Page 14 - Plant design and economics for chemical engineers

xii PREFACE

information should also be of interest to administrators, operation supervisors,
and research or development workers in the process industries.
The first part of the text presents an overall analysis of the major factors
involved in process .design, with particular emphasis on economics in the process
industries and in design work. Computer-aided design is discussed early in the
book as a separate chapter to introduce the reader to this important topic with
the understanding that this tool will be useful throughout the text. The various
costs involved in industrial processes, capital investments and investment re-
turns, cost estimation, cost accounting, optimum economic design methods, and
other subjects dealing with economics are covered both qualitatively and quanti-
tatively. The remainder of the text deals with methods and important factors in
the design of plants and equipment. Generalized subjects, such as waste
disposal, structural design, and equipment fabrication, are included along with
design methods for different types of process equipment. Basic cost data and
cost correlations are also presented for use in making cost estimates.
Illustrative examples and sample problems are used extensively in the text
to illustrate the applications of the principles to practical situations. Problems
are included at the ends of most of the chapters to give the reader a chance to
test the understanding of the material. Practice-session problems, as well as
longer design problems of varying degrees of complexity, are included in
Appendix C. Suggested recent references are presented as footnotes to show
the reader where additional information can be obtained. Earlier references are
listed in the first, second, and third editions of this book.
A large amount of cost data is presented in tabular and graphical form.
The table of contents for the book lists chapters where equipment cost data are
presented, and additional cost information on specific items of equipment or
operating factors can be located by reference to the subject index. To simplify
use of the extensive cost data given in this book, all cost figures are referenced
to the all-industry Marshall and Swift cost index of 904 applicable for January 1,
1990. Because exact prices can be obtained only by direct quotations from
manufacturers, caution should be exercised in the use of the data for other than
approximate cost-estimation purposes.
The book would be suitable for use in a one- or two-semester course for
advanced undergraduate or graduate chemical engineers. It is assumed that the
reader has a background in stoichiometry, thermodynamics, and chemical engi-
neering principles as taught in normal first-degree programs in chemical engi-
neering. Detailed explanations of the development of various design equations
and methods are presented. The book provides a background of design and
economic information with a large amount of quantitative interpretation so that
it can serve as a basis for further study to develop complete understanding of
the general strategy of process engineering design.
Although nomographs, simplified equations, and shortcut methods are
included, every effort has been made to indicate the theoretical background and
assumptions for these relationships. The true value of plarj dwign and eco- . z
nomics for the chemical engineer is not found merely in the ability to put