Preliminary data for projects:

Introduction:
*After the site selection, data are collected before the design
work
*experienced engineering and construction personnel can
obtain the preliminary data *
*data related to design, procurement, planning construction
can be collected
Typical preliminary data:
Engineering data:
Weather data:
*collected from weather bureau, agriculture department, coast and
geodetic survey

Prevailing wind direction--

when a plant is located, if wind blows in that direction, wind can
carry poisonous gases, flammable gases, passes through open fired
heater, chimney, storage area *

Maximum wind velocity and hurricane, thunderstorms--

Wind load on structure, equipment (pr vessel), buildings (int.pr)
Maximum and minimum atmospheric temperature—
(temp data collected over a period of 2 years, average value)

*required for deciding the type of insulation *

*building types for process eqpt protection (eco friendly) *
*for personnel comfort, maintenance procedure
*cooling water system, selection of equipment
Relative humidity—
(ranges by day, month, season) average value
*Generally required for design of cooling tower, air driers, and
determining personnel comfort

Rainfall (maximum, yearly, season)—

*for finding plant drainage system, building design *

snow conditions—
*required for setting minimum depth of foundation for design of concrete
work

Local flood or tide conditions—

*if a plant is near flooding or in coastal area, then extreme cold, heat or
rainfall may influence construction
Plant terrain—
*soils are explored for foundation and load carrying characteristics
*contour on ground elevations useful in plant drainage and plant roadway
systems (contour map) (foundation will be at same level)
*general slopes are required before going for construction

Water requirement and supply—

*process water (purest form)
*sanitary water (must be potable water)
*steam generation (makeup water for boiler)
(should be from stream beds or natural sources, chemically pure, treated
to the extent required for process, scale formation problem, salts)
*process cooling water (brackish or salt water, moc to prevent corrosion)
*fire protection water (any source)
*water for construction use, fire protection (depends on project, workers,
duration)
Electric power—
when it is purchased
*the location of incoming power feeders
*the plant substation
*primary voltage
*directions from which lines will come
*overhead and underground connection
*single feeder system (from this power is provided everywhere)
*additional feeders (required in areas where severe atmospheric electrical
disturbance) (rural and urban areas)
*the supplier should be given all the information regarding the date of
starting the plant
*whether temporary power is required, arrangements made, during
construction time
*whether small package generators are feasible compared to larger one,
single or centralized distribution system to prevent wastage of power
Fuel sources—(the selection and type of fuel depends on heating value and
selling price)
Natural gas, fuel oil, LPG, coal, plant waste

Natural gas— (methane 78.9%, ethane 8.85%, propane 6.05%)

*used as raw material in some process, used as fuel
*used as fuel for large i.c. engines, electric generators, production of inert
gas for purging or blanketing purpose *
*when purchased imp to get data on supply pressure, composition
*some times natural gas is wet or contains condensate , then draining
traps are provided or ask the supplier to provide
*when the liquid raw materials (oil), gases are there (natural gas liquid)
(associated gas) it is good to use natural gas in dry form, then it is easy to
drain the condensate
*purchaser should know where the natural gas pipeline will enter the
plant, which party supplies, valving arrangement, drawing for connections
Fuel oil—
*usually delivered by railroad tank or motor tank truck, underground pipe
*facility for storage has to be provided (loading, unloading)

Liquified petroleum gas—

*mainly domestic fuel rather than industrial fuel

Coal—
*it is not conventional fuel , but can be used if the plant is located near
coal area and if others are not feasible
*unloading, storage and handling has to be done (pollution, fly ash) (to
neutralize 1 vol/1000 vol of sand or clay)

Plant waste—
important fuel, availability depends on the process, can simplify waste
disposal problem, has to be handled properly or leads to other problems
Product and raw material transportation and storage—
*data regarding unloading, loading, packaging, storage facilities
(plant is at lower altitude, transportation may be by gravity)
*while handling hazardous substances, consider safety aspect, additional
acreage is required
*materials enters and leaves at some point, exact points are to be
identified to prevent interference with the facilities (ammonia produced
can be used as raw material for next process)

Procurement data—
*earliest data of when materials are received at job site
*basic moc available
*what are the connecting railroads and motor truck lines with the plant
*main highway connections
*location of nearest metro city
*industrial eqpt available at the construction site for erection
*storage space and storage area for plant equipment and construction material
Construction data: (affected by local conditions and organization)
Labor—
*area wage rates, trade union contracts
*trade union representation, names, address (before any old firm)
*other projects planned in area
*availability of personnel
*food and recreation facilities
*medical facilities required and climatic conditions that affects
*transportation required
*construction personnel parking facilities
*change room and sanitary facilities
*construction personnel identification
Construction data: (affected by local conditions and organization)
Construction interference—
*overhead and underground electrical power lines
(location, height, depth, voltages, source of power, area to be supplied)
*overhead and underground piping and sewers
(location, size, existing pipeline is extra cost to the construction of new
lines, difficult to maintain record of old pipelines)
*plant hazards
(hazardous gases may be released affects the construction work,
responsibility of cost of unproductive labor, hazards during flame cutting,
welding, open fire (refineries)
*railway and highway connections
(exact locations are determined for transportation of materials, lay a
projection track for railroad track for possible transportation)