COURSE OVERVIEW:

This course provides practical, field-tested “rules of thumb” used by chemical and process engineers to make fast, defensible decisions during concept selection, troubleshooting, debottlenecking, and early-stage design. Participants will learn how to apply heuristics for sizing, estimating, screening alternatives, and validating results, while understanding limitations, typical ranges, and when a detailed calculation or simulation is required.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

After completion of the course, the participants will be able to:

1. Apply common process engineering heuristics to rapidly screen design alternatives and detect abnormal results.
2. Interpret typical operating ranges for pressure, temperature, velocities, and residence times across major unit operations.
3. Estimate material and energy balances using simplified methods and sanity checks.
4. Perform quick sizing for pipes, pumps, compressors, control valves, and heat exchangers using practical shortcuts.
5. Select suitable process equipment types based on service, operating window, and reliability considerations.
6. Use rules of thumb to identify likely bottlenecks and prioritize debottlenecking actions.
7. Evaluate pressure drop drivers in piping networks and apply practical mitigation approaches.
8. Assess heat transfer constraints and estimate heating and cooling utilities for early design.
9. Recognize typical control strategies and instrument selections for stable and safe operation.
10. Apply practical separation heuristics for distillation, absorption, stripping, filtration, and phase separation.
11. Use typical pump and compressor operating “good practice” limits to prevent cavitation, surge, and vibration.
12. Apply screening methods for relief and flare considerations and recognize when specialist validation is required.
13. Improve troubleshooting effectiveness by using symptom-to-cause heuristics for common process upsets.
14. Verify vendor data, datasheets, and simulation outputs using independent, quick validation checks.
15. Document engineering assumptions clearly and communicate rule-based estimates with appropriate uncertainty.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

-Process engineers (junior to intermediate) supporting operations, projects, or technical services

-Production and operations engineers seeking stronger engineering judgment and troubleshooting structure

-Mechanical and maintenance engineers interfacing with process equipment selection and performance issues

-Technicians and supervisors involved in plant optimization and operational problem-solving

-Engineering graduates transitioning into process engineering roles

TRAINING COURSE METHODOLOGY:

A highly interactive combination of lectures, discussion sessions, and case studies will be employed to maximize the transfer of information, knowledge, and experience. The course will be intensive, practical, and highly interactive. The sessions will start by raising the most relevant questions and motivating everybody to find the right answers. The attendants will also be encouraged to raise more of their questions and to share in developing the right answers using their analysis and experience. There will also be some indoor experiential activities to enhance the learning experience. Course material will be provided in PowerPoint, with necessary animations, learning videos, and general discussions.

The course participants shall be evaluated before, during, and after the course.

COURSE CERTIFICATE:

National Consultant Centre for Training LLC (NCC) will issue an Attendance Certificate to all participants completing a minimum of 80% of the total attendance time requirement.