Jump to content



Featured Articles

Check out the latest featured articles.

File Library

Check out the latest downloads available in the File Library.

New Article

Product Viscosity vs. Shear

Featured File

Vertical Tank Selection

New Blog Entry

Low Flow in Pipes- posted in Ankur's blog

0

What If Manufacturing Plant Exceeds Its Lifetime


2 replies to this topic
Share this topic:
| More

#1 sukanta87

sukanta87

    Gold Member

  • Members
  • 90 posts

Posted 16 November 2018 - 11:27 PM

For example, if a urea fertilizer factory has a lifetime of 25 years, what to do with the plant after 25 years? Even if the life cycle assessment is done, making necessary processes development for the continuation of the plant for several more years, what would be the ultimate fate of the plant? Should we build a new plant, or keep continuing making necessary upgradation? There are several other considerations or assessment to make such a big decision, but I am curious about the usual or standard practices. In some cases, I have observed that if a plant was designed for 20 years, after 60 years the authority is still running the plant.

 



#2 Whit123

Whit123

    Junior Member

  • Members
  • 27 posts

Posted 17 November 2018 - 12:14 AM

If you keep on upgrading a plant by changing vessels, pipelines, valves, control systems then the real age of the plant is not just the number of years since it was first commissioned, it could be in reality be very "young" because none of the old vessels, pipelines, etc exist today, even though the site is the same. So in case of a large chemical manufacturing plant, the actual age may be much lesser. Secondly, if the product has not reached its end of lifecycle (urea is still used for example), it may continue to run even after the first 25 years or so are done. However, keep in mind that as it ages, a large capital expenditure is periodically needed and maintenance/energy/operations cost may be high because of older workforce and legacy systems. Also if somebody comes up with a completely different process that is energy efficient or has better yield, for producing the same product, then the plant becomes obsolete, even though it is not actually "old".



#3 sukanta87

sukanta87

    Gold Member

  • Members
  • 90 posts

Posted 17 November 2018 - 05:21 PM

Thank you, Whit.






Similar Topics