Enlightenment needed

[dogtop]

Dear Eng-Tippers,

I would like guidance in understanding the following terms and their relationship. Pointers to published materials would be greatly appreciated.

Front-End Engineering Design
Basic Engineering Design
Phase Zero Engineering Design
Preliminary Engineering Design

TIA

 

[JLSeagull]

You missed front-end-loading. ;-)

Different operating companies, engineering contractors and industries use similar techniques to determine the viability of a potential project. Some names for these steps include feasibility studies, conceptual engineering, preliminary engineering. All of these might meet someones definition of front-end engineering. The idea is to spend sufficient work to verify the likely budget compared to the potential payout time for a new project.

After the FEED stage, the subsequent steps include detailed engineering, construction, commissioning, startup and closeout. Some have other terms such as pre-commissioning, checkout, etc.

These feasibility and subquent steps require similar deliverable and scope split clarification to assure that all of the costs are addressed and who is responsible for these documents, materials etc.

 

[Homayun]

Front End Engineering Design or the FEED is the phase of hte project where the scope of the design is well defined. This includes definition and specification of all Fixed/static equipment including piping, vessels, Machinery, Heat Exchange equipment, SHE items, instrumentaiton requirements, civil requirements and Electrical requirements. At the end of the FEED you should also have a set of released for design P&ID's. When the total scope of all these mentioned area's is done, the FEED is complete. THis is also equivalent to Basic Engineering. But one important thing to note is that during a FEED or Basic Design, the design of any system can still be changed, revised, adjusted, etc. While after the FEEd that is normally not done...
Hope this helps

 

[djack77494]

"Normally not done" = done not more than 99% of the time. Excuse me if I come across a bit cynical, but in hundreds of projects I have never had one where significant changes weren't made (long) after the FEED or Basic Engineering was complete. In theory, however, what Homayun has said is correct.

 

[ChemEng84]

so what changes are done during the project construction? i heard that there are many changes made to the original design during construction of the plant, and who does them?

 

[tkdhwjd]

It all depends on how the contract is written. It also depends on which company you are working for. it is very difficult to provide a single, applicable-to-all answer to your question. Many "significant" changes can be made during construction if detailed engineering was not done properly. Even if detailed engr was done well, you will stil see some field changes, especially if you are working on a revamp project. In the end, changes should be managed by construction contractor, but must have client oversight.

 

[djack77494]

There are just times when the guy with his feet on the ground standing beside the construction area can see things that were missed in the designer's offices. Then it makes sense to make on-the-spot improvements that can be done cheaply and effectively.