Pipework is a large part of the cost of a process plant. Plant designers need to minimize the total cost of this pipework across the lifetime of the plant. The total overall cost is a combination of individual costs relating to the
- pipe material,
- installation,
- maintenance,
- depreciation,
- energy costs for pumping,
- liquid parameters,
- required flowrate,
- pumping efficiencies,
- taxes,
- and more.
This application uses the approach described in the reference to find the pipe diameter that minimizes the total overall cost. The method involves the iterative solution of an empirical equation using Maple’s fsolve() function (the code is in the Startup code region)
Bear in mind that the empirical parameters vary as economic conditions change. Those used in this application are correct for 1998 and 2008 (as given in the reference)
Reference: "Updating the Rules for Pipe Sizing", Durand et al., Chemical Engineering, January 2010
