Where should one start with chemical process design?

When first starting out, one can only copy, but while doing so it is necessary to strive to understand the intentions and way of thinking of the original designer. Once experience is gained through copying, one should approach learning with a critical attitude. Imitating excellent works is a necessary path for every designer. When it comes to design, one must have their own ideas; people also need to have a distinct personality. Over time, this leads to the development of one’s own style. The formation of such a style is directly related to a person’s artistic taste and personal cultivation. During the design process, manufacturing has a significant impact; in other words, a good design cannot be separated from manufacturing considerations. The more one understands manufacturing, the more it helps to improve design quality. Those who work in design don’t necessarily need to be skilled at using lathes or milling machines or in welding, but they should be aware of the characteristics of these processes and take them into account during design, so that their designs can stand up to scrutiny. The saying \"first copy, then modify, and finally create\" succinctly summarizes the path of growth for a designer. Do your best!

The key things to master for process design are as follows: 1. Standards: “Code for Fire Protection Design of Building Structures” (GBJ16-87) (revised in 2001); “Code for Fire Protection Design of Petrochemical Enterprises” (GB50160-92) (revised version in 1999); “Regulations on the Management of Process System Design” (HG20557-93); “Provisions on the Content of Process System Design Documents” (HG20558-93); “Regulations on the Design of Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams” (HG20559-93); “Regulations on the Safety and Health Design of Chemical Enterprises” (HG20571-95); “Regulations on the Piping Layout Design of Chemical Plants” (HG/T20549-1998); “Regulations on the Layout Design of Chemical Equipment” (HG20546-92); “Alphabetic Codes and Graphic Symbols for Process Detection and Control Systems” (HG20505-2000); “Code for Design of Chemical Piping” (HG20695-1987); “Hygienic Standards for Industrial Enterprise Design” (GBZ1-2002); “Specifications for the Construction and Acceptance of Insulation Works for Industrial Equipment and Piping” (GBJ126-89); “Classification of Hazards from Occupational Exposure to Toxic Substances” (GB5044-85); “Quantities and Units” (GB3100–3102-93); “Regulations on Environmental Protection Design for Chemical Construction Projects” (HG20667-2005); “Regulations on Noise Control Design for Chemical Construction Projects” (HG20503-92); “Code for Design of Industrial Metal Piping” (GB50316-2000); “Guidelines for the Insulation Design of Equipment and Piping” (GB/T8175-87); “Specifications for the Design of Insulation Works for Industrial Equipment and Piping” (GB50264-97); “Regulations on the External Anti-corrosion Design of Chemical Equipment and Piping” (HG/T20679-1990); “Uniform Provisions on the Content and Depth of Construction Drawings for Chemical Process Design” (HG/T20519-92); “Technical Regulations for the Design of Chemical Plant Steam and Condensate Systems” (HG/T20591-97); “Regulations on the Mechanical Design of Piping in Chemical Plants” (HG/T20645-1998); “Regulations on the Material Selection for Piping in Chemical Plants” (HG/T20646-1999); “Steel Pipe Flanges, Gaskets, and Fasteners” (HG20592–20614-97) [European system]; “Installation Design Manual for Process Piping in Petrochemical Plants” (revised volumes 1–4); “Standard Drawings for Pipe Supports” (HG21629-1999); “Variable Force Spring Supports” (HG/T20644-1998); “Specifications for the Construction and Acceptance of Industrial Metal Piping Projects” (GB50235-97); “Specifications for the Construction and Acceptance of Welding Works for Field Equipment and Industrial Piping” (GB50236-97); “Quality Inspection and Evaluation Standards for Insulation Works of Industrial Equipment and Piping” (GB50185-92); “Specifications for the Construction and Acceptance of Anti-corrosion Works for Industrial Equipment and Piping” (HGJ229-91); “Code for Design of Electrical Installations in Explosive and Flammable Environments” (GB50058-92). 2. Books: Manuals on chemical process design, handbooks on chemical engineering, comprehensive technical books for chemical engineers, etc. 3. Software: Office software, AUTOCAD, PROJECT, ASPEN, PDS, or PDMS. 4. Work experience: It is preferable to have one or two years of work experience. This will make the design easier. 5. Others: This is just ordinary chemical engineering design; if it’s petrochemical engineering design, you will also need to study the petrochemical standards. Doing process design means you’ll have to keep learning*, hehe, it’s quite exhausting.

It’s much more standardized now; great, I’ve learned it. Well done. . .

Find a master; the master shows the way, but it is up to the individual to practice.

I’ve been working for over 6 years now, yet I’m still very unfamiliar with these standards; it’s embarrassing. I am a process engineer in environmental protection engineering, and I often feel very insecure

I’ve been working for six years now; hehe, are these standards not needed or something?

It’s not really used very often in daily life. There is another reason: we are an environmental engineering company, so we don’t place as much emphasis on standards. This is a lesson. You must read it thoroughly. I was thinking yesterday that the difference between doctors, lawyers, and us is that they are well-versed in pharmacopoeias and codes of law. Familiarity with these standards is what constitutes their value.

Hehe, I get it; one still needs to read carefully. But when it’s not necessary to do so, reading on one’s own generally doesn’t yield much result, and nothing is remembered either.