Plant Capacity
Plant Capacity
(OP)
I was a witness in a case last week that hinged on a definition of "Plant Design Capacity". I searched far and wide and couldn't find a "standard" that described a process for fixing plant design capacity. The definition that I developed was:
Do any of you have a definition of "Plant Design Capacity" that would have gotten me in less trouble?
- Determine the design capacity of each major component using a consistent set of assumptions
- Look at the component with the smallest capacity and (for new design) determine if there is an economic way to reduce that bottleneck.
- Repeat (for new designs) until further improvements cost more than they save. For existing systems use the component with the smallest design capacity
- Require significant capital outlay, AND
- Involve significant time to make the change
Do any of you have a definition of "Plant Design Capacity" that would have gotten me in less trouble?
David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering
"Belief" is the acceptance of an hypotheses in the absence of data.
"Prejudice" is having an opinion not supported by the preponderance of the data.
"Knowledge" is only found through the accumulation and analysis of data.
The plural of anecdote is not "data"





RE: Plant Capacity
Define the input. Define the process. Define the product. Then, there should be a maximum throughput to convert the raw materials to finished product.
Good luck,
Latexman
Need help writing a question or understanding a reply? forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers
RE: Plant Capacity
It is a pity that lawyers apparently see the world in black and white whereas engineers see it in it's true colour of shades of grey and trying to determine things on the spot is far from easy when confronted with someone who is not really listening to your answers, so you have my sympathy.
Whilst the J-T skid changed the function of the plant, the reason was the change in the design basis by the change of composition. Design basis data can incorporate many things so for instance if the design basis assumed utility power available of say 10MW, but in reality or due to factors outside your control, the power available was only 5MW, then this would impact the plant capacity.
Hope this helps for the next time...
My motto: Learn something new every day
Also: There's usually a good reason why everyone does it that way
RE: Plant Capacity
RE: Plant Capacity
David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering
"Belief" is the acceptance of an hypotheses in the absence of data.
"Prejudice" is having an opinion not supported by the preponderance of the data.
"Knowledge" is only found through the accumulation and analysis of data.
The plural of anecdote is not "data"
RE: Plant Capacity
Lawyers are a close second on my "list" of professions.