Abstract: | Process development describes the refinement of a process concept from early conceptual stages (articulation of process objectives, selection of process steps, determination of constraints) through preliminary engineering (development of preliminary economic analysis, piping and instrumentation diagrams, and process flow diagrams). Process development is also understood to include experimental studies at the laboratory, bench-scale, and pilot-plant level. These studies are focused on obtaining key process information required to guide the remainder of the design effort and often take place concurrently with the conceptual design. Process development efforts can be oriented around new products, improvement of existing products, or increased utilization of available capital equipment assets (i.e., retrofit design). |
