Question

Which of the following is the first step in plant design?

• A. Detailed engineering
• B. Process synthesis
• C. Feasibility study
• D. Piping and instrumentation design

Hint:

Before designing or engineering anything, always check if it’s feasible. Feasibility studies help avoid costly errors in industrial planning.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The feasibility study is the very first step in the plant design process. It is conducted to determine whether a proposed project is technically feasible, economically viable, and operationally practical.

This phase typically includes:
- Preliminary cost estimation
- Market analysis and demand forecasting
- Site selection studies
- Technical viability of the process
- Environmental and regulatory considerations

Only if the feasibility study concludes positively will the project move forward to subsequent steps like process synthesis, basic engineering, and eventually detailed engineering and construction.

Let’s assess the other options:
- Process synthesis occurs after feasibility is confirmed and involves selecting and arranging unit operations.
- Detailed engineering comes much later, focusing on exact specifications, layouts, and construction details.
- Piping and instrumentation design (P&ID) is a specific phase under detailed engineering.

Hence, the correct first step in plant design is the feasibility study.