Fundamentals of Process Plant Design and Economics

Designing a safe, efficient, and profitable industrial plant requires a solid grasp of both engineering principles and financial realities. This course bridges the gap between technical process design and economic decision-making. You will transition from understanding basic chemical processes to evaluating the financial viability of full-scale industrial projects, preparing you for both academic exams and real-world engineering roles. What you'll learn: - Understand the fundamental stages of chemical process design and flowsheet development. - Estimate capital investment, operating costs, and raw material expenses for industrial plants. - Apply profitability metrics including Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and payback period. - Analyze optimization techniques to balance equipment performance with cost efficiency. - Evaluate environmental impact and sustainability factors using modern life-cycle assessment basics. - Practice solving typical quantitative problems found in professional engineering assessments. The course begins with foundational concepts in process design, guiding you step-by-step through cost estimation, time-value of money calculations, and profitability analysis. You will progress through written explanations, worked examples, and practical self-assessment exercises. This course is designed for engineering students, aspiring process engineers, and those preparing for professional engineering exams. No prior background in economics is required. Start reading today to master the financial and technical essentials of modern plant design.