Fundamentals of Plant Design and Economic Evaluation

Designing an industrial plant requires a careful balance between technical feasibility, safety standards, and financial viability. This course provides a structured, foundational understanding of the engineering steps and economic tools necessary to evaluate and optimize process projects from concept to final design. Upon completion, you will be equipped to read and interpret design documents and perform initial economic assessments for process engineering projects. What you'll learn: * Understand the structure and notation of Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs) and Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs). * Apply standard methodologies for estimating capital and operating costs of major process equipment. * Master techniques for financial analysis, including Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and discounted payback period. * Learn to select and size common process equipment based on fundamental engineering calculations. * Practice integrating basic sustainability and waste minimization principles into initial design decisions. * Configure profitability metrics to make informed decisions about project viability and risk assessment. The course begins with foundational terminology and flowsheet conventions before moving into detailed sections on equipment sizing, structured cost estimation methods, and comprehensive profitability analysis. This course is for absolute beginners in chemical or process engineering who need a rapid and thorough introduction to plant design and project economics. No prior knowledge of industrial design or finance is assumed. Start reading today to build your expertise in process engineering project evaluation.