Plant lavout design plays an imporant par in the de- sign and engineering phases of any industrial facility ‘This chapter discusses the role and responsibiliues of the plant layout designer, provides advice on how to use project data, describes the timing of various acii- ‘ies, offers an approach to a basic piping design layout, {and lists abbreviaions and common terminology Sub- sequent chapters cover plant lavout specifications, ma Jor equipment layouts commonly found in such facil- tes, pipe rack layout, underground design. and {nstrumentation, THE PLANT LAYOUT DESIGNER The plant layout designer is skilled primar in the development of equipment arrangements 2nd piping yous for process industties, The postion offers an ‘opporuniy’ to demonstrate technical abil along ‘with a creative talent and common-sense approach t0 problem solving Process faciliies must be designed and engineered within extremely shomt schedules ‘while adhering to maintenance, safer, and. quali ssandards; moreover, the design must ake construct bility, economics, and operations inwo account. Al- though the tools to achieve these goals are changing from pencil and paper 10 computer graphics termi nals, the responsibilities ofthe plant lavou design re main the same, The plant ly el uments ducigg the conceptual and sud Oe The SKA HeBIET Tae: + Common sensp and the abil to reason, *+ Knowledge of what a particular plan s designed 10 0 + A.general undersanding ofhow process equipment 1s mainained and operated to generate a sae, comprehensive Layout ‘within 2 specified time and ith considercion 10 ward consirucubiliry and epsveffecuceness CHAPTER The Basics of Plant Layout Design + Creativ + Sufficient experience 10 oid reinventing the wheel + Knowledge of,zhe principal roles of other design and engineerivig groups and the ability ro use input from these other disciplines + The ability ro resolve unclear or questionable dasa + Willingness to compromise in the bes: interest of, the project. © + The ability to generate clear and concise documents + The ability 0 defend designs when challenged The Designer's Role Exhibit 1.1 shows the factors. depanments, and pe: sonnel with which the plant lavout designer can es: pest 10 work throughout the engineering phase of a projet The principal acuities of the plot lan evel pment, equipment lavout, and piping design, ‘fen account for a significant poruon af projec: ena neering costs, become 2 focal point for clients. prove. ‘management, consirustion, engineering. and suppor: ing disciplines. The designer must realize chat ume and care spent during engineering help shorsen con. struction schedules and thereby lower overall project. oss, The designer mus: be conscious of the construe: ily of every layout Principal Functions ‘The principal functions of the plant layout designer Include the conceptual and preliminary development (of process unit plot plans, somedimes referred 10 38 equipment arrangements: the routing of major above: and below-grade piping systems: and the lavout of equipment and its associates infrastructure. Plos plans show the postions of major unis and equipment ‘within unis and chete associated i ing a well-designed Beilin involve:2 EXHIBIT 1-1. Plant Layout lnteriace ‘With the planning plot plan as a basis, che following functions are a standard par of the plant layout de signers acuvities + Sening all equipment locaioas—This acti in cludes input from constucion on_srecian se ‘quences of on special azobiems associated wth $2 ting large pieces of equipment Choosing equip ‘ent losations includes sewing. coordinates in 80 ifecuons and finalizing equipment. elevations whether they are centerline, angen line. or borom of baseplate + Designing all ssmucutes and positioning the associ siesta, ladders. and plaioems—In general the designer makes provisions 10 saush all opera onal, maintenance. and safer: requiemienis e380 and clearance around eguipment Planning unobstrucied areas far necessary steel members or sicucures that faite a pla mae tenance requirements veers, SLE one — BoB ~ Roe Benemue + Esablishing all equipment nozzle locations shat sets all press, ulin. and insiroment requice + Locaung all ae tems (eg tors and salen shower stuns) + Locating all miacellncous ems (ea. fiers. lencers ane aaiveer nowces) bsdrants, mon: ‘These acurities must be closely coordinated among all the plant design and construction participants in sd i the engineering and construction phases 19 reduce costly rework and enable the plas lasour designer 0 generate the optimum design on schedule PROJECT INPUT DATA Although there is avast amount of inpur data through (out the life of a project, the daxa basically fills snoEXHIBIT 1-2 Internally Generated Engineering Data three distine: categories + Project design data— projec engineetings + Vendor dats—Peniains fo equipment and special bul tems + Incernally generated engineering data supplied. by he client. or ‘These are discussed in the following sections Project design data This includes the geographic lo ‘cation ofthe planets prowimin 10 roads railways and wugsmays; locaLcades.and regulaions, opogranhy and climatic conditions. The project design data also specifies whether the project is within an exising facil ly oc is a new site. This information is genecally te quired during the provects, plot plan-development hase Vendor data All purchased equipment and specialty buliauems (eg. pumps. compressors. ai cooler. fur maces, contol and sale ales, level insrumens sirainers, and silencers) requice preliminary, endor ‘stanings forthe deselanment of piping lass final cerifed. deanings ace usual: not cequted unl the seul phase, Internally generated engineering data This data is npically generated by the supporung disciplines seithis the. designer’s organization an examsie of sueh information 1s shown. io Exhibit 1-2. This infor: mation 1 eventually superseded by cerufied vendor ‘drawings butts of sufficient quali and. definition 10 use during the study phase of the proje ‘The Logic Diagram ‘The design of any processing plant is usually accom: plished in three phases: conceptual studs, and derail Conceptual designs are made when sketchy oF mini smal unformation is used 10 prepare an abstract ar rangement of a plot plan or an equipment and piping Wut Preliminary. Or study phase, designs are made with unchecked or uncerufied data 19 design a facile sufficiens detail so ta: the documents produced ‘aa be used for detail design. confirmation of pur chased equipment, and the purchase of bulk materia In the detail phase. all designs are finalized The de siges use such checked data as siee! and concrete 2 vendor drawings for equipment, valves, and insteuments ‘The major activities of the plant lavout designer to achieve an epumum plan: coatiguriion take place The Basics of Plant Layout Design