Your Design Reviews Should Ensure All Objectives Are Met

WeMa1622008215821364AS MORE DETAIL IS DEVELOPED, THE DESIGN REVIEW TENDS TO BECOME A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT IS PROVIDED, RATHER THAN A REVIEW OF WHAT IS NEEDED OR REQUIRED.

A detached view of a design can ensure all of your objectives are met. How many times have you been forced to re-direct the design team because the objective had been lost in the design detail?

We can help. And we have demonstrated how our design reviews have worked.

  • On one project, a very small batch heater was governing the design of the hot utiltiy system. Due to the remote location, expansion of an existing facility, personnel requirements, etc., steam could not be used, and an expensive hot oil system was proposed to manage the high temperatures. We suggested de-integrating the very small batch heater from the heat integration analysis. The result … a hot utility using inhibited hot water, and a very small (~150 kW) electric heater for the batch process, with estimated savings of about $15M in operating costs over the life of the facility.
  • On another project, a facility that required a very high reliability was proposing sourcing feedstock with a new supply pipeline. We challenged this proposal, because total market demand was not changing – merely the supply source of feed. We proposed using existing pipelines to meet the new supply requirements. The result … about $45M in CAPEX avoided.
  • A schedule critical job needed a pump. We suggested using an existing mothballed pump with a new motor running at a different speed. The result … the pump was re-conditioned using local contractors, a motor was sourced, and the project saved about 8 weeks.
  • Valves. How many times have you observed operations personnel and project personnel arguing about valves? Project personnel will tend to select the lower cost option (which is their job – to manage the budget) and operations personnel will tend to complain about them (which is their job – to use the finished project). We proposed a simple isolation table, with various combinations of fluid risk, pressures, temperatures, inventories, and isolation requirements (process isolation or maintenance isolation). The result … in a project that purchased over 2000 valves, operations and project personnel disagreed on the selection of only 9 valves.

We are always happy to participate in design reviews. We are also happy to focus on key areas (improving schedule, improving cost, etc). Contact us for more information.