UNMSM/FQIQ/EPIQ/DAADP/INGLÉS TÉCNICO/EF7/2020-I

Design and Chemical Engineering Practice

5.1 Introduction
Design activity is common to all engineering disciplines, and it is what separates engineering from science. According
to Clive and others (2005) [65], “engineering design is a systematic, intelligent process in which designers generate,
evaluate, and specify concepts for devices, systems, or processes whose form and function achieve clients’ objectives
or users’ needs while satisfying a specified set of constraints”. This description views engineering design as a
thoughtful process that depends on the systematic, intelligent generation of design concepts and the specifications that
make it likely to realize these concepts.
In chemical engineering, design usually refers to design of a process, process equipment or a chemical processing
plant while considering safety, environmental and economic aspects. Chemical engineering design procedes
iteratively; it starts from sketchy, coarse-level designs and then gets to detailed designs which are ultimately needed
for building the respective chemical plant. In addition, engineers rely on scientific principles, intuition, experience and
heuristics when designing a process. Businessdictionary.com defines heuristics as a trial-and-error procedure for
reaching an unclear goal through incremental exploration, and by employing known criteria to unknown factors.
Chemical laboratory is usually the starting point for novel chemical development. But for existing chemical
technology such as in oil and gas, designers usually do not start from scratch, especially for complex projects.
Chemical engineers use data from laboratory experiments, pilot plant, full-scale operating facilities or data from
computer simulation in designing chemical plant or process. Other sources of information include proprietary design
criterio provided by process licensors, published scientific data, and so on.
Chemical engineering design is governed by three primary physical laws: conservation of mass, conservation of
momentum and conservation of energy. Principles of thermodynamics, reaction kinetics and transport phenomena are
applied by chemical engineers in evaluating the mass and energy conservation. Nowadays, complex computer
simulation software models are used to solve mass and energy balances. These simulators do have built-in modules to
simulate a variety of common unit operations. Computer simulations can identify weaknesses in designs and allow
engineers to choose better alternatives. Some of the available software for process design include ASPEN HYSYS,
DISTIL, PRO II,
HEXTRAN, ICARUS, PROSIN (PROcess SYNthesis) and
others.
Cost analysis is applied as an initial screening to eliminate unprofitable designs. If a process appears lucrative, then
other factors are considered. The general goal in plant design is to construct or synthesize “optimum designs” in the
neighborhood of the desired constraints. In order words, the goal is to design a plant capable of producing a specific or
a range of chemicals at the desired tonnage and at the right price. Constraints or factors to be considered may include
capital cost, available space, safety concerns at unit and plant level, budget, pay-back, market share and regulations.
Others include environmental impact and projected effluents and emissions, both immediate and future; waste
production, operating and maintenance costs, contractual penalties, standard and codes of practice, physical and
chemical
limitations, market share, and so on.
1. (10 points) Translate to spanish the highlighted text

El diseño de ingeniería química se rige por tres leyes físicas primarias: conservación de la masa, conservación
del impulso y conservación de la energía. Los ingenieros químicos aplican principios de termodinámica,
cinética de reacción y fenómenos de transporte para evaluar la conservación de masa y energía. Hoy en día, se
utilizan modelos complejos de software de simulación por computadora para resolver balances de masa y
energía. Estos simuladores tienen módulos incorporados para simular una variedad de operaciones de
unidades comunes. Las simulaciones por computadora pueden identificar debilidades en los diseños y permitir
a los ingenieros elegir mejores alternativas. Algunos de los software disponibles para el diseño de procesos
incluyen ASPEN HYSYS, DISTIL, PRO II, HEXTRAN, ICARUS, PROSIN (PROcess SYNthesis) y otros.

El análisis de costos se aplica como una selección inicial para eliminar los diseños no rentables. Si un proceso
parece lucrativo, se consideran otros factores. El objetivo general en el diseño de plantas es construir o
sintetizar "diseños óptimos" en el entorno de las limitaciones deseadas. En otras palabras, el objetivo es
diseñar una planta capaz de producir una variedad de productos químicos específicos al tonelaje deseado y al
precio adecuado. Las restricciones o factores a considerar pueden incluir el costo de capital, el espacio
disponible, los problemas de seguridad a nivel de unidad y planta, el presupuesto, la recuperación de la
inversión, la participación de mercado y las regulaciones. Otros incluyen impacto ambiental y efluentes y
emisiones proyectados, tanto inmediatos como futuros; producción de residuos, costos de operación y
mantenimiento, sanciones contractuales, estándares y códigos de práctica, limitaciones físicas y químicas,
participación de mercado, etc.

Read the text and response in english:

2. (2,5 points) In which cases is cost analysis applied?

Cost analysis is applied at the beginning to rule out unprofitable designs.

3. (2,5 points) How is the design process carried out in chemical engineering?

Chemical engineering design procedes iteratively; it starts from sketchy, coarse-level designs and then gets to
detailed designs which are ultimately needed for building the respective chemical plant.

4. (2,5 points) What is used to solve energy and material balance problems?

Chemical engineers apply principles of thermodynamics, reaction kinetics, and transport phenomena to
evaluate the conservation of mass and energy.

5. (2,5 points) Why are heuristics important?

Engineers rely on scientific principles, intuition, experience, and heuristics when designing a process.
Heuristics is a trial and error procedure to achieve an unclear goal through incremental exploration and using
known criteria for unknown factors.