Physical plant
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A physical plant, mechanical plant or industrial plant (and where context is given, often just plant) refers to the necessary infrastructure used in operation and maintenance of a given facility. The operation of these facilities, or the department of an organization which does so, is called "plant operations" or facility management. Industrial plant should not be confused with "manufacturing plant" in the sense of "a factory". This is a holistic look at the architecture, design, equipment, and other peripheral systems linked with a plant required to operate or maintain it.
Power plants
Nuclear power
The design and equipment of a
Nuclear power plant equipment can be separated into two categories: primary systems and
Balance-of-plant systems are equipment used commonly across power plants in the production and distribution of power.[11] They utilize turbines, generators, condensers, feedwater equipment, auxiliary equipment, fire protection equipment, emergency power supply equipment and used fuel storage.[12]
Broadcast engineering
In
Telecommunication plants
Fiber optic telecommunications
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Fiber_Splice_Lab.jpg/220px-Fiber_Splice_Lab.jpg)
Economic constraints such as capital and operating expenditure lead to Passive Optical Networks as the primary fiber optic model used to for connecting users to the fiber optic plant.[14] A central office hub utilities transmission equipment, allowing it to send signals to between one and 32 users per line.[14] The main fiber backbone of a PON network is called an optical line terminal.[15] The operational requirements, such as maintenance, equipment sharing efficiency, sharing of the actual fiber and potential need for future expansion, all determine which specific variant of PON is used.[14] A Fiber Optic Splitter is equipment used when multiple users must be connected to the same backbone of fiber.[14] EPON is a variant of PON, which can hold 704 connections in one line.[15] Fibre networks based on a PON backbone have several options in connecting individuals to their network, such as fibre to the “curb, building, or home”.[16] This equipment utilises different wavelengths to send and receive data simultaneously and without interference[15]
Cellular telecommunications
Base stations are a key component of mobile telecommunications infrastructure. They connect the end user to the main network.[17] They have physical barriers protecting transition equipment and are placed on masts or on the roofs/sides of buildings. Where it is located is determined by the local radio frequency coverage that is required.[18] These base stations utilize different kinds of antennas, either on buildings or on landscapes, to transmit signals back and forth [19] Directional antennas are used to direct signals in different direction, whereas line-of-sight radio-communication antennas, allow for communication in-between base stations.[19]
Base stations are of three types: macro-, micro- and pico-cell sub-stations.[18] Macro cells are the most widely used base station, utilizing omnidirectional or radio-communication dishes. Micro cells are more specialized; these expand and provide additional coverage in areas where macro cells cannot.[20] They are typically placed on streetlights, usually not requiring radio-communication dishes. This is because they are physically interconnected via fiber-optic cables.[17] Pico cell stations are further specific, providing additional coverage only within a building when the coverage is poor. They will usually be placed on a roof or a wall in each building.[17]
Desalination plants
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/08/Port_Stanvac_Desalination_Plant_P1000732.jpg/220px-Port_Stanvac_Desalination_Plant_P1000732.jpg)
Reverse osmosis
Reverse osmosis plants use “Semi-Permeable Membrane Polymers”, that allow for water to pass through unabated while blocking molecules not suitable for drinking.[22] Reverse Osmosis plants typically use intake pipes, which allow for water to be abstracted at its source. This water is then taken to pre-treatment centers, where particles in the water are removed with chemicals added to prevent water damage. HR-pumps and booster pumps are used to provide pressure and pump the water at different heights of the facility, which is then transferred to a reverse osmosis module. This equipment, depending on the specifications, effectively filters out between 98 and 99.5% of salt from the water. Waste that is separated through these pre-treatment and reverse osmosis modules is taken to an energy recovery module, and any further excess is pumped back out through an outfall pipe. Control equipment is used to monitor this process and ensure it continues to run smoothly. When the water is separated, it is then delivered to a household via a distribution network for consumption.[23] Pre-treatment systems have intake screening equipment such as forebays and screens.[24] Intake equipment can vary in design; open ocean intakes are either placed onshore or off the shore. Offshore intakes transfer water using concrete channels into screening chambers to be transferred directly to pre-treatment centers, using intake pumps where chemicals will be added. It is then dissolved and separated from solids using a flotation device, to be pumped through a semi-permeable membrane.[25]
Electrodialysis
Multi-stage flash distillation
Thermal distillation equipment is commonly used in the middle East; similarly to Reverse osmosis, it has a water abstraction and pre-treatment equipment, although in MSF different chemicals such as anti-sealant and anti-corrosives are added. Heating equipment is used at different stages at different pressure levels until it reaches a brine heater. The brine heater is what provides steam at these different stages to change the boiling point of the water.[28]
Traditional water treatment plants
Conventional
Once water arrives at a plant, it undergoes a pre-treatment process where it is passed through screens, such as passive screens or bar screens, to stop certain kinds of
Plant responsibility
Stakeholders have different responsibilities for the maintenance of equipment in a water treatment plant.[43] In terms of the distribution equipment to the end user, it is mainly the plant owners who are responsible for the maintenance of this equipment. An engineers role is more focused on maintaining the equipment used to treat water. Public regulators are responsible for monitoring water supply quality and ensuring it is safe to drink.[44] These stakeholders have active responsibility for these processes and equipment. The manufacturer's primary responsibility is off site, providing quality assurance of equipment function prior to use.[45]
HVAC
An
See also
- Activity relationship chart
- Building information modeling
- Computerized maintenance management system
- Property maintenance
- 1:5:200, an engineering rule of thumb.
- Property management
Footnotes
- ^ Taylor, JJ Improved and safer nuclear power. Science, vol. 244, no. 4902, 1989, p. 318.
- ^ Taylor, JJ Improved and safer nuclear power. Science, vol. 244, no. 4902, 1989, p. 319.
- ^ Taylor, JJ Improved and safer nuclear power. Science, vol. 244, no. 4902, 1989, p. 321.
- ^ Taylor, JJ Improved and safer nuclear power. Science, vol. 244, no. 4902, 1989, p. 318-324.
- ^ "Nuclear Power Plant Design Characteristics" (PDF). International Atomic Energy Agency. pp. 5–7.
- ^ "Nuclear Power Plant Design Characteristics" (PDF). International atomic energy agency. p. 9.
- ^ "Nuclear Power Plant Design Characteristics" (PDF). International Atomic Energy Agency. pp. 9–14.
- ^ "Nuclear Power Plant Design Characteristics" (PDF). International Atomic Energy Association. pp. 15–16.
- ^ "Nuclear Power Plant Characteristics" (PDF). International Atomic Energy Agency. p. 16.
- ^ "Nuclear Power Plant Characteristics" (PDF). International Atomic Energy Agency. pp. 5–7, 15–19.
- ^ "Nuclear Power Plant Characteristics" (PDF). International Atomic Energy Association. p. 19.
- ^ "Nuclear Power Plant Characteristics" (PDF). International Atomic Energy Agency. pp. 5–8.
- ^ "WMAQ's Elmhurst Transmitter Plant and Antenna".
- ^ a b c d Tanji, H 'Optical fiber cabling technologies for flexible access network.(Report)'. Optical Fiber Technology, vol. 14, no. 3, 2008, p. 178.
- ^ S2CID 1340034.
- S2CID 1340034.
- ^ a b c New South Wales. Department of Planning 'NSW Telecommunications facilities guidelines including Broadband.'. 2010, p. 13.
- ^ a b New South Wales. Department of Planning 'NSW Telecommunications facilities guidelines including Broadband.'. 2010, p. 11-13.
- ^ a b New South Wales. Department of Planning 'NSW Telecommunications facilities guidelines including Broadband.'. 2010, p. 11.
- ^ New South Wales. Department of Planning 'NSW Telecommunications facilities guidelines including Broadband.'. 2010, p. 12.
- ^ a b c Fritzmann, C., Löwenberg, J., Wintgens, T. and Melin, T. State-of-the-art of reverse osmosis desalination. Desalination, 216(1-3), 2007, p. 3.
- ^ Fritzmann, C., Löwenberg, J., Wintgens, T. and Melin, T. State-of-the-art of reverse osmosis desalination. Desalination, 216(1-3), 2007, p. 8.
- ^ Fritzmann, C., Löwenberg, J., Wintgens, T. and Melin, T. State-of-the-art of reverse osmosis desalination. Desalination, 216(1-3), 2007, p. 9.
- ISSN 0011-9164.
- ISSN 0011-9164.
- ISSN 0011-9164.
- ISSN 0011-9164.
- ISSN 0011-9164.
- ^ Spellman, FR Handbook of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations. CRC Press, Hoboken. 3rd ed. 2013, p. 607.
- ^ Spellman, FR Handbook of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations. CRC Press, Hoboken. 3rd ed. 2013, p. 609.
- ^ Spellman, FR Handbook of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations. CRC Press, Hoboken. 3rd ed. 2013, p. 324.
- ^ Spellman, FR Handbook of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations. CRC Press, Hoboken. 3rd ed. 2013, p. 325.
- ^ Spellman, FR Handbook of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations. CRC Press, Hoboken. 3rd ed. 2013, p. 327.
- ISBN 978-0-429-09731-7.
- ISBN 978-0-429-09731-7.
- ISBN 978-0-429-09731-7.
- ISBN 978-0-429-09731-7.
- ISBN 978-0-429-09731-7.
- ISBN 978-0-429-09731-7.
- ISBN 978-0-429-09731-7.
- ISBN 978-0-429-09731-7.
- ISBN 978-0-429-09731-7.
- ^ Bingley, WM esponsibility for Plant Operations. American Water Works Association, vol. 64, no. 3, 1972, p. 132.
- ^ Bingley, WM esponsibility for Plant Operations. American Water Works Association, vol. 64, no. 3, 1972, p. 133.
- ^ Bingley, WM esponsibility for Plant Operations. American Water Works Association, vol. 64, no. 3, 1972, p. 134.
- ^ a b Jouhara, H & Yang, J 'Energy efficient HVAC systems'. Energy and Buildings, vol. 179, 2018, p. 83.
- ^ Jouhara, H & Yang, J 'Energy efficient HVAC systems'. Energy and Buildings, vol. 179, 2018, p. 84.
References
- Ahmad Anas, S 2012, 'Hybrid fiber-to-the-x and free space optics for high bandwidth access networks' Photonic Network Communications, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 33–39,
- Bingley, WM 1972, 'Responsibility for Plant Operations' Journal ‐ American Water Works Association, vol. 64, no. 3, pp. 132–135,
- Fritzmann, C., Löwenberg, J., Wintgens, T. and Melin, T., 2007. State-of-the-art of reverse osmosis desalination. Desalination, 216(1-3), pp. 1–76. [1]
- 2010. NSW Telecommunications facilities Guidelines, including Broadband. [ebook] New South Wales. Department of Planning, NSW Telecommunications Facilities Guideline Including Broadband. Available at: <https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/-/media/Files/DPE/Guidelines/nsw-telecommunications-facilities-guideline-including-broadband-2010-07.pdf
- www-pub.iaea.org. 2007. Nuclear Power Plant Design Characteristics. [online] Available at: <https://www-pub.iaea.org/mtcd/publications/pdf/te_1544_web.pdf>
- Henthorne, L. and Boysen, B., 2015. State-of-the-art of reverse osmosis desalination pretreatment. Desalination, 356, pp. 129–139.Taylor, JJ 1989, 'Improved and safer nuclear power' Science, vol. 244, no. 4902, pp. 318–325,
- Jouhara, H., & Yang, J (2018), 'Energy efficient HVAC systems' Energy and Buildings, vol. 179, pp. 83–85,
- Spellman, FR 2013, Handbook of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations, Third Edition., 3rd ed., CRC Press, Hoboken.
- Tanji, H (2008), 'Optical fiber cabling technologies for flexible access network. (Report)' Optical Fiber Technology, vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 177–184,
- ^ New South Wales. Department of Planning 'NSW Telecommunications facilities guidelines including Broadband.'. 2010, p. 178.