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How to decide the turndown of plant during design phase?

Aug-2024

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LAKSHMIKANTA NANDI, KNPC, lkn299@knpc.com

Turn down of any plant will be primarily dependent on the Critical Equipment and Control system. Some Equipment like Furnaces, Columns etc will have a minimum turn down below which it will face operational problems and thus playing important role in deciding the turn down. Similarly, at low flow, control valves may not be able to provide the desired control. In some cases, providing recycle can help to meet the turn down with lower net feed. However, providing such facility will depend on cost benefit analysis and the ultimate need.

Feb-2025
Rahul Srivastava, Kellogg Brown & Root, rahul.srivastava@kbr.com

The turndown will be decided, with the thought that what happens to MAIN equipment performance if the flow rate starts reducing? The most commonly effected equipment is column, The columns start facing problem if the liquid and gas traffic (or movement) starts reducing. So, now the column min flow becomes turndown for the plant. This is one of the example. Similar issue can come for inline heat exchangers. Typical turndown for any project will 30-50 %.

Nov-2024
Bhupesh Chitre, ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions, bhupesh.chitre@thyssenkrupp.com

Normally i have never seen this being addressed in any Design Phase. Depending on the type of Planned Project, size of the plant or units, fluids handled, design parameters, complexity of critical and non-critical equipment, materials involved, state of instrumentation, power situation the answer will vary even for similar plants. However i guess there are complex systems available for a predictability.

Sep-2024
Marcio Wagner da Silva, Petrobras, marciows@petrobras.com.br

This decision is normally supported by a review of the economic analysis which supported the initial investment decision. Changes in the consumer market or capital investments from the competitors can led the management team to reduce the capacity of a process plant or, in some cases, stop the enterprise istill in the design step.

Another factors can be changes in the regional or global economy which can represent severe threats to the investments which will raise significantly the investment risks.

Sep-2024