Question: What is the subsequent design process in a design institute after receiving a process package?

The workflow assigns tasks to different specialties; each specialty handles its own work. There are procedures related to this on the chemical engineering forum: http://bbs.hg707.com

First, the process work needs to be completed in order to finalize the patent package, as many process packages do not include elements related to utility systems; only after the process work is done can other specialties take action.

Process packages purchased from abroad are usually engineered for conversion; aside from a very small number of critical pieces of equipment and uncertainties regarding utility consumption, some even specify the form of the equipment. There is hardly any work to be done in the process engineering field at design institutes. Previously, our company entrusted a process package to a design institute for development. The package contained very detailed information, including lists of equipment and instruments. We provided it in PDF format, yet the design institute had the audacity to ask for a CAD version, so that they could simply copy it without even having to draw the diagrams themselves. A project with an investment of over a billion dollars was completed in just a few days by two process engineers; design fees in the tens of millions were obtained effortlessly. It’s really easy to make money.

The above reply is too simple; can someone provide a link? Thank you!

After receiving the process package, the design agency needs to refine it based on its contents, in conjunction with domestic design standards (since many process packages are imported from abroad and need to be adapted to local conditions). On this basis, the preliminary design of the project is carried out. The requirements for the content and depth of the foundation design are very high (see Sinopec’s specifications for details). After the foundation design is completed, all major equipment must meet the procurement requirements; the process flow must be basically finalized, and the supporting utility systems must be determined in line with the conditions of the project owner. After the foundation design is approved, the construction drawings are prepared (in practice, construction drawing work generally does not start until the foundation design has been approved). The claim on the 4th floor is extreme. The content of a process package should inherently have a certain level of depth, and it must include a list of the main equipment and instruments (one can refer to the requirements regarding the content and depth of process packages set by Sinopec); however, this information is still far from what is needed for the final construction drawings. In fact, the true value of a design firm lies not in drawing a few diagrams, but in conducting an in-depth and detailed analysis of the contents of the process package – something that clients lacking relevant experience are unaware of. Some clients, even though they have CAD diagrams, prefer to provide PDF versions, thereby wasting time on project design. It seems as if, just because I’m paying them, they’re supposed to do the drawing work. This is actually very petty and lacks a spirit of cooperation. In fact, if there is enough time, the design firm doesn’t care about drawing; this labor cost is negligible compared to the overall cost of project design.

Reply to 6# Beiming Yu: I have a question for those who are above – have you come into contact with process packages used in China? What information should typically be included in such process packages? Is it sufficient to provide only flow rate, temperature, pressure, and density? Should the percentage composition of various components also be included?

Replying to the person above: of course, the percentage content of each component needs to be provided. For detailed requirements, please refer to Sinopec’s SHSG-052-2003 Process Package Specifications (final version 030325); they are quite clear. It is available inside the standard station.

The process package should include a simple process diagram, reaction conditions, and various balances; that’s what I prepared in a previous project. It seems the equipment has also been roughly selected

I’ve seen process packages from abroad that are very detailed. Including design fundamentals. Process chemistry. Thermal material balance, equipment layout diagrams, PID, pFD, and so on.

It can’t be called shameless; it’s just that they want to save effort too much. . . .