Plant layout planning process equipment

Design should follow some prearranged plan based upon space requirements, selections and specifications of process equipment, the layout of process equipment according to processing flows, plant location, plant... 

In the discussion of process and equipment design given in the previous chapters no reference was made to the plant site. A suitable site must be found for a new project, and the site and equipment layout planned. Provision must be made for the ancillary buildings and services needed for plant operation and for the environmentally acceptable disposal of effluent. These subjects are discussed briefly in this chapter. 

The first plant layout operation is to understand and develop the plant arrangements around major pieces of equipment and sub-units of process plant, with particular attention to the shape and size of footprint and the relative positions of main interfaces, especially points at which process materials enter and leave. These sub-units are then combined into an overall block plan development, and when this is acceptable the whole may be further developed into more detailed layouts. Figures 10.1 and 10.2 are examples of finally developed block plan and layout. 

Look for noisy locations in a floor plan or plant layout. Look for ways to enclose potentially noisy activities, processes, and equipment to prevent noise from traveling to less noisy areas. Group noise sources to lower costs for controls. Try to separate people from noise sources by distance and barriers. Look for and avoid routes or channels by which sound can travel from one location to another. 

Whether the planned plant is an inline arrangement or housed in a struaure, the plant layout designer must make provisions for operator and maintenance access. The designer must review the items of equipment that are included in the process and plan for their operation and maintenance requirements. For example, towers must be located in a position to allow for the removal of internals, reactors require space for catalyst loading and unloading, shell and tube exchangers require space for bundle removal, and rotat-... 

Plot plans are often referred to by their process (e.g., an ammonia plant or hydrotreater unit) rather than by the type of configuration of the equipment layout. In terms of equipment arrangement, process unit plot plans can basi Iy be divided into two configurations the grade-mounted horizontal inline arrangement seen in most refinery facilities, and the structure-mounted vertical arrangement found in many chemical plants. 

Exhibit 15-52 illustrates an effeaive overall layout of a process and off-site plot plan. The administration area is immediately inside the plant s main entrance, as are maintenance and fire-fighting equipment. Pro-... 

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