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Questions and Answers
What is the expected cost range if the effort and definition are at the low end?
What is the expected cost range if the effort and definition are at the low end?
Which method provides the least accuracy in cost estimation?
Which method provides the least accuracy in cost estimation?
What typical value of 'n' is used when applying the six-tenths rule for estimating cost increases?
What typical value of 'n' is used when applying the six-tenths rule for estimating cost increases?
How much is the estimated percentage increase in cost when the capacity of a piece of equipment is doubled using the six-tenths rule?
How much is the estimated percentage increase in cost when the capacity of a piece of equipment is doubled using the six-tenths rule?
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What is a significant caution when using previous costs on similar equipment for estimation?
What is a significant caution when using previous costs on similar equipment for estimation?
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What does the symbol CFIT represent in project expenses?
What does the symbol CFIT represent in project expenses?
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What percentage does Construction Overhead typically represent of the FCI?
What percentage does Construction Overhead typically represent of the FCI?
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What symbolizes the fee associated with contractors on a project?
What symbolizes the fee associated with contractors on a project?
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Which of the following is included in Auxiliary Facilities?
Which of the following is included in Auxiliary Facilities?
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How much can the contingency factor cover in unforeseen expenses?
How much can the contingency factor cover in unforeseen expenses?
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What does the symbol COff represent?
What does the symbol COff represent?
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What percentage of the FCI do contractor engineering expenses typically represent?
What percentage of the FCI do contractor engineering expenses typically represent?
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What does the symbol CAux refer to in project expenses?
What does the symbol CAux refer to in project expenses?
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What is the formula used to calculate the cost of manufacturing (COM) with depreciation?
What is the formula used to calculate the cost of manufacturing (COM) with depreciation?
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How is the number of operators per shift (NOL) calculated for different processing steps?
How is the number of operators per shift (NOL) calculated for different processing steps?
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What adjustment should be made in the NOL calculation if there are more than 2 solids processing steps?
What adjustment should be made in the NOL calculation if there are more than 2 solids processing steps?
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What is the calculated total salary cost of operating labor (COL) for the acetone facility?
What is the calculated total salary cost of operating labor (COL) for the acetone facility?
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If the number of operating labor operators per shift is calculated as 4.5, what would be the total number of operators required?
If the number of operating labor operators per shift is calculated as 4.5, what would be the total number of operators required?
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What was the estimated cost of the heat exchanger in 2001 using the Marshal and Swift Index?
What was the estimated cost of the heat exchanger in 2001 using the Marshal and Swift Index?
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Using the Chemical Engineering Plant Cost Index, what was the estimated cost of the heat exchanger in 2001?
Using the Chemical Engineering Plant Cost Index, what was the estimated cost of the heat exchanger in 2001?
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What is the value of K when using the formula $C = KA^n$ with the values provided?
What is the value of K when using the formula $C = KA^n$ with the values provided?
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Using the six-tenths factor rule, how is the cost of a heat exchanger estimated for a larger area?
Using the six-tenths factor rule, how is the cost of a heat exchanger estimated for a larger area?
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What is the formula used to estimate the capital cost of a plant with respect to capacity and inflation corrections?
What is the formula used to estimate the capital cost of a plant with respect to capacity and inflation corrections?
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What is the projected cost index for the year 2013?
What is the projected cost index for the year 2013?
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Calculate the average percentage difference between the two cost estimates for the heat exchanger in 2001.
Calculate the average percentage difference between the two cost estimates for the heat exchanger in 2001.
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Which of the following represents direct project expenses?
Which of the following represents direct project expenses?
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For the isopropanol plant, which year provided the original cost for calculating the cost in 2001?
For the isopropanol plant, which year provided the original cost for calculating the cost in 2001?
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In the example provided for heat exchangers, which area corresponds to the higher cost?
In the example provided for heat exchangers, which area corresponds to the higher cost?
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What does the term 'n' represent in the equation $C = KA^n$?
What does the term 'n' represent in the equation $C = KA^n$?
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If the cost index in 2006 was 430.2 and in 2013 was 512.6, what does this indicate about the cost trends?
If the cost index in 2006 was 430.2 and in 2013 was 512.6, what does this indicate about the cost trends?
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What is the cost correction factor used for adjusting costs from 30,000 metric tons/year to 50,000 metric tons/year?
What is the cost correction factor used for adjusting costs from 30,000 metric tons/year to 50,000 metric tons/year?
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What inflation correction factor is used to estimate costs from 1986 to 2001 in the isopropanol plant example?
What inflation correction factor is used to estimate costs from 1986 to 2001 in the isopropanol plant example?
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What is the estimated cost of a 50 m² heat exchanger in 2013, based on the details provided?
What is the estimated cost of a 50 m² heat exchanger in 2013, based on the details provided?
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Which of the following is NOT considered a direct project expense?
Which of the following is NOT considered a direct project expense?
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What is the capital cost for a major expansion to a fluid processing plant with a total purchased equipment cost of $6,800,000?
What is the capital cost for a major expansion to a fluid processing plant with a total purchased equipment cost of $6,800,000?
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For a solid processing plant, what is the Lang factor (FLang)?
For a solid processing plant, what is the Lang factor (FLang)?
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How is the Bare Module Factor (FBM) calculated?
How is the Bare Module Factor (FBM) calculated?
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What factor represents the pressure adjustment for bare module cost calculations at 1 bar pressure?
What factor represents the pressure adjustment for bare module cost calculations at 1 bar pressure?
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Which multiplier represents the materials of construction factor for bare module costs?
Which multiplier represents the materials of construction factor for bare module costs?
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In the Bare Module Cost Factor formula, what does $α L$ represent?
In the Bare Module Cost Factor formula, what does $α L$ represent?
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If the total purchased equipment cost is $10,000, what is the equipment's percentage of cost?
If the total purchased equipment cost is $10,000, what is the equipment's percentage of cost?
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What is the Bare Module Cost ($CBM$) represented as?
What is the Bare Module Cost ($CBM$) represented as?
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Study Notes
Cost Estimation
- Cost estimation is a crucial process in various fields, particularly in industrial plant projects.
- Capital investments are necessary before an industrial plant can operate.
- Fixed capital investment (FCI) covers the capital needed for manufacturing and plant facilities.
- Working capital (WC) involves capital required for plant operation.
- Total capital investment (TCI) combines FCI and WC.
Capital Investments
- FCI can be categorized into manufacturing and nonmanufacturing fixed-capital investment.
- Manufacturing FCI comprises capital for installed equipment and auxiliary systems (piping, instruments, etc.).
- Nonmanufacturing FCI deals with overhead for construction and plant components unrelated to the process (land, buildings, administrative offices, etc).
- The delivered cost is the total cost of equipment including transportation and installation.
Types of Capital Cost Estimates
- Order of Magnitude Estimate: Based on similar projects.
- Study Estimate: Using knowledge of major equipment.
- Preliminary Estimate: Sufficient data-based estimate.
- Definitive Estimate: Based on almost complete data.
- Detailed Estimate: Requires complete engineering drawings, specifications, and surveys.
Cost Estimation Methods
- Vendor quotations provide highly accurate cost estimates, based on technical specifications.
- Previous costs of similar equipment and time scale are also valid for reasonable estimations.
- Cost estimating charts offer an approach for cost estimations along with time scale for certain tasks.
Working Capital Investment
- Working capital is funds invested in raw materials, finished products, and accounts receivables.
- Raw materials inventory often represents a one-month supply.
- Finished products and semifinished goods inventory value approximately equals the total manufacturing cost of one month's production.
- Working capital ratio varies among companies, but ~10-20% of total capital investment is typical for chemical plants.
Effect of Capacity/Size
- The cost of equipment often scales with the power of 0.6 of capacity, often termed the 6/10 rule.
- Different equipment types exhibit different capacity-cost relationships (cost exponents).
- Typical values of cost exponents for various process equipment are available.
Effect of Time
- Cost indices account for changes in costs over time.
- Various cost indices are available for specific industries (e.g., Marshall & Swift, Engineering News-Record, Nelson-Farrar Refinery).
- The Chemical Engineering Plant Cost Index (CEPCI) is a significant index for chemical plant construction costs.
Economy of Scale
- The six-tenths rule provides a quick estimate of the percentage increase in cost when the capacity of a piece of equipment is doubled.
- The rule is generally applicable in estimating for process units and scale up.
Capital Cost Modules
- Total module cost (Lang factor) – A factor to multiply the purchase cost of the major equipment.
- Bare module cost – the cost of equipment in base conditions.
Cost of Operating Labor (COL)
- NOL equation helps estimate labor cost based on parameters like number of workers per shift and processing steps.
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Description
Test your knowledge on cost estimation methods and principles in project management. This quiz covers concepts like the six-tenths rule, construction overhead, and project expense symbols. Prepare to explore various factors affecting cost estimation accuracy.