Evaluation and Cost Control

A thorough presentation of fundamentals of an economic analysis for process design can be found in the classical book of Peters and Timmerhaus (1991). In addition this book contains detailed information about the cost of chemical equipment. A concise but useful treatment can be found in Coulson Richardson volume 6 (1993). The part on economics in Douglas (1987) is particularly well written from the viewpoint of a designer. The chapter written by Holland Wilkinson for Perry s Handbook 7 edition (1997) contains an extended description of the modem concepts of profitability, a comprehensive estimation of manufacturing and fixed-capital costs, as well as an introduction in the accounting and cost control concepts. The economic evaluation of projects from the perspective of the Institution of Chemical Engineers-UK may be found in Allen (1991). 

Methods for the large-scale production of hydrogen must be evaluated in the context of environmental impact and cost. Synthesis gas generation is the principal area requiring environmental controls common to all syngas-based processes. The nature of the controls depends on the feedstock and method of processing. 

M. Ramanathan and W. E. Vedey, Evaluation, Design and Startup of an Innovative and Cost-effective Wastewater Treatment Plant at Concord, New Hampshire, paper presented at the 36th Annual Meeting, Virginia Water Pollution Control Association, Inc., Charlottesville, Va., 1982. 

Limited Data First, plant data are limited. Unfortunately, those easiest to obtain are not necessarily the most useful. In many cases, the measurements that are absolutely required for accurate model development are unavailable. For those that are available, the sensitivity of the parameter estimate, model evaluation, and/or subsequent conclusion to a particiilar measurement may be very low. Design or control engineers seldom look at model development as the primaiy reason for placing sensors. Further, because equipment is frequently not operated in the intended region, the sensitive locations in space and time have shifted. Finally, because the cost-effectiveness of measurements can be difficult to justify, many plants are underinstru-mented. 

Expert opinion is a source, frequently elicited by survey, that is used to obtain information where no or few data are available. For example, in our experience with a multicountry evaluation of health care resource utilization in atrial fibrillation, very few country-specific published data were available on this subject. Thus the decision-analytic model was supplemented with data from a physician expert panel survey to determine initial management approach (rate control vs. cardioversion) first-, second-, and third-line agents doses and durations of therapy type and frequency of studies that would be performed to initiate and monitor therapy type and frequency of adverse events, by body system and the resources used to manage them place of treatment and adverse consequences of lack of atrial fibrillation control and cost of these consequences, for example, stroke, congestive heart failure. This method may also be used in testing the robustness of the analysis [30]. 

Color is often used as an indicator of food quality due to short evaluation times and cost savings. " People consider the colors of raw materials, half fabricates, and final products in order to make decisions to accept or reject food products. For example, levels of anthocyanins have been used to evaluate the adulteration of various pigmented food products, and fruit color is a strong determinant of ripeness. The role of the food handler in controlling the colors of food products is very important because such judgments are subjective. ... 

Extent and Cost of Weed Control with Herbicides and on Evaluation of Important Weeds " U.S. Department of Agriculture, ARS-H-1, 1972, p 1-227. 

The services are designed to enable the pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers to reduce overall development time and cost. Thus, research and development concentrates one of this company interests and they continuously accept new assignments for development from the private clients. However, they clearly states that the R D results and products will invariably be patented and the application will be rolled out internationally. Prior to commercialization, the developed products are evaluated and tested under controlled conditions with users and industry groups. 

Floating vessels for offshore operations offer reduced installation costs but also present additional vulnerability factors. All floating structures must ensure buoyancy integrity is maintained otherwise the vessel may sink with catastrophic results. Similarly propulsion are provided at some installations to provided position stability. All major vessels are required by insurance requirements and most marine regulations to maintain buoyancy systems and loss of position stability will impact ongoing operations. Both of these systems can therefore be considered critical support systems and must be evaluated for risk and loss control measures either thorough duplication and protection measures or a combination of both. 

A document that indicates cleany what is provided in terms of technology, quality, schedule, and cost A basis in enough detail to be used in controlhng the project and its costs to permit proper evaluation of any proposed changes A device to permit subsequent evaluation of the performance compared to the intended performance A document to control the detailed estimate for the final design, construction, and design... 

The negligible risk concept considered here is based strictly on individual risk rates and exposure. It does not include other economic or technical considerations that are part of setting the enforceable standards (i.e, the MCLs). The levels for the MCLs (not RMCLs) would thus be considered to be the upper limits of risk that are considered to be acceptable on the basis of current evaluations of the feasibility and costs of controls. 

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