Engineering 1 Computer-aided Plant Design Software

1 Engineering 1 [E 1] Computer-aided Plant Design Software 

For a long time, these auto-routers have been a standard tool in the electronics industry. They are applied in the design phase of electronic printed boards. An electronic router calculates the most efficient layout of an electronic pathway considering obstacles and predefined constraints. 

The procedure starts with an estimate of the total volume of each piece of equipment and also considers enough space for erection and maintenance (step 1). 

This 3-D layout model is a valuable draft but it has to be revised during detailed engineering. The tool is important for the micro world if in the future micro structured reactor plants become more and more standardized. In this case, standardized autorouter tools could help to automate the time-consuming part of detailed engineering in complex micro structured reactor plants. 

---

When it comes to computer applications, spreadsheet software has become an indispensable tool in plant design because of the availability of personal computers, ease of use, and adaptability to many types of problems. On the other hand, many programs are available for the design of individual units of chemical process units. The Computer Aids for Chemical Engineering Education Corporation makes available several programs mainly for educational use. 

---