Preliminary market analysis and plant capacity

Authors: Sean Cabaniss, David Park, Maxim Slivinsky and Julianne Wagoner

Introduction

In forming the design basis it is necessary to determine the opportunity to satisfy a societal need, and assess this based on market analysis which includes current production, projected market demand, and current and projected selling prices [1]. The market analysis provides economic data which will determine which process alternatives to choose from as well as equipment capacities. This process will help narrow the scope of a project, and establish guidelines for sizing design elements across the project.

Market Analysis

The first step when considering the development of a new product or process is to examine the existing market scenario. It is important to take a survey of current market situations in order to understand whether or not your product or process will be an economically successful venture.

Economic data are difficult to estimate due to inherent volatility in the marketplace [1]; most companies use market studies to project future market size and prices. A risk analysis is performed using a range of chemical prices to determine the sensitivity of the project economics to specific prices. A commonly used source of national economic price data is the Chemical Marketing Reporter, which is updated biweekly [1]. For more detailed estimates, e.g. for a specific region, the chemical manufacturer should be contacted. The supply and demand for feeds and products must be considered. This will, clearly, impact the price of these items. Consider the forecast for the supply and demand for these streams as well. Are there any niche markets that are underserved? Is there any technology on the horizon that could impact supply/demand levels? Additionally, are there any competitors running the same process? This could impact the company’s profitability, as your process must be unique enough to justify competition with existing organizations.

The scope of a project can also be limited by budget. Engineers must consider the budget they have to work with and various strategies for financing, including issuing more stock, selling bonds, and/or simply borrowing the funds [2].

Plant Sizing and Decision Making

The scale (e.g. flow rates, equipment capacities) of the process is determined based on projected demand for the product [1], which was determined in earlier market analyses. From this basic starting point, it becomes necessary to consider a variety of plant alternatives; it is sometimes advantageous to design beyond the requirement, as the market for chemical products will likely fluctuate over the lifetime of the plant, with both positive and negative swings for the company. These early decisions will dramatically affect the operation of the process for years to come. When considering the various attributes of a process, the overall company goals should be the guiding factor for design teams.

Sizing

After considering the results of the market analysis, it should be known how much of your desired feeds and inputs are readily available in the region your plant is being built. This amount, which we will define as "F", can be either a flow rate or a definite amount, depending on whether your operation is a continuous or batch operation. Depending on the process chosen, there will be calculated overall conversion of the incoming materials, which we will define as "x". From a simple calculation:

$x*F=Y$

Where Y will be an initial estimate for the size of your plant. Depending on the confidence in the calculated yield rate, it may be necessary to slightly tweak Y. If there is low confidence in the value of "x", Y should be decreased to match, while if there is high confidence in the value of "x", no changes to Y will be necessary.

Technology Alternatives

Consider whether adding on to an existing plant, building at a new location, or tearing down an old plant and starting fresh will be the best move for the company. Could the new process piggy-back off technology the company is already running? The team must decide whether to use in-house chemistry; a common, well proven process; or a new, unconventional solution [2]. Consulting any in-house experts should be the first step for a design team. Engineers, operators, and/or researchers with hands-on knowledge of the process can help to create an understanding of the problem and propose alternatives for improving the process [2]. Sources of information on processes less familiar to the company include: patent literature, journal articles, encyclopedias of technology, handbooks, textbooks, external corporate files, and consultants. Businesses can also join organizations that carry out studies of their member companies [2]. The company will need to pay royalties for the use of any patented chemistry that was not developed in-house. They must also consider environmental concerns and ensure that each process alternative satisfies the large number of environmental regulations.

Safety Considerations

Each process alternative should be considered from a safety standpoint. The team should attempt to determine whether any reasonable combination of events could lead to an unsafe situation: fire, explosion, or release of toxic chemicals. If any process is particularly hazardous to operate (for example, it requires the use of a noxious gas), this aspect should be heavily weighted in the decision-making process.

Flexibility

A flexible process is hugely advantageous. Processes that can accept a variety of feed specifications, cooling water temperatures, heat transfer coefficients, for example, will be much easier to run and will produce more dependable profits.

Utility Concerns

Rising utility costs will have an enormous impact on the financial viability of a process design. The cost of powering a larger plant can rise exponentially as the size of the plant increases, sometimes without a significant rise in revenues. Optimizing this balance is important when considering the sizing of an operation. Estimates of utility prices, such as electricity, cooling water, and steam, can be found tabulated in reference texts [1]. For more accurate estimates local utility companies should be contacted.

Next Steps

Once a process has been chosen, the design team generates and evaluates a conceptual flowsheet. The team considers various alternative designs and strategies to come up with the more detailed process flow diagram. The plant can then be modeled using simulation software. With each new level of detail considered, the team should be mindful of the needed investment and the expected return [2].

Conclusion

Market analysis provides an important stepping-off point when beginning the design of a chemical process. Preliminary economic estimates will influence decisions concerning the sizing of your operation, which will have long-term effects on the profitability and viability of a chemical product, so it is important to pay close attention to the results of these early analyses.

References

1. W.D. Seider, J.D. Seader, D.R. Lewin, Process Design Principles: Synthesis, Analysis, and Evaluation, Wiley: New York, 2004. Print.

2. Biegler, Lorenz T., Ignacio E. Grossmann, and Arthur W. Westerberg. Systematic Methods of Chemical Process Design. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall PTR, 1997. Print.