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Why Have An Engineering Firm Buy Your Chemical Processing Equipment During Your Project
Posted by Matt Boynton in Equipment - December 21, 2011
Before purchasing any equipment the client should have a detailed specification with key performance and design criteria, as well as required warranty terms. The level of detail in this specification will vary depending on the cost and complexity as well as performance risk of the equipment. Multiple bids will need to be gathered that include detailed technical and commercial information for the equipment to make an accurate “apples to apples” comparison.
Gathering this information and going through this purchasing process takes time, and requires compiling and interpreting specific data about the process. An engineering firm that is purchasing the equipment as part of the project will discuss the design parameters with the client so that they can create the detailed specification, manage the bid process, and inform the technical and commercial review of bids so that client’s time is used most efficiently while still enabling a well informed decision. Additionally, engineering firms that purchase process equipment on a regular basis are more likely to receive better pricing, contract terms, and delivery than an industrial client who buys less frequently.
After the equipment is actually purchased, the engineering firm can head the coordination efforts of expediting, inspecting, and coordinating delivery, unloading and installation. As many pieces of process equipment require special handling and inspection, hiring a process engineering firm can ensure that issues with the equipment such as damage during shipping, missing pieces, etc are avoided or handled expediently.
This also brings up the issue of liability. If the client buys the equipment and it gets damaged during shipment, offloading, etc. the client needs to spend the time to get the correct parties to fix it. Although another party is ultimately responsible, there can be significant time wasted to resolve the problem.
The final issue to consider is warranty and performance enforcement. An engineering firm can best consult on any warranty and performance problems if they arise. And because they have been involved from the beginning of the project, the chance and scope of these problems is greatly reduced.
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What makes New England Attractive to Clean Technology Projects and Companies
Posted by Jennifer Savage in Clean Technology - November 18, 2011
While there is no standard definition of clean technology, the term most often refers to technologies such as renewable energy (wind and solar power, biomass, biofuels, and hydropower), electric motors/green transportation, and green chemistry. New England is home to a significant number of companies who match this definition of clean technology, and who take advantage of several existing factors by locating here. One factor clean technology companies are able to capitalize on is the existing infrastructure and knowledgeable workforce developed here by existing and past industries. Higher education institutions are a second factor and provide a well educated workforce, as well as a never ending source of new ideas and technologies to be commercialized. And lastly, broad governmental and public support has created a legislative and public funding environment that is conducive to clean technology projects and companies.
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Our Take on the Recent High-Tech Manufacturing Stimulus Package
Posted by Jennifer Savage in Government Incentives - November 01, 2011
- Creation of the National Robotics Initiative, a measure to create jobs and a expand the marketplace for robotics and unmanned systems
- $70 million investment in the robotics initiative, aiding new robot research
- $100 million investment supporting the Materials Genome Initiative for advanced material development, manufacture and deployment
- $300 million investment in domestic manufacturing, supporting early investments in advanced composites, high-powered batteries, metal fabrication, bio-manufacturing, and alternative energy
Government support of early stage technologies and domestic manufacturing is particularly heartening to see because of its potential long term effects on job growth. Many of these companies find themselves in a position where increased demand warrants an expansion or upgrade, but capital markets are still hesitant to fund new projects. AMP seems to be trying to fill this gap with the $300 million investment in domestic manufacturing. SPEC is particularly sensitive to this issue because many of our clients fall into this area.
- Raw material definition
- Process flow diagrams
- Basic process steps
- Equipment list
- Controls requirements
- Any unknown or problem areas that would require further study
- Process block flow diagram
- Heat and material balance
- Preliminary equipment list
- Preliminary layout
- Scope definition for all design and construction trades
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Understanding Contracting Options for Process Engineering Projects: Percent Billing versus Verified Billing and Reporting
Posted by Bob Hubert in General - October 17, 2011
Lump Sum Approach
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Recent Chemical and Other Manufacturing Funding Successes
Posted by Matt Boynton in General - October 03, 2011
As the uncertain economic situation leaves many investors unable to support the growth of industrial/manufacturing businesses, there are some bright points on the horizon, particularly in the State of New York.
- PCB Piezotronics (Depew, NY) received $500,000 to acquire land and install machinery and equipment. PCB Piezotronics develops, manufactures, and markets integrated sensors for the aerospace, defense, automotive, and other industries and claims it will retain over 500 jobs while creating 50 new positions.
- SolEpoxy (Cattaraugus County, NY) received $400,000 toward the acquisition of real estate, machinery, and equipment as part of a $5.2 million project also involving the acquisition of a 300,000-square-foot manufacturing and laboratory research and development space. The company develops specialty adhesive products.
- Buffalo Filter (Lancaster, NY) received $250,000 toward the construction of a new building. The maker of smoke and aerosol filters and evacuation is in the midst of a $5.35 million project involving the acquisition of land to construct a 50,000-square-foot facility as well as installation of new machinery. That project has created six jobs.
- United Biochemicals (Sanborn, NY) was allotted $150,000 toward its $1.07 million project to renovate interiors and make infrastructure improvements to an existing 43,000-square-foot facility and install new machinery and equipment. The chemical manufacturing company says the grant will help maintain 31 jobs and create 22 new positions.
New York State’s investment activity is a great example of how limited public funding can be leveraged to encourage and secure private investment for local manufacturing projects.
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Engineering Disciplines | Who is needed on the team for a successful project?
Posted by Carlos Pascoal in General - September 13, 2011
Industrial projects are often executed by separate firms (MEP, Structural, Process), each working on their unique piece of the project. While this approach can work for some projects, process projects can present a unique set of challenges that are better addressed by all engineering disciplines working together. For instance, an experienced and cohesive process engineering team can optimize everything from construction costs to daily operational and long-term upgrade and implementation costs. They will understand any specific, complex, and unusual needs the owner has, and work together to make sure these needs are met on budget. SPEC’s various discipline engineers all have an understanding of the end project goals and how they can work together to meet the needs of the owner.
1. Architectural Engineering
Reviewed the proposed layout, developed the equipment arrangement plan and documented the demo/reconstruction of any walls/doors/ceilings. The architecture team also took into account egress and fire safety issues with the renovation.
2. HVAC/Ventilation Engineering
Reviewed the equipment for heat load and exhaust requirements, then provided a design solution for modification of HVAC supply/exhaust as required. Worked with the client’s engineers to develop a room temperature/humidity specification which suited both the facility requirements for operator comfort and the specification for material processing. The equipment was designed around these requirements.
3. Electrical Engineering
Reviewed the existing building/area one-line diagram and developed a preliminary scope for powering all of the process equipment. Any special interlock or control wiring was specified using the information available on the vendor submittals. SPEC required full vendor’s schematic submittals. The electrical engineer was also responsible for any required fire alarm, security or lighting for the area.
4. Process Engineering
Worked with the client to develop a full equipment list and identify any additional equipment needed for a complete process. The process engineer also worked with the equipment vendors to define the process utilities (water, air, gas, etc.) needed to run the equipment.
5. Fire Protection
Performed a study of the existing sprinkler system to determine if the density of the system was adequate or if any changes were required. With the installation of a mezzanine, it might have been required that sprinkler heads be under the mezzanine to provide adequate coverage.
6. Structural Engineering
Looked at the existing slab to determine if it could handle the new load of the extruder. The point loads for the mezzanine were also looked at. If needed, footings would be designed in strategic areas to take the new equipment loads.
7. Project Manager
Provided the client interface and coordinated the effort of the engineering team. The project manager developed the project basis report, estimated the budget and provided milestone oversight to both the client and the engineering team.
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The Yes List at SPEC Process Engineering & Construction
Posted by Steve Landau in General - August 29, 2011
We have found that many of our clients have similar questions before they begin working with a process engineering company. Because so many of these come up repeatedly, we’ve developed a type of standard “yes” list. While these don’t apply 100% of the time, they do provide a good indication of what a client can expect when performing a project with SPEC.
- The client will own the AutoCAD, Word, and Excel files developed for a project
- The client can decide on an approved vendor and subcontractor list
- The client can view how much each subcontractor and piece of equipment costs with our
optional open-book accounting method (link to Financial Reporting post) - We can use two different types of contract methods depending on the client’s needs
- We will include critical process requirements in the engineering and construction contract and our contract can be dependent on meeting these requirements
- Our invoicing system will show the client full accounting of every dollar spent on the project if the optional open book accounting method is chosen.
- We provide complete support for the client’s process systems.
- Our engineering team takes the time to fully understand your needs and goals as an owner
We hope this list will resolve any concerns about SPEC’s technical expertise, accounting policies, process systems support and general procedures. We invite you to contact us directly for more information and any other questions you may have.
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Owner’s Program at SPEC Process Engineering & Construction - Translating Your Needs into an Effective Engineering Outcome
Posted by Matt Boynton in General - June 27, 2011
The owner’s program model we have developed at SPEC Process Engineering & Construction is a document which allows the client, who is often not an engineer but a business owner or facility manager, to express the desired project outcome using readily available information within their own company. It is a practical outline of what you want your improved process or facility to do, helping us, the engineering firm, gain a clear image of your business goals with the project while avoiding any costly mistakes. At SPEC we prefer that the owner’s program be developed by the engineering firm rather than the client, and is tied into the design/build contract, often completed during the first study phase of the engineering project.
Owner’s Program Deliverables
- Project Objectives (Goals, limitations, and criteria) the owner has established for the engineering project
- Flow Patterns (Human, vehicular and material) that characterize manufacturing operations
- Operating Units (Overall space requirements, how these units work, process flow) which will be used in the project
- Job Titles (Functions, descriptions) and number of personnel assigned to each operating unit, and a description of the amount and type of space required by each
- Special Processes (Flow diagrams, personnel requirements, and relationship to other processes) as defined by the owner
- Equipment and Systems (Size and dimensions, process and personnel, interaction with other equipment)
- Overall Utility Requirements (electrical service, water and sewer line sizing, chilled water, hot water, steam)
- Existing Utility Characteristics (and utilities available) to properly design and construct the project
- Special Utility Requirements (nitrogen, clean steam, hydrogen, DI water, specilaty chemical)
- Site Requirements and Limitations (ceiling height, slab thickness, single v. multi-tenant facility)
- Security Criteria (keyless entry, facility monitoring system, gates, guard shack)
- Communications Requirements (fiber optic line, T1 line)
- Future Expansion or Alteration Requirements (additional land for building/parking expansion, roof load rating for additional equipment)
- Other Criteria that the owner determines must be addressed in the scope of the project
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Fixed Price vs. Guaranteed Maxiumum Price Contracts
Posted by Bob Hubert in General - June 17, 2011
Fixed Price
Fixed Price contracts typically result in a lower engineering project cost than Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP), but that is not to say that these types of contracts are inherently “cheaper.” Larger clients who often have an established, well-defined project execution process and in-house engineers, typically have expended some money upfront before contracting with an engineering firm. Their engineering staff has worked through the majority of the engineering issues before we even receive the project request. Most issues have been addressed and the project and process has been well defined up front. In this case the flexibility of a GMP contract, which anticipates changes during final design, isn’t necessary.
This early effort by the client is also what keeps the contract cost down. When we can design a construction level document set without helping the client develop their process or address any unresolved engineering issues, we spend fewer man-hours on design, and ultimately, don’t need to bill the client as much for a complete engineering package.
The only caveat to a fixed price contract resulting in a lower cost is in the event the client needs to make any changes to the project that are outside the scope defined in the construction level document set. Because the contract cost is based on these design documents, rather than process performance criteria, the client will have to authorize a “change order” for the cost of the additional engineering.
Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP)
Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) contracts have a maximum price established based on a process program, rather than a developed set of well-defined construction level drawings. GMP contracts are usually better suited to companies who:
- Do not have a well-defined project execution method
- Are still refining their manufacturing process
- Don’t have a strong in-house engineering team
A GMP contract allows these companies to have flexibility with the upfront engineering without budget surprises, because the contract price has been developed based on their process program and not specific documents. The contract price is typically higher than for a fixed price contract because of the additional engineering time anticipated for design changes and process development. Although the project price is higher, the client won’t be charged for any design changes as they would be under a fixed price contract.
At the end of a project, roughly the same amount of engineering happens under each type of contract, but depending on the client and the project, this work may be done in-house, beforehand or by the engineering firm later. With a Fixed Price contract, the upfront engineering has typically been completed by the client to a level which has worked out any possible problems, and with a Guaranteed Maximum Price contract, the upfront engineering continues with the process engineering firm to fully develop the design and determine accurate engineering specifications.
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The Importance of Performing a Process Review Prior to Planning your Process Expansion
Posted by Matt Boynton in General - May 27, 2011
Process Review Evaluation Case Study
The client manufactures electron beam emitters to sterilize products and packaging, improve the performance of plastics and other materials, cure inks and coatings, and eliminate pollution. They are considering a significant process expansion, and hired us to perform a review and evaluation of their chilled water systems to answer questions regarding current operational issues and the impact of the expansion. Below are the highlights of the report we developed for them.
What We Found
We found a number of important issues relating to the chilled water system which could affect their expansion:
- A Piping System Inspection revealed that the system was significantly different than shown on the client’s as-built drawings.
- An inspection of the installed equipment revealed that there were some significant pressure drops in at the chilled water loads, which could affect the chilled water supply and distribution specifications required in an expanded system.
- We discovered a surprising pressure drop (120 PSI) caused by the small diameter of the cooling coils in one of their cooling load types. This would could cause problems in expected cooling cycle once they expand the number of these loads on the system.
Based on our findings we drew several conclusions as to how much affect the different issues could have on their expansion:
- The chilled water piping system is adequate, in size and capacity, to service the planned expansion. However, there may be a required change in piping size, depending on the selected location of the new process loads and load types.
- A water treatment program needs to be instituted to properly dose the closed loop chilled water system system with oxygen scavengers & corrosion inhibitors. Replacing the entire piping system with PVC will help with the water quality issue, but will not entirely eliminate the need for a water treatment program.
- Base chiller cooling capacity is adequate to accommodate planned expansions.
- We determined that the system functions without make-up water because of the presence of a closed ball. This make-up volume is critical because without it, the return pressure drops below atmospheric causing a vacuum in the return header system.
- We noted that the discharge pressure controller has a number of problems, including: Incorrect display readings, incorrect pressure transducer range, and incorrectly sized and located bypass pressure control valve.
Recommendations
Based on our findings and conclusions we were able to make a series of process recommendations which will help eliminate problems when the client moves forward with the expansion project. These recommendations included:
- Establishing and maintaining a third party water treatment program.
- The addition of pressure control valves at headers to specific load areas.
- Replacing the entire chilled water carbon steel piping system with PVC.
- Removing all unnecessary pressure drops by removing all drop circuit setters, all subheader circuit setters, and circuit setter at pump discharge in the chiller room.
- Replace Bypass pressure control on the system to VFD Speed control of water pressure.
- Replacing and relocating pressure transmitters and adjusting pressure controller ranges.
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Recent Successes in Biofuels Funding Despite Setbacks
Posted by Matt Boynton in Alternative Fuels - May 03, 2011
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Part 2: Why a Bad Economy is a Good Time to Start a Capital Project
Posted by Matt Boynton in General - April 11, 2011
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Evergreen Solar Move Opens Up Unique Industrial Space
Posted by Matt Boynton in Industrial Real Estate - March 28, 2011
Evergreen Solar recently decided to move their manufacturing from Devens, Massachusetts to China due to rapidly falling PV panel prices and other economic challenges that have made profitable manufacturing in Massachusetts difficult. Considered by many to be a blow to the innovative Massachusetts economy, not only because of the heavy layoffs and state investment in the facility itself, the move is also another piece of evidence showing China’s ability to lead the industry in producing cheaper solar panels (see this article for more on that topic.)
When we heard about Evergreen’s imminent move, we decided to do a little research on the facility they will soon vacate. Although it’s a not appropriate for most of the Boston area’s commercial tenants, we think it’s worth noting the many unique attributes that could make the Devens facility the perfect real estate fit for any heavy industrial user who would normally consider moving to Massachusetts to be cost prohibitive because of the available real estate. Many heavy industry companies would find the Devens space (located on a former Military base) to be a prime opportunity.
- Evergreen is leaving behind a 400K square foot building with 280Ksquare feet actively occupied by:
- 120K sqft of manufacturing space
- 90K sqft of support
- 60K sqft of warehouse
- 10K sqft of office space
- 3 RTO’s, regenerative thermal oxidizers
- 9 cooling towers
- 26 air handlers
- 5 air compressors
- Silicon dust collection
- 2 boilers
- Waste water treatment
- With process piping for: argon, nitrogen, ammonia, and silane
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Industrial Energy Efficiency, Taking Advantage of Utilities Rebates
Posted by Matt Boynton in Government Incentives - March 21, 2011
In August we outlined a number of utilities rebates available for improving industrial energy efficiency in Massachusetts, presented through Mass Save. By installing or retrofitting industrial process equipment to be more energy efficient, companies can obtain utilities rebates from companies such as NSTAR in Massachusetts. Here are two companies in New England: New York and Maine who are taking advantage of energy efficiency incentives to improve industrial energy usage:
- Empire State Development has granted them $500,000
- the city of Canajoharie is contributing $750,000 with New York State Community Development Block Grant funds
- National Grid has granted them $400,000
- the New York State Energy & Research Development Association has pledged $398,180 to the project
- Richardson Brands will contribute $385,000.
GAC Chemical
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Important real estate factors for industrial clients
Posted by Matt Boynton in Industrial Real Estate - February 03, 2011
Satisfying these other factors mentioned above should be taken into account before considering other improvements, such as office space. Refurbishing an office is far less expensive than raising a roof on an entire facility to fit your equipment. If the building lacks quality office space, don’t turn away before considering these other factors.
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Why a Bad Economy Might Be a Good Time to Start a Manufacturing Project
Posted by Bob Hubert in General - January 10, 2011
- Many engineering firms were hard hit by the economic downturn and as a result are being much more budget-conscious when budgeting fees for manufacturing clients.
- The same has occurred with general contractors who have cut their margins on projects and are becoming more creative in budgeting. This same cost-cutting has also filtered down to subcontractors who are willing to accept lower margins as well in exchange for landing jobs
- Material and equipment costs are down due to sluggish demand
- Engineering and contracting companies are less busy, so they are paying more attention to the clients they have and encouraging repeat business to keep employees busy and to avoid laying people off
- Since many engineering firms are less busy, projects can also be completed much faster. A faster project means lower overall cost to the customer.
- Local municipalities are currently not clogged with as many permit and review requests. This is a good time to undertake projects where a site plan review or other long-term review is required.
- Many additional tax incentives are available as different states and localities fight for the few projects that will bring jobs to their area. For example, Minnesota-based SAGE Electrochromics is currently building a 300,000 square foot manufacturing plant to produce energy-efficient architectural glass. According to news sources, “The $130 million construction project likely would not have happened – at least not on this scale – without the tens of millions of dollars the company received in government funding and tax breaks” and a large equity investment from St. Gobain (http://finance-commerce.com/2010/11/sage-electrochromics-expands-in-faribault/).
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Working with an Engineering Firm To Save on Project Costs
Posted by Matt Boynton in General - October 18, 2010
SPEC was hired to act as a project manager during the preliminary phase of a consolidation project. The client had already selected a building the company owned for the relocation. They had also hired a design firm that they had worked with in the past to estimate the cost to retrofit the building. However, because the quote for renovating their own building was so high, the client, instead, considered leasing and renovating another building to ease the capital expenditure of the project.
- Initially thought to need re-piping, the sprinkler system only needed additional sprinkler heads, saving the client 51% on fire protection
- Instead of replacing the HVAC system, SPEC determined the client could safely use the existing HVAC system and replace units as needed, saving the client 53% on the HVAC system
- The design firm had originally included a new roof, due to leaking, but after a further inspection the leaking was not caused by the roof and, therefore, did not need to be replaced
- Eliminating the drop-ceiling design over the manufacturing area saved the client 54%
- A mezzanine that had been included in the original design and budget because it existed in one of the client's other smaller buildings was found to be unnecessary in the new space and was removed from the design.
So, in addition to understanding which building design elements are important to an industrial process, engineering firms can often help companies save money on new facility construction and renovation by determining critical and non-critical building issues. And while many manufacturing clients consider engineering to be the second phase of a project, engineering firms can be brought on board at any point and even partner with the design firm to ensure all the important process issues are addressed early on.
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Process Projects: Using an Engineering Firm along with an Architectural Firm
Posted by Matt Boynton in General - September 20, 2010
- Budget: The final project cost may not be fully considered by the architect because they may not understand the implications of the process, its equipment and its installation. Architects design to meet building codes and good design practices, but not take into account the budget and schedule considerations of a manufacturing operation. In fact, you may not know until the design is completed if you’re going to be within budget or not, and after you have already paid for the completed design package.
- Cost implications: Architects typically design exactly what the client asks for, which isn’t necessarily a good thing for the manufacturing client. This means they may not suggest less expensive design options and or tell the client the cost implications of their requests because of their unfamiliarity with the requirements of the particular manufacturing process.
- Understanding the manufacturing space: Architectural firms typically best design spaces they understand such as offices, lobbies, employee areas and often leave the manufacturing space as a large open area that the client will need to figure out how to make his process work in. For example, power, HVAC, chemical storage needs, and environmental concerns which relate to industrial process equipment aren’t addressed up front but play the most significant roles in budgeting, scheduling, and permitting.
- Experience with process manufacturing: Design firms often work on a range of design projects, such as commercial space, retail space, parking garages, etc., and therefore don't know to take into account certain factors of designing a space around a complex manufacturing process.
You need to match the right resources to the right problem, and while architecture is a vital part of a process manufacturing project, we've had many clients who have found it valuable to consult first with engineers to determine the process needs of the project before bringing in the design firm. Designing a building during or after resolving process issues with an engineering firm can help avoid budget problems and lengthy scheduling issues.
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NSTAR Energy Efficiency Rebates in Massachusetts
Posted by Matt Boynton in Clean Technology - August 17, 2010
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Solar Energy Industry: New Developments in Government Incentives and What They Really Mean
Posted by Jennifer Savage in Clean Technology - July 27, 2010
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Manufacturing Facility, Capital Cost Planning
Posted by Matt Boynton in General - July 08, 2010
Now that more new ventures are developing cutting edge technologies, instead of software, capital costs are becoming a significant percentage of a start-up’s funding. Investment firms and government grantors are requiring more thorough capital cost evaluations for establishing manufacturing facilities. In particular, companies such as clean tech start-ups working in biofuels, photovoltaic production, energy storage, and green materials manufacturing can have significant initial capital costs and therefore must provide detailed explanations of both capital costs and the overall plan to bring their product to pilot scale manufacturing. We’ve worked with many government and VC funded clients (including Itaconix and Anellotech) on these comprehensive project proposals. By helping our clients develop their scale up plan, these clients have gained access to vital funding.
Key information outside funding sources look for:
- A clear process narrative with a good level of detail
- A capital plan for all stages of manufacturing
- A realistic schedule to reach commercialization for pilot production
- Project plan that includes where you plan to build and subcontractors you plan to work with
- Proof that you are working with an engineering firm with requisite experience
Venture capital firms and the government have similar concerns regarding what they need to see in these capital cost plans. In addition to detailed manufacturing processes and capital estimates funding providers want to see market research, industry demand, and economic forecasting to demonstrate not only how the company plans to manufacture their product, but also the need for it and why they have chosen a particular volume. These factors affect the size of the facility, the urgency with which they need to build it out, and thus the level of investment in capital costs the company actually requires.
A good example of the higher level of detail funding sources are requiring is the response the DOE had to a photovoltaic manufacturer’s application for funding. Specifically, the DOE had the following concerns:
- Capital cost plans for the Photovoltaic manufacturing facility showed a lack of analysis of the demand and therefore made it unclear if the output of the proposed facility was appropriate.
- Other operating factors such as stages of commercializing their product and a more thorough description of the technology were also lacking in detail.
Another common mistake start-ups can make is to simply use a generic multiplier to estimate costs. This type of estimating can result in very inaccurate budgets. And once your funding source realizes you have used this method of calculation, they will likely question your entire plan or request a more realistic budget.
Most experienced engineering firms know that the best way to arrive at a realistic budget is to develop preliminary scope documents that can be used to develop preliminary bids with vendors and subcontractors. A capital plan based on actual bids is far more likely to withstand scrutiny than one developed using a multiplier. Combining these other strategic elements of a business plan with the detailed manufacturing plan and capital cost planning can help win over most funding sources. And by hiring an engineering firm with experience in creating these capital cost plans for companies working in emerging technologies, these companies can gain the funding and investment they’re seeking much faster.
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Massachusetts Incentives for Equipment Improvements and Capital Projects for Manufacturing Facilities - Part Two
Posted by Matt Boynton in Government Incentives - June 10, 2010
Qteros, formerly known as SunEthanol and often referred to as the "Microsoft of Energy," was approved for up to $100,000 in financing from MassDevelopments Brownfields Redevelopment Fund. SPEC played an instrumental role in helping Qteros select and purchase lab space, equipment and pilot scale fermentors while meeting their aggressive timetable. Along with the help of the City of Chicopee, which expedited the permitting process, Qteros was able to ramp up quickly enough to receive Department of Energy funding as well as state incentives.
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Massachusetts Incentives for Capital Projects and Equipment Upgrades for Manufacturing Facilities Part I
Posted by Matt Boynton in Government Incentives - June 03, 2010
Growing green technology, chemical process, and other manufacturing companies may want to consider moving their facilities to Massachusetts thanks to state incentives meant to encourage growth in this sector. Additionally, companies already located here can benefit from state incentives for capital and equipment improvements. Manufacturing facilities can receive tax credits, bonds, loans and guarantees and specialty financing from MassDevelopment, the state's finance and development authority. Investments in industrial equipment improvements and capital expansion projects are subsidized through several key programs:
Bond Financing
Manufacturing facilities can tap into bonds from the state or federal level via the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These bonds typically have very low interest rates, as they often exempt from federal and state taxes. Tax-exempt bonds are usually the best option for equipment and real estate projects. They can also be supplemented by taxable bonds in cases where the company’s needs exceed its eligibility for tax-exempt bond financing.
Loans and Guarantees
MassDevelopment offers up to $1 million in loans or bank loan participation for equipment purchases and up to $5 million for real estate loans for eligible companies. Companies which export their product can receive additional financing, and, in some cases, finance 100 percent of their projects. MassDevelopment's loan programs are designed for more complex financing structures and can offer technical assistance to manufacturing facilities as well.
- The Emerging Technology Fund (ETF) provides up to $2.5 million in loans and $1 million in loan guarantees for tech companies that benefit the Massachusetts economy.
- Exporter Financing programs provide technical assistance, overseas market research, interest-free 100 percent financing for equipment, insurance on foreign receivables and other incentives for exporters in the state.
- The Brownfield Redevelopment Fund provides up to $100,000 in financing for site assessment of contaminated or underutilized industrial space as well as $500,000 in financing for environmental clean up. This is available in addition to the Brownfield Tax Credit Program.
Energy Efficiency Incentives
Manufacturing facilities in Massachusetts are eligible for rebates, low interest loans, tax credits and production incentives (i.e. renewable energy credits) for incorporating renewable energy or energy efficient improvements. These incentives can come from state or local departments--such as the Micro Wind Initiative offered through MassCEC, or from utility companies such as Holyoke Gas & Electric Commercial Energy Efficiency Loan Program. Taking advantages of these programs allow businesses to save in upfront costs as well as over time through lower utilities bills.
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Scaling Up Ethanol Production for Emerging Biofuel Feedstocks
Posted by Matt Boynton in Alternative Fuels - May 13, 2010
With the investment in research and development of second and third-generation biofuel feedstocks, process engineering firms are seeing a rise in scale-up projects for ethanol production. However, some companies are now finding it difficult to move beyond R&D to pilot or commercial scale production for a variety of reasons. The most prohibiting factor many companies face when making the shift from pilot facility to commercial-scale production is the financing of these larger-scale ethanol processes.
Pursuing a pilot or commercial scale ethanol process requires a substantial capital investment in equipment and engineering, and many firms are unable to build these facilities due to a lack of financing. Even with government DOE grants and loan guarantees, companies find they hit a wall in building large-scale biofuels plants with the lack of available private or venture capital funding as compared to wind and solar projects. First-generation ethanol projects had the support of corn growers and companies with a vested interest in these first-generation feed stocks, while other biofuels companies are driven to seek debt financing or scrape together enough venture capital, both of which are currently hard to come by.
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The Value of Early Engineering
Posted by Jennifer Savage in General - April 30, 2010
- Ensures the client and SPEC are the same page for everything: project scope, deliverables, schedule, and budget (before the client has spent a lot of money having detailed engineering done).
- Reduces permitting time because the preliminary design documents can be submitted early, as a preview, to the town (avoiding nasty surprises later on). It also lets potential permitting issues be worked out during detailed design, not after it’s already been completed.
- Saves the client money because they know exactly what they’re getting early on, and they don’t have to waste money changing construction level drawings when they realize the scope isn’t what they wanted.
- Potentially reduces the schedule by allowing the SPEC to identify and order long lead equipment, if the client agrees.
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Case Studies on Air Emissions Control Technologies
Posted by Jennifer Savage in General - April 02, 2010
- One client who had already hired an environmental consultant to help prepare their emissions permit as part of their expansion project, when SPEC was brought on to provide calculations and emissions estimates as well as documents to estimate the size and specifications of the control technology required. During the evaluation, it was determined that although the client had already implemented scrubbing technology for their ammonia emissions, their expansion would increase the levels of ethanol which would need to be controlled by a regenerative thermal oxidizer. After helping provide the emissions documentation for the application, SPEC installed the regenerative thermal oxidizer on site to bring the client into compliance.
- Another client who hired SPEC for a relocation and process expansion project, for which they knew there would be some emissions to address but hadn’t yet defined the scope of what the emissions were (toluene, acetone, and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)) or how to control them. While they were investigating their emissions, the client found out they fell under a regulation that required them to perform a BACT (Best Achievable Control Technology) analysis – to determine not only the technology that would control the emissions best, but would also be cost effective (i.e. reduce how many tons of emissions/dollar spent). SPEC helped the client perform the BACT analysis, supplying the calculations and then recommending the technology that best fit with the BACT guidelines.
- A client who had been fined by the DEP and were told they had to take action to reduce their emissions. They already had a scrubber in place to control their process emissions; however, they were required to install a control technology to reduce their emissions further. They chose a regenerative thermal oxidizer because they couldn’t recycle the air in their facility, so when they discharged the emissions they were also losing the heat that was in their air. Installing a regenerative thermal oxidizer allowed them to pass the air with their emissions through it so that it burned off the emissions and then discharged “clean” air while also retaining the heat in their facility so that it isn’t wasted. SPEC specified and purchased the RTO for the client as well as completed the design and installation of the associated HVAC system improvements.
Companies establishing new plants or modifying their processes should always err on the side of caution: installing control technology, such as, a thermal oxidizer preemptively, before high levels of toxic emissions are produced. Although EPA regulations and state environmental regulations are often confusing or difficult to implement, the alternative of a fine plus required compliance with regulations means that it is almost always more cost effective to implement the control technology during an expansion, renovation, or change to a manufacturing process.
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Foreign-made Thermal Oxidizers: Lessons learned
Posted by Steve Murray in Equipment - February 24, 2010
Purchasing and installing a thermal oxidizer is a common solution for manufacturing facilities that need to neutralize toxic air emissions. We recently installed a foreign-made thermal-oxidizer for a client and encountered several issues that we thought would be worthwhile to share with others considering a similar solution. Consider these as lessons learned from our experience.
Potential problems and considerations associated with importing foreign-made thermal oxidizers:
- Delivery time and cost rises when importing any foreign-made equipment.
- The manufacturer may have to send a team of engineers overseas to your site to complete the installation due to their knowledge of the piece of equipment - this can severaly impact your schedule.
- The manufacturer may expect a list of installation requirements to have been completed by the time the thermal-oxidizer is delivered to the site.
- The manufacturer will not accept responsibility if the installation can’t be performed because there is a lack of preparation on the client’s end or installation requirements haven’t been completed.
- In some countries, the burning of liquid chemical waste changes the legal classification of the thermal oxidizer to a “hazardous waste incinerator.”
- Replacement parts often have to be imported and may require the manufacturer’s assistance to be installed.
- Keep in mind that the temperature and residence times required for thermal oxidizers can differ between countries based on emissions regulations.
- You may need special permits for installation and startup, which can also delay your project schedule.
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Relief Valves & Maintaining OSHA Regulations
Posted by Steve Freitas in Equipment - February 16, 2010
We’ve recently seen an uptick in the number of clients asking for support to complete the PSM (process safety management) documentation and calculations for relief valves. Although the reasons for the recent compliance efforts vary, we thought it would be worthwhile to review the regulations and requirements OHSA has established for process vessels.
- Blast effects due to sudden expansion of the pressurized fluid
- Fragmentation damage and injury, if vessel rupture occurs
- Suffocation or poisoning, if the leakage occurs into a closed space
- Fire and explosion from flammable liquids
- Chemical and thermal burns from contact with process liquids
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Rhode Island Business Incentives, Part 2
Posted by Bob Hubert in General - January 27, 2010
- Complete design/build of facility up to performance specifications
- Blast resistant/relief construction, Class I, div. I & II due to solvents used
- Completing project on strict time schedule and according to budget
- Complete design/build of facility up to performance specifications
- Assisting with relocation, building out office and laboratories at new location
- Working with local authorities and environmental consultants to obtain permits
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Rhode Island Business Incentives Explained, Part 1
Posted by Bob Hubert in General - January 13, 2010
- Gives un-taxed revenue bonds of up to $20 million to manufacturing businesses, primarily to green and high tech manufacturing businesses (renewable energy solutions, advanced materials, etc.)
- Companies located in the “enterprise zone” that build employment opportunities by 5% each year are eligible for state funding
- Supports a Renewable Energy Fund (REF) that this year has distributed $681,875 in grants to 17 local projects that will increase employment in green technology and green energy industries.
- Offers companies that have been designated “Project Status” construction (new facilities approved by RIEDC, with company wages 5% above average) and companies that use state offered bond financing programs exemptions from sales tax on machinery, materials, equipment, and other supplies purchased for facility use.
- Businesses that can offer new employment opportunities for three years in a row are eligible for reductions in corporate income taxes, reductions persist as long as same number of jobs is maintained; amount of tax reduction proportional to number of jobs created.
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Solar Powered Energy: Evolving Technology in Photovoltaics
Posted by Jennifer Savage in Clean Technology - January 06, 2010
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SPEC Works with NY State Funded Start ups: Part 2
Posted by Jennifer Savage in General - December 16, 2009
With so much available funding from the state government, many businesses are now able to build new or retrofit existing facilities in New York State. For many small to mid-sized companies, these grants have allowed them to begin their first demonstration or commercial-scale building project. Determining the best course of action, however, can be a daunting task for these companies attempting to scale-up.
- Failing to hire an engineering company that has all necessary disciplines in-house: Too often, companies have to hire more than one engineering firm to complete a project because most firms don’t have engineers versed in all disciplines. For new companies, having an all-inclusive engineering service keeps the design-build process organized, efficient, and cost effective.
- Neglecting to hire a company that has performance, not just mechanical, completion written into the building contract: Young companies often don’t realize that their construction contract is for mechanical completion only (i.e. if the project is built according to the drawings but the process doesn’t work, it’s the client’s responsibility to fix it, not the contactors’). Building to performance completion ensures the final responsibility rests with contractor.
- Not ordering long lead equipment and obtaining local permits in early project phases: The time it takes to complete these crucial tasks is typically under-estimated; failing to order long lead equipment early on and obtain local building permits can halt project progress, ultimately postponing project completion.
- SPEC specializes in working on projects that are companies’ first substantial scale up and understands the specific needs of these projects
- SPEC’s design/build process can streamline the schedule by ordering long-lead equipment early, securing early permitting, etc.
- SPEC is the single point of responsibility for the entire project: engineering, construction, and start-up
- SPEC contracts to performance, not just mechanical completion
- A full pilot-line design
- Procurement, delivery, and installation of skid based plant modules
- Purchase of long lead equipment to meet the client’s ambitious deadline
- Successful supply all the utility systems and piping, final check out, and commissioning and start up of the facility
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New York State Incentives Explained: Part 1
Posted by Jennifer Savage in General - December 10, 2009
- Grants of up to one million dollars to manufacturers locating companies in the state that will employ fifty to one thousand employees
- Transform materials through mechanical, chemical, or physical means into new, value-added products
- Export 30% of their goods beyond their region
- Use environmentally friendly processes
- 50,000 dollars in government assistance to identify, develop, and implement improved management and production processes
- Tax credits for equipment mainly used in manufacturing, processing, assembly, industrial waste treatments, air pollution-control facilities, and R&D or financial institutions
- A state sales tax refund for materials purchased and used in construction, expansion, or rehab of industrial or commercial properties
- Reduced energy costs for new facilities
- Tax refunds under the Empire Zone plan
- Capital from biotechnology state funding
- $14.8 million in funding from the state budget allocated to the development of cellulosic ethanol-- this funding is part of a larger initiative promoting the development of high technology industries like biotechnology, which are expected to be a major source of economic revenue in years to come.
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U.S Department of Energy Supports New Electric & Hybrid Car Technologies
Posted by Bob Hubert in Clean Technology - December 02, 2009
- Sustain clean energy research
- Secure the nation’s energy sources
- Reduce the United States dependency on foreign oil
A123 Systems Awarded DOE Grant:
- A magnitude smaller than conventional oxide-based phosphate materials
- Proprietary doping of particles that results in significantly faster phase-change dynamics
- A high rate capability (essential for high power systems)
- Discharge rate of up to 100C
The batteries produced by A123 Systems allow for increased energy ratios, expanded longevity during application use, and increased cost effectiveness.
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The Technology & Process behind Cellulosic Ethanol Production: Part 2
Posted by Jennifer Savage in Alternative Fuels - November 11, 2009
Qteros, a start-up from UMass Amherst is on the forefront of the cellulosic ethanol industry. Their mission is to develop efficient and cost effective ways to make ethanol from waste products, and they have already broken ground on their demonstration scale facility. Qteros success comes, not only from their Q microbe (see Qteros website for detailed explanation as to how this process works), but also from their growth plan that allowed them to scale up production at progressively higher levels, while accurately predicting their costs.
- Designed scale up from laboratory bench scale to pilot process
- Created equipment ordering process parallel to laboratory development/design
- Continuously revised floor plans to meet projected requirements for Qteros new program and facility
- Helped vet potential buildings to evaluate what would be the best fit for their unique requirements
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Will Cellulosic Ethanol Replace Gasoline? Part I: The Facts
Posted by Jennifer Savage in Alternative Fuels - November 09, 2009
Recent reports from Sandia National Laboratories and General Motors have estimated that by 2030, alternative energy and biofuels in the U.S will replace one-third of annual gasoline consumption. One of the clean technology forerunners contributing to this reduction is cellulosic ethanol. Cellulosic ethanol is already being produced on a commercial scale by several companies across the U.S. and is already commercially viable:
- Fewer steps used to break down waste product means more conversion potential for fermentable components
- No impact on essential food resources (unlike corn-based ethanol production)
- Produced from agricultural waste products/non-food sources (switchgrass and wood chips)
- Reduction in air pollution (traditional gas production can radiate roughly 75-80% more CO2 emissions)
- Reduction in green house gases (traditional reformulated gas production can emit roughly 80% more green house gases)
- Reduction in fine particle emissions (traditional gasoline production can discharge roughly 50% more fine particle emissions)
Part II: We'll outline an up and coming cellulosic ethanol producer, Qteros, and why their technology is making cellulosic ethanol an attractive fuel alternative.
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SPEC Process Engineering: Thoughts on a Better Project Approach
Posted by Jennifer Savage in General - November 06, 2009
All that being said, it doesn’t mean engineers haven’t figured out ways to solve some of these problems. Based on the experiences of engineers and clients, the following ideas have emerged as good rules of thumb for managing your process engineering project.
- Find an engineering firm that has your project’s key disciplines in-house, including mechanical, electrical, controls, and process engineering. Some firms even have an architecture department that specializes in damage limiting and industrial construction.
- Make sure your contract designates a single point of responsibility for ALL areas of a project, all the way from design, permitting, procurement, construction, to start up. This helps ensure you’re not left holding the bag with subcontractors, etc. after the job is finished.
- You can often “expedite” a project by using preliminary design drawings to specify and order long lead equipment, start early permitting, and work with local authorities to ensure there are no surprises down the road, all before the final construction drawing set is complete.
- Use a firm that employs their own site superintendents and site engineers who can work with the subcontractors to make sure equipment is handled and installed correctly and who can work out any design issues as they occur.
- Write your contract to include performance, rather than mechanical completion; this will ensure that your plant is running according to your specifications by the time the job is complete.
Posted by Jennifer Savage in Engineer Interviews - October 28, 2008 “We just want you to provide a P&ID for our new process. Please provide accompanying line sizing and pipe specifications. Also, please provide instrumentation specifications and purchasing for all automated instruments, as well as updated programming and control system modifications. We will take care of equipment purchasing, as well as the piping and electrical contracts.”-Waters Corporation, a long term client More often than not, multiple smaller projects take the forefront at your facility on a year-to-year basis. Some of these your staff can probably handle on their own. And if you’re like most manufacturers, you typically have to handle the normal production duties while juggling new capital projects and improvements. Your budget may be strained as well. This is when some companies choose to divide the scope and responsibility where it makes sense to bring in an outside firm like SPEC. Many of our projects with Waters Corporation are like the one described above. Although, SPEC specializes in design/build services, we are more than willing to provide a portion of the services “a la carte” if the situation seems appropriate. Since 2002, SPEC has helped Waters with new single reactor systems, utility upgrades, control system improvements, instrumentation upgrades, and updating plant documentation to meet OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) regulations, all in partial engineering and/or construction roles suited to support the budget or technical needs of Waters personnel. In addition to the many smaller projects, SPEC has also provided services for large turnkey projects, including: Posted by George Roberts in HVAC - October 15, 2008 Designing an HVAC system to meet the requirements of a Class 1000/Class 100 pharmaceutical manufacturing clean room is not a simple task under the best circumstances. I was asked to design this system for a clean room that was being converted from existing building space and therefore had ceiling space that was already congested with ductwork and piping that served other areas of the building. I addressed this issue by completing detailed field documentation beforehand. This allowed me to then design new ductwork that would fit in the existing space with all the existing ductwork and piping. Posted by Steve Landau in Controls & Instrumentation - September 24, 2008 Why would you choose one brand/model of DCS over another. At SPEC we have used, (for various reasons) (All the flagship products of leading companies) They each have their advantages and disadvantages: Price - Due to the competitive nature of the industry, pricing varies widely. In the last project we bid, ~ 120 I/O points with 2 workstations. The budget pricing was $18,000 for PCS7 and $25,000 for DeltaV. (without I/O). This may look like a big difference, but when a good configuration engineer cost 4K to 6K per week, the ease of use and speed of configuration becomes significantly more important than the initial cost of hardware and software licenses. Ease of Use for Configuration Engineer- By far, DeltaV is the easiest system to configure. There are fewer options, fewer menus and check boxes. One of the best features, is the control module templates. A control module is a pre-set subroutine which is configured for a specific function. Examples of control modules: With the control module setup, and engineer can setup a typical analog input point, define ranges, alarm levels, and historical collection (example: every 10 seconds). Then whenever a new AI is required, this is dragged out of the library, just change name, assign I/O, reset alarm limits and you are done. ABB has similar functions, and can even can wrap together the control code with the associated graphic object, but it is more difficult to do. Siemens PCS7 has control module library, but CM’s are copy/paste, and not instantiated. To learn more about this “instantiation” see: http://www.specsoft-pfs.com/Brewery%20Automation%20Model.pdf Ease of Use for Client- As with ease for a configuration engineer, DeltaV has the fewest options and simplest menus. For a refinery, or very large plant with sophisticated operators, it probably won’t make a difference. SPEC sometimes installs the first control system a client has in their plant. Posted by Steve Freitas in Equipment - September 09, 2008 To help you determine if used equipment is right for your budget and process, here are some important items which need to be considered. 1. How important is the equipment to your process? For example, if you are planning a biofuel manufacturing facility and the key component to the process is the fermentation vessel, purchasing a used pressure vessel and mixer may not be wise, especially if you are not planning on modifying the equipment but are installing it as is. It will be hard to find the exact component on the used market to suit your process needs and it may not work to your satisfaction. 2. Warranty - Most used equipment comes without any warranty. The fact that it is used makes it more likely that it can and will breakdown. If you do not have a well trained maintenance staff on hand, it may be difficult to make these repairs quickly without factory assistance. Again, if the equipment is important or the heart of your process this can lead to extended downtime, additional costs and loss of revenue. 3. ASME stamped pressure vessels - It will be hard to find the exact vessel to meet your process needs. More than likely you will need to add or change the nozzles on the vessel meaning you will need to make certified ASME vessel repairs. This will certainly add cost and time to the project and could uncover hidden problems with the equipment (see comments in table from part 1). 4. Process vessels with mixers - The mixer needs to be the right type and horsepower to suit your process. Because the mixer is a key piece of mechanical equipment, you may want to consider factory refurbishment. Mixer refurbishment can run from $3,000 to $17,000. If you replace or modify the power of the mixer on an ASME vessel, the nozzle loads on the vessel must be addressed as well. Posted by in HVAC - September 05, 2008 The large explosion that occurred at the Danvers, MA, CAI, Inc. manufacturing facility in November of 2006 was investigated by the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. Several key issues were highlighted in the investigation report (2007-03-I-MA), one of them being the safe handling of flammable liquids. Section 5 of the report refers to the Model Fire Codes, including NFPA 30 for Flammable and Combustible Liquids. This report states that “This code allows for flammable liquids in unsealed containers to be heated indoors as long as adequate exhaust ventilation is provided to prevent flammable vapor accumulation within the building.” Although SPEC agrees with the above statement, as the explosion clearly shows, proper design of a facility is necessary to effectively coordinate “adequate” ventilation with standby power and electrical area classification. Ventilation design needs to account for several factors: · Air change rates or cfm/sq ft · Dead zones within the space · High and low exhaust locations · Pressure differentials between rooms of different uses to avoid vapor flow to unclassified areas One approach that SPEC has used in the past is to install LEL monitors in the exhaust ducts to detect high concentrations of explosive vapor. Based on the specific requirements, the high LEL can trip a fire alarm, increase air flow to make the area safe, automatically cut power to any electrical devices in the room or all of the above. Although the Board concluded that CAI was a grandfathered facility and did not need to apply NFPA, a walk-through of the facility by a trained HVAC/Mechanical Engineer would have quickly revealed that simple changes to the ventilation system could have prevented the explosion. Posted by Steve Landau in Equipment - September 04, 2008 At SPEC process engineering we buy a lot of parts, pieces and specialty equipment. Posted by Steve Freitas in Equipment - September 04, 2008 What, if any, is the real benefit of buying used equipment for your project? Many people believe that they can save money by buying used equipment for their capital projects, and depending on the age and condition of the equipment they can save between 50% and 75% of the original cost.
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Steve Freitas on a long term client
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HVAC System Design in Pre-existing Spaces
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DCS Selection, Distributed Control Systems
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Choosing Used vs. New Process Equipment, Part 2
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Danvers, MA Explosion, Ventilation Analysis
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What you should expect from your equipment /instrument vendor
Over the years we have found some reps/distributors to provide not only good prices, but also thorough documentation.
A high quality vendor should be able to provide the following WITH QUOTE:
All in an easy to read format. No scans. We like to directly cut text from the PDF quote and paste it directly into our purchase order system.
With the documents listed above, almost all of our turnover documents are supplied with the quote. We don’t have to chase down the manuals and scan them later.
Does your vendor provide this type of documentation to you with a quote?
If not, find another vendor. The few $ you may save on the purchase will easily be eaten up by engineering time to collect the documents for validation and turnover.
If you would like a referral to our favorite vendors, just drop us a note.
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Choosing Used vs. New Process Equipment, Part 1
However, sometimes used equipment can cost the same or even more than new after repairs, modifications, etc. are made to have the equipment function properly. And there are often a lot of hidden costs.
The following table contains real information from a project in which used equipment was bought to save money on a project.
Tank w/ Mixer
316L SS (30 to 50
psig) jacketed
Tank w/ Mixer
316L SS (30 to
50 psig) jacketed
Tank w/ Mixer
304L SS (50
psig/FV) jacketed
Repair/Mods
refurbish drive, replace housing on
1 (Both 15 HP)
Repair/Mods
previous repairs not ASME certified,
recertify, modify supports for load
cells/platform
(bees nests and dirt). Cost to hire
professional cleaning company.
Does not include time spent by Site
and Mechanical Contractors
As you can see, the 1,000 gallon vessel with mixer was purchased at a low cost of only $8,500 but the additional costs at the end of the project added up to over $32,000, for a total cost of approximately $40,000. More importantly, the used 2,000 gallon vessel with mixer, after repairs and modifications, actually cost more than the new 1,500 gallon vessel with mixer. The key when considering used equipment is to make sure you understand the extent of the repairs and modifications that will need to be made, as well as the possibility of other unforeseen, additional costs that could significantly impact your budget.
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New Blog Launched for SPEC Process Engineering & Construction
Posted by Jennifer Savage in General - September 04, 2008
SPEC Process Engineering & Construction would like to announce the launch of our new blog. Contributors will include all of SPEC's engineers from disciplines including process, mechanical, chemical, electrical, and controls. Topics will include useful tips as well as solutions and lessons learned from specific projects. We hope that our wide range of experiences will provide a helpful resource to our readers and we look forward to your comments and questions.
SPEC Process Engineering & Construction
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Recent Posts
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