Equipment design, development

Figure 4.9 shows a typical component of a front bumper, as it is provided by the developer/designer. In a first step, the equipment designer develops the so-called surface extensions as shown in Figure 4.10. In the next few weeks, the final mold parting planes are created (Figure 4.11).

Extraction, a unit operation, is a complex and rapidly developing subject area (1,2). The chemistry of extraction and extractants has been comprehensively described (3,4). The main advantage of solvent extraction as an industrial process Hes in its versatiHty because of the enormous potential choice of solvents and extractants. The industrial appHcation of solvent extraction, including equipment design and operation, is a subject in itself (5). The fundamentals and technology of metal extraction processes have been described (6,7), as has the role of solvent extraction in relation to the overall development and feasibiHty of processes (8). The control of extraction columns has also been discussed (9). 

Numerous other methods have been used to predict properties of gases and Hquids. These include group contribution, reference substance, approaches, and many others. However, corresponding states theory has been one of the most thoroughly investigated methods and has become an important basis for the development of correlation and property estimation techniques. The methods derived from the corresponding states theory for Hquid and gas property estimation have proved invaluable for work such as process and equipment design. 

More shortcut design methods and rules of thumb have been developed for fractionation than probably any other unit operation. For example the paper reprinted in Appendix 5 on development of shortcut equipment design methods contains 18 references for fractionation shortcut methods out of 37 total. Both the process and mechanical aspects of fractionation design have useful rules of thumb. Many of the mechanical design rules of thumb become included in checklists of do s and don ts. 

Branan, C. R., Development of Short-cut Equipment Design Methods, ASEE Annual Conference Proceedings, Computer Aided Engineering, American Society for Engineering Education, 1985. 

Shortcut equipment design methods are difficult to define. I was asked to speak at a session on Shortcut Equipment Design Methods at the 1985 ASEE Annual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. My paper on Development of Shortcut Equipment Design Methods is reproduced in Appendix 5. My introduction doesn t attempt to define these elusive methods instead I ducked the issue and just gave a simple example. 

Like Bruce, I am here to share the perspective of the field. Shortcut equipment design methods play a major role in process equipment installations. Virtually all process designs employ these methods and shortcut techniques are developed from many sources. 

The hazard tree also helps identify protection devices to include in equipment design that may minimize the possibility that a source will develop into a condition. Examples would be flame arrestors and stack arrestors on fire tubes to prevent flash back and exhaust sparks, gas detectors to sense the presence of a fuel in a confined space, and fire... 

The focus of this chapter has been on proactive application of these analytical methods such as safety audits, development of procedures, training needs analysis, and equipment design. However, many of these methods can also be used in a retrospective mode, and this issue deserves further attention in its own right. Chapter 6 describes analytical methods for accident investigations and data collection. 

Figure 1-36. Process engineering costs (1975), based on process engineering charged at 14 per manhour. Chemical plant engineering operations, includes flowsheet development and drafting, material and heat balances, equipment designs, ratings, checking, and bid reviews and selection of equipment. By permission, E. E. Ludwig [7].

The purpose of these 3 volumes is to present techniques of process design and to interpret the results into mechanical equipment details. There is no attempt to present theoretical developments of the design equations. The equations recommended have practically all been used in actual plant equipment design, and are considered to be the most reasonable available to the author, and still capable of being handled by both the inexperienced as well as the experienced engineer. A conscious effort has been made to offer guidelines to judgment, decisions and selections, and some of this will be found in the illustrative problems. 

The mission originally assigned to the Ordnance Department was to design, develop, procure, store, maintain, and supply to the Army such equipment and supplies as are assigned to the Ordnance Department for procurement, in such quantities and at such times as are required to meet the requirements of Army supply programs and other directives of higher authority. 

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