this function, the engineer is required to study various processing routes or changes
to existing process routes and configurations. When satisfied that the technical
aspects of any proposed changes or additions are feasible and sound, he or she
must now satisfy the company management that it is economically attractive. The
proposal must also be shown to be the best of any possible alternatives that may be
available to achieve the same objective.
This chapter sets out to describe some basic techniques used in carrying out this
function.
Study Approach
Process studies are usually initiated after a very precise definition by the company’s
management of the company’s immediate and long-term production objectives.
Apart from this definition being a premise of the company’s annual operating
budget, it also aims to fulfill its marketing strategy. Often such a definition results
in changes being required to be made to the process facilities either in the short term
or long term to meet these objectives. The company will look to the development
engineers to provide definition of these changes and to support the definition(s) with
whatever technical and economic data necessary for the management to make their
“GO/NO GO” decisions. Figure 3 shows the steps in a typical study.
This particular study route is to define an expansion of an existing process
configuration by adding a new group of plants. The steps shown in Fig. 3 are
described as follows:
Step 1. Receive and review the supply department’s requirements.
This step is extremely important. The development engineer or engineers working on the study must understand completely what is required and what the end
product of the study must fulfill. There is usually also a time element for the
completion of the work. This too must be understood and planned for. Normally,
the study premise is presented in a written document with copies to all study
participants. The contents of the document must be studied by all concerned.
A study “kickoff” meeting is always beneficial where participants and management review the study premises together before commencing work on the study.
Step 2. Obtain stream flows from existing plants.
In cases where existing plants are to form part of the study premise, a detailed
analysis of the performance of the plants must be made. This almost certainly
will involve performance test runs under pre-calculated operating conditions.
The test run results are evaluated and included in the analysis of products to meet
the study’s product slate.
Step 3. Develop product pattern from plant data for new processes.
This will be executed in parallel with step 2. Here new processes that may be
included in the study to meet the product requirements are examined and their
product pattern developed. Process licensors may be involved at this stage to
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to existing process routes and configurations. When satisfied that the technical
aspects of any proposed changes or additions are feasible and sound, he or she
must now satisfy the company management that it is economically attractive. The
proposal must also be shown to be the best of any possible alternatives that may be
available to achieve the same objective.
This chapter sets out to describe some basic techniques used in carrying out this
function.
Study Approach
Process studies are usually initiated after a very precise definition by the company’s
management of the company’s immediate and long-term production objectives.
Apart from this definition being a premise of the company’s annual operating
budget, it also aims to fulfill its marketing strategy. Often such a definition results
in changes being required to be made to the process facilities either in the short term
or long term to meet these objectives. The company will look to the development
engineers to provide definition of these changes and to support the definition(s) with
whatever technical and economic data necessary for the management to make their
“GO/NO GO” decisions. Figure 3 shows the steps in a typical study.
This particular study route is to define an expansion of an existing process
configuration by adding a new group of plants. The steps shown in Fig. 3 are
described as follows:
Step 1. Receive and review the supply department’s requirements.
This step is extremely important. The development engineer or engineers working on the study must understand completely what is required and what the end
product of the study must fulfill. There is usually also a time element for the
completion of the work. This too must be understood and planned for. Normally,
the study premise is presented in a written document with copies to all study
participants. The contents of the document must be studied by all concerned.
A study “kickoff” meeting is always beneficial where participants and management review the study premises together before commencing work on the study.
Step 2. Obtain stream flows from existing plants.
In cases where existing plants are to form part of the study premise, a detailed
analysis of the performance of the plants must be made. This almost certainly
will involve performance test runs under pre-calculated operating conditions.
The test run results are evaluated and included in the analysis of products to meet
the study’s product slate.
Step 3. Develop product pattern from plant data for new processes.
This will be executed in parallel with step 2. Here new processes that may be
included in the study to meet the product requirements are examined and their
product pattern developed. Process licensors may be involved at this stage to
700
D.S.J. Jones and P.R. Pujado ´