Known Issues
Welcome Page
If your internet connection makes use of NT passthrough to authenticate to a proxy server, you will not be able to view the Petro-SIM welcome page or check for updates. There are preference options to disable both of these.
Microsoft Windows Updates Affecting Reactor Workbooks
It has come to our attention that one of the recent Microsoft updates has caused issues when generating reactor application workbooks.
Symptom:
When you generate a new Excel Application Workbook with a reactor calibration from SIM Suite 4 or later (or migrate SIM Suite 3 models to 4 or later), macro buttons are missed in the A1:H5 range in the Calibration Input sheet. If you click the “Calibration” button in the ribbon bar, a pop-up window will appear indicating a severe error for Petro-SIM Excel Add-In. (Refer to below screenshot)
Solution:
Microsoft has released the fix package online:
Depending on whether you have admin rights on your machine, please go and run the “Fix it” button accordingly. After the program execution, the problem should be resolved.
Reference on the Microsoft update MS14-082:
Version 4 and Microsoft Excel 2003
The version 4 Petro-SIM Add-In for Excel requires that your Excel version is at least 2003 SP3. It also requires the dependant OTKLOADR dll is version 7.10.5077.0 or higher. The program installer checks for this and will alert you when you need to update the dll and you may also be requested to update the dll by KBC software support.
The http://support.microsoft.com/kb/907417 article from Microsoft explains the issue and gives you a link to download the update. The update has to be applied for each user that uses your machine.
Office 2010
Microsoft Office 2010 (32-bit version) is supported by SIM Suite version 4 service pack 1 or higher.
Office 2013
SIM Suite version 4 does not fully support Microsoft Excel 2013; this will be rectified in Petro-SIM 5.
We have seen issues with partial installs of Office 2013 where people want to keep Excel 2010 or earlier but use components like Outlook or Lync from the 2013 suite. This appears to be a registration issue with Office 2013 where it installs a stray registry key (HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\{00020813-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}\1.8) that confuses .Net based add-ins to earlier versions of Excel. One workaround requiring admin privileges is to delete the stray key.
Energy streams from Distop Columns
Distop columns do not currently calculate condenser, pumparound or reboiler duties into the energy streams on the associated equipment. The data is available on the Distop results pages and can be pushed into the appropriate energy streams using the Spreadsheet operation.
Net Gas rates from Naphtha Reformers
Naphtha reformer reactors with significant n-Pentane in their feed can predict yields that are too low. The workaround is to bypass the C5- feed material around the reactor.
License Server version required
Network use of SIM Suite version 4 requires version 8.1.0 or higher of the Sentinel RMS License Manager. You will see errors reported if you try installing license files for version 4 to earlier servers and you will need to upgrade the server software. KBC supplies version 8.3.0 as part of the SIM Suite install package: see the Upgrading section of Installing License Servers for the steps involved.