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Feasibility Studies
Feasibility Studies
89
One of the more challenging activities involved in a technical position is preparing a feasibility study. Whether it is associated with a product, process, or a project, the study usually starts with a clean sheet of paper and a few preconceived notions. The purpose of a feasibility study is to provide direction as to which design or alternative is preferred based on criteria such as cost, projected sales, complexity, safety, reliability, and ease of implementing. Therefore the study needs only be in sufficient detail to arrive at the preferred alternative. Often a brainstorming meeting is a good way to kick off a feasibility study thereby getting input from others who may not be directly responsible for the study outcome but may have some applicable “off the wall” ideas. To further illustrate the concept of a feasibility study, I am reminded of study that I completed which focused on a Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Virginia. I divided the study in to seven parts and summarize them briefly as follows: 1. Executive summary—The purpose of the study was to determine the preferred concept for a permanent pumping station considering installed cost, energy cost, safety and security, and operability. 2. Current situation—In the Spring, water must be pumped from the wetlands area to the other side of a coffer dam into a river to allow fauna to grow. If natural rainfall does not reinundate the area, river water must be pumped into the wetlands usually during the Fall. The fauna growth provides forage for migratory birds when the area is flooded during the winter. 3. Long-term solution criteria—The desired solution should be an installation that is permanent, easily installed, operable automatically/unattended, secure from vandalism, nonpolluting, well lighted, reliable, low cost, and efficient to operate. 4. Design considerations—Three power sources were considered: solar, diesel, and electric. Performance of single and multiple vertical and self-priming pumps was evaluated. Other factors such as security fences, concrete buildings, containment of spills, steel versus PVC piping, costs, codes, and standards were reviewed. 5. Proposed installations—Five upgrade configurations were defined according to the type of pump(s), valves, drivers, mounting, fencing, and buildings required. Decision analysis, musts–wants, was used to evaluate and compare the concepts (Fig. 89.1). 6. Cost evaluation—Major cost components for each of the five upgrade configurations were estimated and summarized to obtain the installed cost. The 5-year operational energy cost was added to the installed cost to obtain a total 5-year cost estimate based on assumed operating hours, fuel, and electricity costs. 7. Recommended solution—Based on installed cost, energy cost, security, and operability, the recommended concept was a single electric motor-driven horizontal pump housed in a cargo (sea) van, with valves, piping, and strainers to flow water to either the river or wetland (Fig. 89.2).
The KT decision analysis was utilized in deriving the optimum configuration and the results were included in the final report.
Technical Career Survival Handbook. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809372-6.00089-X Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
222
Technical Career Survival Handbook
Figure 89.1 Pump house installation concept.
Figure 89.2 Wetlands pump flow diagram.
Feasibility studies may extend beyond the paper stage. A product or process may be feasible but not practical. For example, the oil-free air compressor I mentioned previously developed at SFH was determined to be feasible during the design and test phases. However, as the product was initially manufactured on a small quantity basis, cost and price projections were determined by the marketing department. As a result, after several field trial units were placed in operation at customer sites, the product was canceled from production after it was determined to be too costly to produce. Song: “Waiting in Vain” As popularized by: Bob Marley 1977
89
One of the more challenging activities involved in a technical position is preparing a feasibility study. Whether it is associated with a product, process, or a project, the study usually starts with a clean sheet of paper and a few preconceived notions. The purpose of a feasibility study is to provide direction as to which design or alternative is preferred based on criteria such as cost, projected sales, complexity, safety, reliability, and ease of implementing. Therefore the study needs only be in sufficient detail to arrive at the preferred alternative. Often a brainstorming meeting is a good way to kick off a feasibility study thereby getting input from others who may not be directly responsible for the study outcome but may have some applicable “off the wall” ideas. To further illustrate the concept of a feasibility study, I am reminded of study that I completed which focused on a Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Virginia. I divided the study in to seven parts and summarize them briefly as follows: 1. Executive summary—The purpose of the study was to determine the preferred concept for a permanent pumping station considering installed cost, energy cost, safety and security, and operability. 2. Current situation—In the Spring, water must be pumped from the wetlands area to the other side of a coffer dam into a river to allow fauna to grow. If natural rainfall does not reinundate the area, river water must be pumped into the wetlands usually during the Fall. The fauna growth provides forage for migratory birds when the area is flooded during the winter. 3. Long-term solution criteria—The desired solution should be an installation that is permanent, easily installed, operable automatically/unattended, secure from vandalism, nonpolluting, well lighted, reliable, low cost, and efficient to operate. 4. Design considerations—Three power sources were considered: solar, diesel, and electric. Performance of single and multiple vertical and self-priming pumps was evaluated. Other factors such as security fences, concrete buildings, containment of spills, steel versus PVC piping, costs, codes, and standards were reviewed. 5. Proposed installations—Five upgrade configurations were defined according to the type of pump(s), valves, drivers, mounting, fencing, and buildings required. Decision analysis, musts–wants, was used to evaluate and compare the concepts (Fig. 89.1). 6. Cost evaluation—Major cost components for each of the five upgrade configurations were estimated and summarized to obtain the installed cost. The 5-year operational energy cost was added to the installed cost to obtain a total 5-year cost estimate based on assumed operating hours, fuel, and electricity costs. 7. Recommended solution—Based on installed cost, energy cost, security, and operability, the recommended concept was a single electric motor-driven horizontal pump housed in a cargo (sea) van, with valves, piping, and strainers to flow water to either the river or wetland (Fig. 89.2).
The KT decision analysis was utilized in deriving the optimum configuration and the results were included in the final report.
Technical Career Survival Handbook. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809372-6.00089-X Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
222
Technical Career Survival Handbook
Figure 89.1 Pump house installation concept.
Figure 89.2 Wetlands pump flow diagram.
Feasibility studies may extend beyond the paper stage. A product or process may be feasible but not practical. For example, the oil-free air compressor I mentioned previously developed at SFH was determined to be feasible during the design and test phases. However, as the product was initially manufactured on a small quantity basis, cost and price projections were determined by the marketing department. As a result, after several field trial units were placed in operation at customer sites, the product was canceled from production after it was determined to be too costly to produce. Song: “Waiting in Vain” As popularized by: Bob Marley 1977