Fix runtime initialization bug.
  • Cap rnEBP to fresh feed TEP.
  • Fix number of naphtha cut determination.
  • Updated documentation.
  • Recalculate bulk COO from carbon number components.
  • Fixed catalyst activity tracking for situations with recycle.
  • Positioned the light-ends component splitter ahead of the fractionator. The reactor "effluent" is the feed to the splitter and the splitter bottoms is the "FractFeed" fractionator feed. This corrects a problem of H2S and ammonia distorting the sulfur and nitrogen content in the fractionated liquid products. Updated Hxx-SIM wizards accordingly.
  • Correctly connect monitoring, makeup and vent streams for the DHTR-SIM reactor icon.
  • Updated 3rd party interface functionality.
  • HXX wrapper handling of liquid quench upgraded when the quench is internal HPSLiquid to back-out the quench amount from the HPS data coming back from the reactor dll. This change tweaks the SSOUT locations for the reported quench rates. The change also corrects the C5 fixup for cases that only have naphtha#3 instead of naphtha#1 and cleans up constants used in the code.
  • Resume SSOUT effluent array used by 3rd party to same range as v3.3

DC-SIM

  • DC bug fix on HOC factor displayed in Results.
  • Fixup the Coker Wizard for once through configuration vel go options.
  • Fix quench convergence issue.
  • Fix bug on VelGO options for Once Thru.
  • Initialize new calib factors to 0 during calib.
  • Reset HGO FCP to empty for new calib run.
  • Bugzilla #2314 - DC Ext T Quench flow not showing up to dcsim.
  • Bugzilla #3466 - Modify handling of metals in coker synthesis to allow LGO metals to be zero.
  • Bug fix in Quench.
  • Update version to V2010.3.0 as cokers that were recalibrated in v4.0 SP1 need new calibration.
  • Bugfix on HHGO cutpoint check and solve failure due to bad initial CUT6.
  • Change DCBasecase.ksc for naphtha off rx module.
  • Bugfix on PSfeed to start at K=3.
  • Add T&P to the Ext Quench streams meters in DCBasecase.ksc
  • Changed the coker calibration so the quench stream is not self synthesized anymore since we have a calibration stream.
  • Remove some Write statements that caused issues on Windows Vista / Windows 7.

REF-SIM

  • Fix an issue with Ref-SIM generating cuts for the 4 product configuration.
  • Correct nC5 mole wt handling in reformer wrapper.
  • Reformer closure variables typed as dimensionless instead of delta temp in the knowledge base.
  • Wegtyp added to Ref-SIM view.

ALK-SIM

  • Replaced existing alkylation sample case with two sample cases.
  • Modify how C10+ materials in alkylate are to be distributed only to Hypos, and not to any high boiling pure components that happen to be in the composition.
  • Two new sample cases.
  • Changed the H2SO4 acid consumption value of MTBE from 17 to 9 lb/lb per Stratco paper.
  • Made setup of reduced oil assay/composition flexible wrt component list.
  • Updated documentation.
  • Corrected an uninitialised variable.
  • Correct issue in Alky reactor where it was looking at the feeds assay composition to determine the amount of any C6+ material rather than the feed streams lv% composition.

OLEFIN-SIM

  • Fixed default pyrolysis furnace TLE tube id and od values to be what was intended.
  • Renamed some of the NA in the pyrolysis furnace to Non Aromatics, to make it clear.
  • Bugzilla #3443 - Calc Options TLE Simulation Issue.
  • Bugzilla #3475 - Pyrolysis furnace effluent does not match extended yield results due to synthesis.
  • Bugzilla #3368 - Pyrolysis furnace does not map non aromatics when using extended yields.
  • Minor fix in the furnace view.
  • Added a button in the pyrolysis furnace results view that lets you see the effluent synthesis report.
  • Pyrolysis plant data now uses the case reference density of H2O for SG calcs

License Tester and Security

  • Improved Diagnostics from Tester.
  • Fixed issue where servers would be ignored when specified by lines in kbclicservers.kbclic containing only digits, or non-standard characters.
  • Switch use of DateValue function in translating license file dates to VB dates to a private function that is locale-insensitive.
  • Report LSHOST, LSFORCEHOST and KBCLicServers settings to the diagnostics window on Initialize so we capture those settings without needing a full screenshot.
  • Revamps the gui and adds in new functionality for basic license checks. Also switches the Program_Feature_List.txt to an encrypted form.
  • KBC Commuter Manager upgraded to use the encrypted program feature list file and to recognize Rx and Viewer as Petro-SIM programs.
  • Added support for license utilities installation on Windows Server 2008.
  • Give security installer more checkboxes for installing all the options. license tester, commuter manager, license server, standalone drivers & sentinel tools
  • Make security installer runnable with or without the command line commands passed into it via the launch.exe
  • Switch to msi installer.
  • Install the sentinel commuter tools only if installing the commuter tool.
  • Update SecurityKeyDriver to latest version from Safenet website (SentinelProtectionInstaller 7.6.4.exe).
  • Bugzilla #3470 - fix commuter manager crash when switching between All Features, SIM Suite Only and Energy Only options on menu.
  • Update help url in license tester to a new topic so we can provide a v2 license tester specific help page.
  • SIM Suite now requires license server 8.3 because commuting licenses do not work on earlier versions of the license server.

SIM Suite Registration Tool

  • The registration tool used to skip the petro-sim /regserverquietly call if it already appeared to be the registered version. It now always goes through with it, as it is possible to change what we do during the registration step.
  • The folder browser now starts with the currently registered folder selected.
  • Fixed issues revolving around requiring admin status of versions not updated after a registration, incorrect error reporting, etc.
  • Added a detailed logging option.
  • Add message to restart as admin when trying to register extensions from reg. tool.
  • RegisterSIMSuite now writes to the VBA Settings registry key that KBC_Gateway uses to determine which specific version of Petro-SIM to launch when user changes version.
  • Add new option to register Excel add-ins only. Older versions of Petro-SIM don't know about HKCU and always require admin rights. However, if the user just wants to switch between older versions of the Excel-based SIM models, it may not require admin rights, and it may not always be necessary to register Petro-SIM. This allows the user to just change add-in registration potentially with non-elevated rights.
  • Add a help button to the reg tool.

SIM Suite v4.0 Service Pack 1 - Release Notes

These are the issues addressed by SIM Suite v4.0 Service Pack 1 (build 561). Cases stored out by v4.0 SP1 can be read by v4.0 with the following exceptions:

  • cases that use AMSIM 7.4 functionality will not load into v4.0 unless you have Service Pack 1 installed.
  • cases that have Visbreakers with > 100 tubes will generate errors on recall into v4.0 without Service Pack 1.

Some of the changes below affect results obtained with this service pack versus the original SIM Suite 4.0. The main impacts are:

  • Results from the Gibbs reactor may be different as a consequence of bug fixes
  • Calculation of swing cut yields and properties from LP Utilities have been corrected
  • Reactor extended component calibration factors are now correctly applied in predictions, changing detailed naphtha properties from reactors that had been calibrated using detailed isomer breakdowns for the naphtha region
  • Olefin saturation calculations in the HDS reactor have been corrected, changing results from HDS reactors with olefinic feeds
  • Assay synthesis has been updated in the following areas:
    • Basic Nitrogen profile for single cut synthesis now tracks the total Nitrogen profile. This may affect results from FCC reactors using individual feed streams not generated from whole crude assays.
    • Viscosity synthesis using the non-default hot volume blending method may now give different (and more correct) results
    • C to H Ratio values estimated for naphtha region pseudocomponents were being blended incorrectly from detailed component estimates. This may change predicted Carbon and Hydrogen contents for naphtha streams depending on the methods used and available detail.
    • Octane estimates made from naphtha component data in Naphtha Modification NO have been corrected to avoid very high octanes
    • Cloud point syntheses should be more consistent with SIM Suite 3 results and may be different from the original 4.0 where more than two points are available

We recommend that you re-synthesise assays in your cases to make sure the corrections are being applied since service pack 1 does not to this automatically. The Calculate All button in the Oils environment will do this for you.

Those of you using HTRI eXchanger Suite should note that Petro-SIM 4.0 requires HTRI version 6 service pack 3 or later and it will not work with earlier versions. HTRI with service pack 3 also supports earlier Petro-SIM versions.

Please ask us through the helpdesk if you are unsure of the impact of any change or if you would like more details

SIM Suite Development Team - 14th April 2011

New Features

Petro-SIM / Petro-SIM Express

  • AMSIM 7.4 is now available in Petro-SIM and Petro-SIM Express. Extra stream properties relevent to Amine cases have been added (Acid Gas Loading, Amine Content, Std. Residual CO2, Std. Residual H2S).
  • An additional method for Tray Sizing and Rating is now available in the Tray Sizing utility.
  • Petro-SIM and all the Excel linking functionality, ribbon bar etc. now supports the 32-bit version of Microsoft Office 2010.
  • The SIM Suite Registration tool has been extended to register extensions, and will also correctly register extensions written in VB.Net and C#
  • SIM Suite V4.0 now includes translation support for Russian and Simplified Chinese languages.
  • A object group rename feature has been added. Right click on a group of objects in the PFD and choose "Rename".
  • Reactor sample cases updated to include sample Excel workbooks alongside the sample case.
  • Improvements to database collaboration workflow by formalizing a data set publish/subscribe workflow that makes it easier to share data such as calibration factors between different cases.
    • Now accessible from Excel apps.
    • Better reporting around current/available revisions.
    • Can do one-click updates from the notifications page.
    • Now handles scenario where the latest database revision is deleted.
    • Presents a list of available revisions to sync to for manual subscriptions.
    • Integrate data set publishing more tightly in Excel, giving it its own button in the Case Data group of the Petro-SIM tab.
    • Manage Subscriptions view now shows timestamp of the current/available revisions.
    • Publishing data set from Excel now gives option to export calibration case input data as well.
    • Allow data set publication comments to be added from Excel.

Bug Fixes

Bug fixes are listed in the order they were made. References to Bugzilla are to KBC's internal bug tracking system.

Petro-SIM / Petro-SIM Express

  • Fixed view stretching issues in the Build Excel App, Oil Manager and Configuration Manager views.
  • Made a number of improvements to the translation files.
  • "Some objects need recalculating" message will no longer appear when starting any of the SIM model base cases.
  • Fixed a number of possible crashes from crash reports.
  • Don't allow "Distribute Across Hypos" component mapper option if target Fluid Package doesn't have hypos.
  • Historian tags now processed in sorted order when reading/writing.
  • Custom COM historian link xml now stores connection parameters.
  • Add some Xpress license failure diagnostics.
  • Fixed a crash when deleting a case during an optimizer auto-scale pass.
  • Fixed issues around Auto-Scale not calculating as many factors as it should (because they were already specified in model).
  • Fixed an issue where invalid XML could be generated from objects with Unicode names.
  • Fixed an possible freeze when copying and pasting objects in the PFD that have Unicode names.
  • Fixed an incorrect moniker in the OLE interface for the Heat Exchanger Shell Passes.
  • Fixed a possible crash in the recycle history.
  • Fixed some possible crashes when reading XML files from other simulation packages.
  • Stopped some unnecessary storing of the Preference file.
  • Fixed an issue when building cases via OLE that was sometimes causing the synthesis component list to incorrectly be used as the default component list.
  • Bugzilla #119 - Gibbs reactor gives wrong answer.
  • Bugzilla #226 - Optimizer now bails/warns when one of its independent vars is an inactive column spec or a calculated variable.
  • Bugzilla #451 - allow the user to have option to automatically change boundary stream names.
  • Bugzilla #738 - Variable navigator view hangs with large spreadsheets. General performance/speed increase for variable navigator.
  • Bugzilla #1921 - Hx Solves to one UA and then displays a different UA as the solution
  • Bugzilla #2574 - optimizer can now auto-scale single-row/column problems.
  • Bugzilla #2780 - blender now warns when constraints are over-specified (e.g., one RVP spec is < x and another is > x).
  • Bugzilla #2835 - Sub-flowsheet now has Composition page on its Worksheet tab that shows extended comps.
  • Bugzilla #3136 - Balance block doesn't work with just energy streams.
  • Bugzilla #3151 - can now specify a larger recycle tolerance for carbon structure properties.
  • Bugzilla #3155 - crash caused by multiple undo actions.
  • Bugzilla #3157 - crash on XML generation of case after switching fluid packages.
  • Bugzilla #3164 - blender was sometimes adding unwarranted availability constraints when migrating V3 cases.
  • Bugzilla #3165 - blender's Op Data\Blends node wasn't getting updated when stream names changed.
  • Bugzilla #3169 - Zoom doesn't work when not using PFD's crosshairs.
  • Bugzilla #3170 - V4 won't show any stream properties in report.
  • Bugzilla #3173 - Issues running the sparse solver in v4.
  • Bugzilla #3176 - V4 loses the assay info string from the new Assay Users view.
  • Bugzilla #3177 - crash when deleting a meter.
  • Bugzilla #3180 - blender was giving generic failure instead of more specific "prop calc failed" error because it was failing in auto-scale mode.
  • Bugzilla #3181 - Distop product specs need to be treated as predict data, not calibration data.
  • Bugzilla #3182 - meter multi-viewer now sorts properties in same order as they would appear in a standalone meter.
  • Bugzilla #3184 - When importing a data set, meter comp/dist type gets set to match what was saved out.
  • Bugzilla #3184 - Correct typo in VB doc tutorial and enhance explanation.
  • Bugzilla #3185 - menu too narrow, label overwrites itself.
  • Bugzilla #3189 - Invalid procedure call error from SimulationCase.ObjectValue when variable does not exist.
  • Bugzilla #3190 - automatic db revision check doesn't seem to be working.
  • Bugzilla #3192 - Plys should default to open for Results page for SIM models.
  • Bugzilla #3194 - Crash accessing deleted properties in calibration plot.
  • Bugzilla #3196 - Make single cut basic nitrogen use pro-rated Nitrogen profile.
  • Bugzilla #3203 - Setting tags on meter variables via OLE was not going through meter.
  • Bugzilla #3204 - Search tool will not find any hits if you search on fluid package name.
  • Bugzilla #3207 - Meter data rec estimates are enabled more proactively.
  • Bugzilla #3210 - Fix crash moving blender to sub-flowsheet.
  • Bugzilla #3213 - Make synthesis checks on SG more tolerant of out of order data when pure components only.
  • Bugzilla #3214 - Change DCBaseCase NH3/H2S stream from "Sour Gas" to "Light Gas".
  • Bugzilla #3216 - Printing out as WMF issue.
  • Bugzilla #3221 - Changing PFD background causes all PFD tables to <EMPTY>.
  • Bugzilla #3222 - Database MRU list should always be enabled.
  • Bugzilla #3233 - Custom Magnification stretches out message boxes far too much.
  • Bugzilla #3240 - Object Manager Crash on Store.
  • Bugzilla #3250 - Gibbs reactor gives incorrect liquid phase.
  • Bugzilla #3256 - Optimizer constraint was not picking up changes in property methods made in Stream Prop Mgr.
  • Bugzilla #3259 - Assay browser now default to display "All that exist".
  • Bugzilla #3260 - Steam composition collapse/expand settings not working properly.
  • Bugzilla #3262 - HXX Calibration Monitor Stop button not clickable when launched from Excel.
  • Bugzilla #3263 - Add a checkbox to clear all worksheets on the Excel add-in's Clear form.
  • Bugzilla #3265 - Furnace repeatedly gives error about fuel gas composition replaced.
  • Bugzilla #3268 - "Send All/No Variables" buttons were not working for linked meters.
  • Bugzilla #3271 - Blender now warns when feed composition is negative.
  • Bugzilla #3275 - Crash in synthesis.
  • Bugzilla #3277 - Storing to database when a Utility has notes present will fail the store.
  • Bugzilla #3279 - Make Nitrogen synthesis skip gas cuts with Nitrogen content property values that contain no pseudos to avoid crash that results when only single cut.
  • Bugzilla #3291 - Provide easier way to get hold of actual stage liquid and vapour column values in variable navigator
  • Bugzilla #3290 - Excel Reactor Workbooks now report errors that occur in the back-predict step even if the main calibration succeeded
  • Bugzilla #3297 - Fixed issues with Petro-SIM working with multiple instances of Excel.
  • Bugzilla #3299 - Copy with Labels causing crash.
  • Fixed a possible crash in the LPDataGen system when loading assays into a refinery feed op that doesn't exist in the case.
  • Fixed some calculation issues in the LPU Sub-Model where some variables had their values calculated incorrectly.
  • Fixed up the base delta table to not calculate base coefficients from EMPTY base values.
  • Fixed an issue where calibration variables could map to the wrong meter variable.
  • Fixed an issue where Xpress-SLP was not working when Auto-Scale option was on.
  • Tweaked crash report handling syntax and email also asks users to attach case and extra instructions.
  • Fixed data rec utility to pick up interior streams correctly around columns, add correct monikers to optimizer, and also write interior balance equations around columns.
  • Improved optimizer diagnostics when it can't start due to empty constraints.
  • Fixed a crash that may manifest when assay plots are open and the case is closed.
  • Fixed Russian path issue when importing refinery assays.
  • Change column iteration format string in the trace window to be more readable.
  • Fixed typo in assay browser.
  • Fixed the minimum status filter dropdown on the case Main Properties view.
  • Viscosity synthesis with hot volume blending: long-standing issue with bad use of workspace leading to erroneous results.
  • Cloud blending array out of bounds with 13 or less components in fluid package.
  • SG synthesis for single stream: poor correction logic in np_asyadj for adjustments to SG and PONA properties.
  • Correct an issue with Basic Nitrogen predictions from Coker products.
  • A VB.Net and C# sample extension have been added.
  • English Excel with pt-PT regional settings was causing Excel add-in to throw exceptions on startup.
  • Fixed an issue where synthesis settings were not maintained properly after importing data set from DB/XML.
  • Meters now write to trace any variables that they do not succeed in calculating when using the "Send Data On Solve" option.
  • Fix some outlining issues with Excel 2010. Also ensure that the Trusted Locations warning is shown on Build Excel App wizard when using Excel 2010.
  • Added some extra logging in Excel App around regional settings.
  • Fixed an issue where the Excel Ribbon Bar add-in could stop other add-ins from working when using Excel 2003.
  • Fixed an issue where tray sizing utilities that used packed sections could sometimes refuse to solve.
  • Fixed an issue in copy-paste that could lead to objects with duplicated names.
  • Update to Levenberg-Marquardt Pour Pt method to better handle overlapping cuts + improvements to synthesis diagnostics.
  • Set extended dialog box check box sizes to be as wide as the dialog box at least, to avoid them sometimes getting chopped off.
  • Change profsimgateway HCKU LoadBehavior from "on demand" to "startup". Excel 2010 uses HKCU and as a result wasy never activating the gateway.
  • Clean up duplicate instances of the same component in the synthesis list.
  • Component mapper logic around recommending synthesis wasn't properly handling maps with unlocked components, and was wrongly suggesting synthesis transitions.
  • Loosen tolerance slightly on when a blend surplus is marked as zero, and improvements around feasibililty and at-bound checks for optimizer constraints that either have a bound or current value of 0 - improves blender performance in general.
  • Fix data rec to push reconciled values to meters regardless of whether the meter has an input value.
  • Fix the run case command in Petro-SIM/Monitor to work around a query timing issue with Jet.
  • Correct Petro-SIM/Monitor GetCompletionStatus method to look at the right collection.
  • Meter multi view now also has a Raw+Calculated drop down option.
  • No longer display the Non-Eqm Convergence warning status in a Distop column, or Distop warnings in non-Distop columns.
  • Clean up some meter variable statuses for improved Data Rec performance.
  • Fix how the column spaces get set up with cut points when monitor mode fills-in missing values.
  • Change lower bound on the optimiser constraints added for Product Spec optimisation that ensure cut points in order from 0 to 0.5 C. Stops cut points being set equal, causing product streams to become inactive.
  • Increased the maximum number of tubes in the Visbreaker family furances from 100 to 200.
  • Add composition variables to the LightGasProperties collection.
  • Fixed a possible crash on save after deleting columns.
  • Fixed up an issue reading in recycle tolerances from other simulator XML files.
  • Data rec: Fixed negative tolerance values which are absolute tolerance to show variable units.
  • Improved handling of partial or corrupt binary file recalls.
  • Add reporting of key calculated feed properties to FCC and HXX Excel Workbook Predict Result and Calib Result pages.
  • Fix variable type issue in pushing operating conditions into targets in CopyCalculatedUnitFactorsToInput message of Column.
  • Fix how Column/Fractop objects set up with Distop Product Specs behave in calibration so they properly calibrate against cutpoints with the product specs ignored.
  • Enhanced Distop product specs sent to Excel workbooks to include active status so users can flip between specs.
  • Fixed an issue in the ICP/FCP calculations when a rigorous column has multiple feeds.
  • Removed the error message about flowsheet tags > 6 characters.
  • Fixed an issue in the cold properties that could cause it to not report results for old style oil streams.
  • Extended regional settings checking in the Petro-SIM Ribbon bar.
  • Improved initial TBP values in Distop by using the the lowest and highest NBP from feed components.
  • Implemented Excel add-in preferred font option to mitigate issues with foreign-language versions of Excel that have much wider fonts than usual and give us more visual control.
  • Fixed issue where empty distillation type cells in Excel "Base" cases were causing duplicate distillations to be added to meters.
  • Fixed some copy paste issues around the LP Utility when pasting into different cases.
  • Clean up of how we transfer PA tray location info to Distop.
  • Fix Petro-SIM hanging in some cases if you copy something and then right click and want to paste.
  • Fixed feeder block to not submit equimolar compositions when it has one assay feed with zero flow.
  • Fixed Russian type names being cut off in rotary filter spec sheet.
  • Modified the delivery method of the Excel application and ribbon bar to be more robust.
  • Correct an uninitialised variable in Nitrogen synthesis.
  • Added option for users to enter a custom magnification setting.
  • Add another folder (the registry-defined location used in Excel App migrations) to the list the table manager uses when trying to save an Rx Workbook basecase.
  • Corrected db sync mechanism where the test for dbObjRev being 0 was being incorrectly applied. Was preventing case objects properly recognising they were linked against a database object.
  • Tweak Oracle connection string handling in KBCProfSIMGateway, PetroSIMXLToolbar and DB Explorer for TNS setting where we were incorrectly using the dbq parameter.
  • Correct offset in assay data gen LoadResults mechanism where results could go awry for the 3rd and subsequent assays.
  • Add option to force current thread to English temporarily so that we can build workbooks in Russian Excel. In this version, formula names (e.g., "=IF(...)") are translated as well, and it will reject the English ones we try to add.
  • Get the ribbon bar working when using English Excel and non-English regional settings.
  • Fixed a possible crash loading XML files from other simulation packages.
  • Implemented a Naphtha Modification : Split Balance parameter to allow more control over the naphtha region in naphtha component synthesis.
  • Table Manager when building Excel application now longer repeatedly activates Excel cells. This allows users to work on another application or do something else.
  • Table Manager Performance improvements - Blank apply Table Manager will now skip over empty items coming from Excel when it is valid to do so.
  • Improved time conversions in English if they fail using the user's default regional settings.
  • DB button bar menu now has a View Subscriptions... entry that allows you to view all subscribing objects in case.
  • Update Subscriptions view now has an Update All button.
  • DB connections now use "/", not "\", as separator in display name since Oracle data source typically has "/".
  • Fixed a possible hang when using copy/paste.
  • Fixed an issue that causes dangling locks on jet database files when connecting to an existing mdb file.
  • Subscription publication now gives option to write out input data.
  • Fixed an issue that could prevent the LP from writing out to the database.
  • Get subscriptions working when you try and select a non-default object from the available DB objects list.
  • Fixed database syncing not fully working with Oracle and OLE sync methods (no longer return E_FAIL if nothing needs to be done).
  • LPAssayDataGen - correct query used in the Select Assays form when it shows tip revisions only. Also make the form faster on load.
  • Fixed Oracle database functionality not working when OCILIB is not used due to case sensitive name binding and Oracle return column names in capitals.
  • Blender now reports in its diagnostics if it is failing to solve due to an unsolved feed stream.
  • Fixed a possible crash in the window scrolling mechanism.
  • Fixed an issue with transferring incorrect vapour fraction to STX exchangers.
  • Fixed an issue when attaching assays to the feeder block and the solver is running, and the assay basis is one of the fractions which led to 0's being incorrectly calculated into the new assay.
  • Add option to update from Petro-SIM only the active sheet instead of all sheets in a reporting workbook.
  • Fixed an issue where the Excel Add-in was interpreting user-added sheets as case sheets and trying to do custom table updates on them.
  • Petro-SIM wasn't using Unicode path to et Excel App base cases, causing it to fail when foreign characters were in the path.
  • Cleaned up some special cases where there's only one stream being sent to Excel.
  • Greatly improved Excel app creation time (building and formatting improvements).
  • Changed the Visbreaker T at Zero Conversion default from 426.67 C (800F) to 400 C for new cases.
  • Suppress input P/DP reporting in furnace results where inlet value was estimated.
  • Fixed the % liquid draw to use in tray sizing not being used.
  • Fixed an issue with the multiview showing properties in the wrong order sometimes or flipping order, if there is only one object.
  • Fixed the component splitter to correctly report its Decant stream as a product.
  • Fixed an issue where inserting a variable from Petro-SIM into Excel App Predict Input page was breaking existing reference value formulas in column K.
  • Fixed a false flash not possible error coming from column.
  • Relaxed the recycle Bulk Property convergence criteria.
  • Resolved Excel 2003-compliance issue where the Opt Input unit set cell validation referred to a range on another sheet.
  • Fixed potential row-outlining issue.
  • Menu event suppression formatting optimization had side effect that reactors w/ no Summary sheets (hxx-sim) ended up having the Add-Ins\Petro-SIM menu reappear.
  • Opt Input objective sum units was not getting set.
  • Changing Opt Input unit set triggers a format, so that objective sum units get updated if the objective row units change.
  • Ensure that Opt Input C:D are wide enough to accommodate the buttons they host.
  • Fixed the LP Utility to allow it to run with only a base vector.
  • Modified the set to force the user to pick a target variable before the source object.
  • Corrected crash in synthesis when all naphtha components are explicitly set to zero and perform Naphtha Modification is NO.
  • Corrected handling of extended pona distribution factors so that measured distributions get applied in update cases.
  • Added a log performance option to the preferences, options view to log case load time, database connection time, license checkout and validation times.
  • Improved performance when loading assay XML files.
  • Fixed up synthesis to generate a TVP value for components with compositions smaller than 1e-5 lv% but greater than 0.
  • Fixed a problem that could cause a random resolve on load in the blender.
  • Added GetPropertyValues and SetPropertyValues OLE methods to the simulation case interface.
  • Made the LPU OLE interface support BackDoor.
  • Replaced the deprecated Windows media encoder based movie recorder with one based on CamStudio.
  • Corrected olefin saturation to paraffins in HDS model for naphtha components.
  • Updated LPDataGenThread script to support a /GenerateCSV <path+rootname> option as alternative to saving case on the database. Also added more logging functionality.
  • Fixed an issue that could cause the import of calibration factors from XML to change a reactors fluid package. Fixed any reactors stored like this on import into this version.
  • Fixed a possible crash coming out of the basis environment when a reactor is in the state mentioned above.
  • Fixed an issue that could cause linked tables from the knowledge base to be unable to update.
  • Fixed a possible issue where spreadsheets attached to certain parts of the column view wouldn't resolve correctly.
  • Fixed a possible infinite solve in the boundary streams when both inside and outside stream are fully specified.
  • Added support for translating messages coming from reactors and synthesis.
  • Fixed an assay ownership issue in the component splitter that could cause crashes on load.
  • Fixed a possible recall issue in the LPU.
  • Fixed variable status in one spreadsheet linking to another not being correct.
  • Fixed an issue with the comp splitter interpreting boiling ranges for hypos incorrectly when a pure component is in between hypos.
  • Fixed an issue that could cause Excel links not to update correctly.
  • Fixed a database assertion.
  • Fix to C/H method "Sim Estimation from MABP and SG" to check the Carbon weight percent CWT has not become negative.
  • Fixed some issues with the Nutter Tray Sizing calculations.
  • Added some additional warnings to the tray sizing utility.
  • Various misc general changes to speed up the PFD if it is very large.
  • Fixed some possible crashes when running an LPU.
  • Calibration, fixed an inconsistency where in some cases water streams are incorrectly selecting as synthesis input.
  • Objective variable type was wrong on opt. iterations page.
  • Ribbon bar add in now sets the COMAddin object pointer.
  • Fixed some undo issues with tray sizing utility.
  • Fixed a possible crash in the LPU when swinging a rigorous column and changing the names of the draws after the swing cuts have been setup.
  • Fixed a possible crash when importing a correlationsets.xml that contains a script property.
  • Fixed an issue where you couldn't specify a filter tag in the LPU.
  • Added case management options to the case import methods of Petro-SIM/Monitor and LPAssayDataGen.
  • Fixed issue in variable navigator where it wasn't always auto-adding selected objects.
  • Fix for Sulphur synthesis when zero concentrations are supplied for logarithmic cuts.
  • Fixed F1 to display correct help section for data management.
  • Prevent some illegal characters from making it into published data set names.
  • No longer allow '|' in flowsheet object names.
  • Solver inconsistency status messages were not getting cleared out properly for solvers in sub-flowsheets.
  • Rename "Data Management" to "Collaboration".
  • Updated help and documentation files.
  • Fixed an issue where pasted columns were not appearing in the LPU's column list.
  • Improved positioning of pasted objects in the PFD.
  • Made the "Name Inside and Outside Stream" option in the preferences always rename when chosen.
  • Add methods to gateway to allow the Excel app object and active workbook object to be managed externally. Aids embedding LPAssayDataGen applications in external systems.
  • Fixed the HigherHeatingValue OLE interface to return the correct value.
  • Fixed an issue with the type picker not always correctly picking type.
  • Added additional database indices to speed up queries against the Petro-SIM Database.
  • Fixed the reactor object status to preserve warnings over a store/recall.
  • Fixed LPU incorrect yield calculation for multiple non-consecutive swings in a single column.
  • Correct issues with C to H Ratio hypo property when calculated from naphtha component details.
  • Correct how empty estimated components get handled in naphtha component systems to prevent errors with octane estimations in Naphtha Modification No mode.
  • Improved blender solution performance.
  • LPAssayDataGen updates to make it use subscription details for loading calibrations rather than a hard-coded list.
  • Make LPAssayDataGen unload the `frmLPModelSelect after invoking it in Load Results mode.
  • Add error protection to LPAssayDataGen on the results range setup to ensure end row > start row.
  • Add parameter UMTLPSortData to turn off results sorting since it inexplicably fails if Excel and Gateway are externally invoked.
  • Set another version of tolerance in Xpress models to combat an arcane definition of convergence, also reset a counter that determines when a blender posts updates the status bar.
  • Changed default amine fluid package to Amsim v7.4
  • Fixed issues with collection of flows further downstream of swings being collected at the wrong swing point
  • Enhanced spreadsheet audit option to consider all spreadsheets and to allow fixing of bad cell to cell attachments that could cause infinite solver loops
  • Fix amines issues with column internal streams where flash type should be PT because of the non-ideal efficiencies used in amine columns
  • Fix amines issues with viscosities on column profile plot
  • Add preference option to control whether distillation columns appear in the Navigation pane PFD Hierarchy
  • Fix issue with linked meters not using composite data set to calculate molecular weight leading to infinite solver loop
  • Correct Cloud point from BMCI method in synthesis to bail out properly consistenct with Petro-SIM V3
  • Change synthesis component cutoff from 1e-6 to 0.0 so trace components are properly handled
  • Fix possible infinite loop populating MeterReportWithCharts KPI History as part of Petro-SIM/Monitor
  • Fix SQL queries used by Petro-SIM/Monitor so Oracle databases are fully supported.
  • Correct Distop column calculations that use the Petro-SIM thermo.
  • Correct the Assay_CopyAssay method in kbclib used to copy assays on Petrofine assay databases. Method not used in SIM Suite but it used by some Clients.
  • Correct how user assay properties propagate across reactors that have internal mixers.
  • Name search will now also search short names.
  • Add in a double click message on the LP observables matrix to set to dataset and view the object.
  • Fixed a calibration cases crashing.
  • The Comparison in Excel apps was not clever enough to handle more than 13 sheets, nor deleting or moving sheets.
  • Remove the MaximumSize limit on 4 Excel App forms to avoid them being cut-off.
  • Modify the rules used to decide when to bail out of the synthesis naphtha modification: retain cut points algorithm to take into account how much of the naphtha data is known rather than estimated.
  • Fix issues that erroneously allowed Petro-SIM Express to load cases containing Refinery Blenders
  • Fix LPU so it always collects both VBAL and WBAL where only one included
  • Fix LPU update handling for cloned or copied utilities
  • Make sure correct standard conditions observed when copying values to the clipboard
  • Add n-Hexane to the Pyrolysis component list
  • Correct occasional issues reported with invalid IDs for stream properties being generated to Excel workbooks
  • Correct naphtha component propogation across HXX reactors where some feed information was being invalidly copied to the product: seen in NHTR reactors.
  • Correct issues updating Excel workbooks for Visbreaker profile results
  • Correct mapping of C6A to Benzene and C7A to Toluene when group value is zero

FCC-SIM

  • Updated FCC Sample.ksc because FCC-Meter had wrong variable type for Regen1_CatBedLevel, causing Excel App to fail when sending calib data.
  • Bugzilla #3191 - Correct issues around migrating LN and MN recycle setups.
  • Correct CF44 to 46 neutral values on page 12-91.
  • Add Lift Gas support to FCC-SIM wizard.
  • Add extraneous feeds and products to the basecase.
  • Slightly modify delta RON response in catalyst.dat.
  • Wizard view fix for missing label.
  • Update internal ZSM and CCM tables to same as latest catalyst.dat.
  • Fixed convergence issue on makeup catalyst rate
  • Assign default to CRC for second regenerator = 0.1*CRC of first regenerator.
  • Correct ID names generated for the yields section so that they are independent of whether the reactor is solved or not and fix up summary sheet template accordingly.
  • Stop migration pushing 0 across for the Calibration metals balance option since not a legal value.
  • Correct conversion response with low Slurry Oil recycle so consistent with previous versions
  • Correct raw yield calculation issue with multiple naphtha products

REF-SIM

  • Reformer's Worksheet\Composition\Extended page wasn't getting outlined.
  • Improved performance when solving cases with more than one REF-SIM reactor.
  • Fixed reformer incorrectly saying it requires recalibrating.
  • Update Factors Results views with helpful flybys.
  • Change C5+ Reformate to Reformate in the view.
  • Corrected calculation of group C10A octane numbers from detailed composition.
  • Add in an approximation for Reformate MCP target when C6N in the products is given.
  • Correct multiple feed handling in calibration

DC-SIM

  • Fixed issue in data handling when Furnace Feed stream only (no Bottom stream connected).
  • Minor fix on Data in steam temperature assignment.
  • Revise DCBasecase.ksc to set Furnace Steam meter to default units.
  • Add in KB the missing Vel GO Rate to the reactor meter.
  • Improved performance when solving cases with more than one DC-SIM reactor.
  • Fixed an issue with the Overhead Pressure Variable Type for the optimizer in the Knowledge base.
  • Lower H2S and Coke Sulfur response to CFR changes in Predict.
  • Added a Coker product API versus SG plot.
  • Fixed a calibration issue in the coker where is sometimes chooses to synthesize a downstream component splitter incorrectly.
  • Coker plot now shows a regressed line through meter data.
  • Add cracking curve adjust.
  • Add Temp effect on Gas Yields.
  • Reduce H2S and Coke S response to CFR.
  • Add Quench report in mass flows.
  • Change code version to v2010-2.0.
  • Updated user guide and tech manual docs.
  • Updates to the Wizard to include additional options for the user.

Hxx-SIM

  • Improved performance when solving cases with more than one Hxx-SIM reactor.
  • Fixed a missing default for HXXSIM R3.
  • Add new tuning parameters for gas and N effect.
  • Cap bottom prod Temp not exceeding feed Temp.
  • Cap FCC prod rate during internal reference cut temperature calculation.
  • Fixed a calculation error in gas temperature effect.
  • Relax HXX configuration rules to allow recycle to any reactor and not just R-3 for Isocracker with stripper configuration.

ALK-SIM

  • Bugzilla #3243 - H2SO4 alky model, water in acid at 0% effect.

OLEFIN-SIM

  • Updated Pyrolysis furnace engine.

Licensing Utilities

  • Improved KBCLicenseTester handling of SIM Suite license when merging features during standalone license installs.
  • The netadmin setup.exe will now give an error when run independently of the CD browser.
  • Now installing vc80 runtimes for the kbccommuter manager so it will work on a completely clean installation.

Petro-SIM Database Explorer

  • Enable Delete option on right-click menu against Assays item in tree to make it easy to delete all assays from a database.

SIM Suite Registration Tool

  • Check for latest version of Excel instead of registered version to determine if ribbon bar should be registered.
  • Excel Add-In now recommends SIM Suite Registration Tool when it encounters version mismatches.
  • SIM Suite Registration Tool wasn't picking up gateway dll for pre-V4 installs with no Petro-SIM.exe.

Installation Fixes

  • Changed an error message to point at new website.
  • Fixed an issue registering gateway.
  • The Utilities installation will now require administrator rights.
  • When using a license server we now require license server to be version 8.1 before we attempt to install.
  • Petrosimxltoolbar.dll is now always installed.
  • The installer will now install new license files using the license tester tool to avoid issues when a new license file and existing license file are not equivalent.
  • The standalone key drivers will only be installed if the license being installed is recognised as using a standalone key.

Notes

Note that changes in version 3.3 are also in version 4.0 though dynamics functionality is not supported in 4.0.

The original Petro-SIM 4.0 Release Notes are available here or through the Welcome page.