Feasibility Study Plant Design

The design of process plants for feasibility studies must address several key objectives, including feasibility and constructibility, while focusing on elements that drive capital and operating costs. This chapter presents an overview of critical factors involved in the design process, emphasizing the necessity for a design that sufficiently supports cost estimates to determine feasibility. It highlights various project-specific issues, particularly pertaining to site considerations such as location, access, topography, geotechnical conditions, and drainage. Given that each feasibility study is unique, the chapter cautions that design parameters must be tailored accordingly, as challenges in remote sites can affect operational capabilities and necessitate careful layout planning. Additionally, efficient use of local topography is advocated to minimize construction complications, emphasizing the importance of gravity feed for process efficiency. Lastly, the role of specialized assessments by geotechnical consultants is emphasized to ensure foundational integrity and mitigate risks associated with differential settlement. This collective focus on detailed site considerations serves as a reminder that effective plant design is crucial for the successful realization of feasibility studies.