Unmsm/Fqiq/Epiq/Daadp/Inglés Técnico/Ef14/2020-I Chapter 1. Diagrams For Understanding Chemical Processes

UNMSM/FQIQ/EPIQ/DAADP/INGLÉS TÉCNICO/EF14/2020-I
Chapter 1. Diagrams for Understanding Chemical Processes

The chemical process industry (CPI) is involved in the production of a wide variety of products that improve
the quality of our lives and generate income for companies and their stockholders. In general, chemical
processes are complex, and chemical engineers in industry encounter a variety of chemical process flow
diagrams. These processes often involve substances of high chemical reactivity, high toxicity, and high
corrosivity operating at high pressures and temperatures. These characteristics can lead to a variety of
potentially serious consequences, including explosions, environmental damage, and threats to people’s
health. It is essential that errors or omissions resulting from missed communication between persons and/or
groups involved in the design and operation do not occur when dealing with chemical processes. Visual
information is the clearest way to present material and is least likely to be misinterpreted. For these reasons,
it is essential that chemical engineers be able to formulate appropriate process diagrams and be skilled in
analyzing and interpreting diagrams prepared by others.
The most effective way of communicating information about a process is through the use of flow
diagrams.
This chapter presents and discusses the more common flow diagrams encountered in the chemical process
industry. These diagrams evolve from the time a process is conceived in the laboratory through the design,
construction, and the many years of plant operation. The most important of these diagrams are described and
discussed in this chapter.
The following narrative is taken from Kauffman [1] and describes a representative case history related to the
development of a new chemical process. It shows how teams of engineers work together to provide a plant
design and introduces the types of diagrams that will be explored in this chapter.
The research and development group at ABC Chemicals Company worked out a way to produce alpha-beta
souptol (ABS). Process engineers assigned to work with the development group have pieced together a
continuous process for making ABS in commercial quantities and have tested key parts of it. This work
involved hundreds of block flow diagrams, some more complex than others. Based on information derived
from these block flow diagrams, a decision was made to proceed with this process.
A process engineering team from ABC’s central office carries out the detailed process calculations, material
and energy balances, equipment sizing, etc. Working with their drafting department, they produced a series
of PFDs (Process Flow Diagrams) for the process. As problems arise and are solved, the team may revise
and redraw the PFDs. Often the work requires several rounds of drawing, checking, and revising.
Specialists in distillation, process control, kinetics, and heat transfer are brought in to help the process team
in key areas. Some are company employees and others are consultants.
Since ABC is only a moderate-sized company, it does not have sufficient staff to prepare the 120 P&IDs
(Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams) needed for the new ABS plant. ABC hires a wellknown engineering
and construction firm (E&C Company), DEFCo, to do this work for them. The company assigns two of the
ABC process teams to work at DEFCo to coordinate the job. DEFCo’s process engineers, specialists, and
drafting department prepare the P&IDs.
They do much of the detailed engineering (pipe sizes, valve specifications, etc.) as well as the actual
drawing. The job may take two to six months. Every drawing is reviewed by DEFCo’s project team and by
ABC’s team. If there are disagreements, the engineers and specialists from the companies must resolve
them.
Finally, all the PFDs and the P&IDs are completed and approved. ABC can now go ahead with the
construction. They may extend their contract with DEFCo to include this phase, or they may go out for
construction bids from a number of sources.
This narrative describes a typical sequence of events taking a project from its initial stages through plant
construction. If DEFCo had carried out the construction, ABC could go ahead and take over the plant or
DEFCo could be contracted to carry out the start-up and to commission the plant. Once satisfactory
performance specifications have been met, ABC would take over the operation of the plant and commercial
production would begin.
From conception of the process to the time the plant starts up, two or more years will have elapsed and
millions of dollars will have been spent with no revenue from the plant. The plant must operate successfully
for many years to produce sufficient income to pay for all plant operations and to repay the costs associated
with designing and building the plant. During this operating period, many unforeseen changes are likely to
take place. The quality of the raw materials used by the plant may change, product specifications may be
raised, production rates may need to be increased, the equipment performance will decrease because of wear,
the development of new and better catalysts will occur, the costs of utilities will change, new environmental
regulations may be introduced, or improved equipment may appear on the market. As a result of these
unplanned changes, plant operations must be modified. Although the operating information on the original
process diagrams remains informative, the actual performance taken from the operating plant will be
different. The current operating conditions will appear on updated versions of the various process diagrams,
which will act as a primary basis for understanding the changes taking place in the plant. These process
diagrams are essential to an engineer who has been asked to diagnose operating problems, solve problems in
operations, debottleneck systems for increased capacity, and predict the effects of making changes in
operating conditions. All these activities are essential in order to maintain profitable plant operation. In this
chapter, the focus is on three diagrams that are important to chemical engineers: block flow, process flow,
and piping and instrumentation diagrams. Of these three diagrams, the most useful to chemical engineers is
the PFD. The understanding of the PFD represents a central goal of thistextbook
1. (10 points) Translate to spanish the highlighted text

La industria de procesos químicos (CPI) está involucrada en la producción de una amplia variedad de
productos que mejoran la calidad de nuestra vida y generan ingresos para las empresas y sus
accionistas. En general, los procesos químicos son complejos y los ingenieros químicos de la
industria encuentran una variedad de diagramas de flujo de procesos químicos. Estos procesos a
menudo involucran sustancias de alta reactividad química, alta toxicidad y alta corrosividad que
operan a altas presiones y temperaturas. Estas características pueden dar lugar a una variedad de
consecuencias potencialmente graves, que incluyen explosiones, daños ambientales y amenazas a la
salud de las personas. Es esencial que los errores u omisiones resultantes de la falta de comunicación
entre las personas y / o grupos involucrados en el diseño y la operación no ocurran cuando se trata de
procesos químicos. La información visual es la forma más clara de presentar material y es menos
probable que se malinterprete. Por estas razones, es esencial que los ingenieros químicos sean
capaces de formular diagramas de proceso apropiados y sean expertos en analizar e interpretar
diagramas preparados por otros.
La forma más eficaz de comunicar información sobre un proceso es mediante el uso de
diagramas de flujo.
Este capítulo presenta y analiza los diagramas de flujo más comunes que se encuentran en la
industria de procesos químicos. Estos diagramas evolucionan desde que se concibe un proceso en el
laboratorio hasta el diseño, la construcción y los muchos años de operación de la planta. Los más
importantes de estos diagramas se describen y analizan en este capítulo.
Read the text and response in english:
2. (2,5 points) What are the reasons for the chemical engineer to formulate appropriate process
diagrams?
In general, chemical processes are complex and chemical engineers in industry come across a variety
of chemical process flow diagrams. These processes often involve substances of high chemical
reactivity, high toxicity and high corrosivity that operate at high pressures and temperatures. These
characteristics can lead to a variety of potentially serious consequences (explosions, environmental
damage, and threats to human health) if there is not adequate coordination between groups involved
in the design and operation of the plant.
3. (2,5 points) What work has ABC Chemicals Company done?

The ABC company carried out the project for the production of alpha-beta souptol (ABS) starting
from the research and development stage, then the design of the chemical plant and finally the
construction.
4. (2,5 points) During the plant's operating time, events may occur that have not been considered.
What could these be?
The quality of the raw materials used by the plant may change, product specifications may be raised,
production rates may need to be increased, the equipment performance will decrease because of
wear, the development of new and better catalysts will occur, the costs of utilities will change, new
environmental regulations may be introduced, or improved equipment may appear on the market.
5. (2,5 points) Why are process diagrams essential?
Process diagrams are essential for an engineer to diagnose operational problems, troubleshoot
operations, shut down systems to increase capacity, and predict the effects of making changes to
operating conditions.

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UNMSM/FQIQ/EPIQ/DAADP/INGLÉS TÉCNICO/EF14/2020-I

Chapter 1. Diagrams for Understanding Chemical Processes

1. (10 points) Translate to spanish the highlighted text

Read the text and response in english:

3. (2,5 points) What work has ABC Chemicals Company done?

5. (2,5 points) Why are process diagrams essential?

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