The conceptual design of a plant project lays the foundation for the technical solution, the overall project execution as well as the commercial outlook.
Technically, the process concept is defined, suitable technologies are selected, plant capacities estimated, and process flow diagrams on high level are developed.
Simultaneously, project execution planning begins, including preliminary cost estimates, scheduling, and defining the project delivery strategy (e.g., EPC or EPCM).
The goal is to assess feasibility of the project and align the technical concept with business objectives and constraints.
The typical conceptual design works can be extended by extended by specialized studies:
- Opportunity study for searching investment possibilities
- Market study to provide market research for the desired products
- Raw material study to investigate the raw materials in depth
- Feasibility study to provide a wider, more sophisticated commercial outlook on the project
Conceptual design sets the direction for all subsequent engineering and project management activities.
Typical documents prepared during the conceptual design are
- Heat- and mass balance calculations
- Process flow diagrams
- Plant site layout
- Main equipment specifications
- Mechanical equipment list including weight estimates
- Fuel and utility consumption estimates
- Civil object list including quantity estimates
- Electrical consumer estimates
- Primary electrical power supply overview diagram
- Control system overview diagram
- Project description
- Vendors list
- Project schedule (Gantt chart on high level)
- Project budget estimate
- Operation cost estimate