Process Plant Design: Project Management from Inquiry to Acceptance

This book describes the fascinating wealth of activities as they occur in the design, construction and commissioning of a chemical plant--a jigsaw puzzle of the work of chemical engineers, chemists, constructors, architects, electrical engineers, process automation engineers, economists and legal staff. The author first takes the reader through the conceptual phase, in which the economic relevance and environmental impact need to be considered and supplemented by accurate estimates of capital requirements and profitability. This so called feasibility study results in the choice of an appropriate engineering firm and the conclusion of the contract. The engineering company will have to perform the so called basic engineering which includes a large variety of engineering activities such as mass, material and energy balances, the basic and flow diagrams, the basic civil engineering, the design of the main components, the materials concept, the layout, the electrical and control part and finally the determination of the offer price. With respect to the contract process engineers are required to have a basic knowledge of business administration. The most important sections usually included in sales contracts for process plants are explained in a way comprehensible to an engineer and aligned with his tasks and obligations. Special emphasis is laid on the important field of variations and claims. In the next step the reader is guided through all aspects of the execution phase from the so called detail engineering of the process plant to equipment and material procurement, the erection phase, the commissioning and the successful test run, after which the new facility is handedover to its owner. The book also illustrates many potential sources of errors by means of examples from practice, and how, aside professional skills, teamwork and communication are also absolutely essential to keep such a complex project on track.Helmus, Frank Peter is the author of 'Process Plant Design: Project Management from Inquiry to Acceptance', published 2008 under ISBN 9783527313136 and ISBN 3527313133.