Engineered Design
Once a plant's
conceptual arrangement has been finalised, process design issues
must be examined. This phase includes the following steps:
- Generation of detailed flow diagrams
- Selection of key equipment items
- Design of automation systems
Process Engineering and Equipment Selection
In general, the information laid out in the process flowsheet will have the greatest effect on wastage. In particular, the design of cleaning circuits and the positioning of drain valves are intrinsically linked to losses. Significant waste reductions may also be realised by optimising valve manifold configurations and by adopting novel methods for displacing product from lines. By drawing on experience and documented best practice, APVengineers can design process systems which avoid unnecessary losses.Often high wastage occurs when equipment is used for an inappropriate duty. This observation holds true for relatively simple items, such as valves, and major plant systems, such as pasteurisers. Close co-ordination between our product specialists and process engineers helps ensure that the correct components are selected and that their installation and operation is optimised.
The design of process equipment also has a major impact on losses. A simple example is vessel design where the tank shape governs drainage, and, hence the volume of lost product. Consequently, APVplaces a great emphasis on waste minimisation when developing new equipment.
