Читать книгу Petroleum Refining Design and Applications Handbook - A. Kayode Coker - Страница 43

Process engineering design is the application of chemical, mechanical, petroleum, gas, and other engineering talents to the process-related development, planning, designs, and decisions required for economical and effective completion of a process project [1]. Although process design engineers are organizationally located in research, technical service, economic evaluation, as well as other specific departments, the usual arrangement is to have them available to the engineering groups concerned with developing the engineering details as well as to evaluate bids for the various equipment items. Process design is usually a much more specific group responsibility in engineering contractor organizations than in a chemical or petrochemical production company, and the degree of distinction varies with the size of the organization.

The average process engineer has the following responsibilities:

1 1. Prepares studies of process cycles and systems for various product production or improvements or changes in existing production units; prepares material and heat balances.

2 2. Prepares economic studies associated with process performance.

3 3. Designs and/or specifies equipment items required to define the process flowsheet or flow system; specifies corrosion resistant materials of construction.

4 4. Evaluates competitive bids for equipment.

5 5. Evaluates operating data for existing or test equipment.

6 6. Guides flowsheet draftsmen in detailed flowsheet preparation.

The process engineer also develops tests and interprets data and information from the research pilot plant. He/she aids in scaling-up the research type flow cycle to one of commercial feasibility.

The process engineer must understand the interrelationship between the various research, engineering, purchasing, expediting, construction, and operational functions of a project. He/she must appreciate that each function may and often does affect or influence the process design decisions. For example, it is futile to waste time designing or calculating in detail, when the basic components of the design cannot be economically fabricated, or if capable of being fabricated, cannot possibly be delivered by the construction schedule for the project. Some specific phases of a project that require process understanding include plant layout, materials of construction for corrosion as well as strength, start-up operations, troubleshooting, maintenance, performance testing and so forth.