neqsim-equipment-cost-estimation

name: neqsim-equipment-cost-estimation version: "1.0.0" description: "Equipment-level CAPEX estimation — Turton/Peters/Ulrich/Seider correlations, CEPCI escalation, material/pressure factors, bare-module → grass-roots, AACE class 1–5, location factors, currency conversion. USE WHEN: a task requires a +30%/-30% Class-3/4 cost estimate at the equipment level (vessels, columns, pumps, compressors, HX, piping). Anchors on neqsim.process.costestimation.CostEstimationCalculator." last_verified: "2026-04-26" requires: java_packages: [neqsim.process.costestimation]

NeqSim Equipment Cost Estimation Skill

Class-3/4 (AACE 18R-97) order-of-magnitude → study estimates for individual process equipment — the bridge between sized equipment and a project economics model. Wraps Turton (5e), Peters–Timmerhaus, Ulrich, and Seider correlations with CEPCI escalation, material factors, pressure factors, and Lang/Hand factors.

When to Use

Quickly cost a sized vessel, column, HX, pump, or compressor
Build a bare-module → total-module → grass-roots stackup
Apply CEPCI to escalate published correlations to current year
Compare alternatives (e.g. centrifugal vs reciprocating compressor)
Feed equipment cost into NPV / IRR via neqsim-field-economics

For project-level economics, asset valuation, or fiscal regimes, use neqsim-field-economics. This skill is equipment-scoped only.

AACE Cost Estimate Classes

Class	Maturity	Accuracy	Method
5	Concept	−50% / +100%	Capacity-factor (six-tenths)
4	Pre-FEED	−30% / +50%	Equipment-factored (this skill)
3	FEED	−20% / +30%	Sized equipment + bulk MTOs
2	Detailed	−15% / +20%	Detailed quantity takeoff
1	Final	−10% / +15%	Vendor quotes

Pattern 1 — Bare-module Cost for a Vessel

import neqsim.process.costestimation.CostEstimationCalculator;

CostEstimationCalculator cost = new CostEstimationCalculator();
cost.setCurrentCepci(CostEstimationCalculator.CEPCI_2025);   // 840
cost.setMaterialOfConstruction("SS316");                     // sets Fm = 2.1
cost.setLocationByRegion("Norway");                          // location factor

double shellWeight_kg = 8500.0;        // from mechanical design
double designP_barg   = 110.0;
double Cp = cost.calcVerticalVesselCost(shellWeight_kg);
double Cbm = cost.calcBareModuleCost(Cp, designP_barg);      // applies Fp & Fm
double Ctm = cost.calcTotalModuleCost(Cbm);                  // + contingency + fees
double Cgr = cost.calcGrassRootsCost(Ctm);                   // + auxiliary facilities

Pattern 2 — End-to-end via `calculateCostEstimate`

cost.calculateCostEstimate(
    Cp,                  // purchased equipment cost
    designP_barg,        // for Fp
    shellWeight_kg,      // for installation man-hours
    "vertical_vessel"    // equipment category
);
String json = cost.toJson();   // structured output for results.json

Pattern 3 — CEPCI Escalation

C_today = C_published × CEPCI_today / CEPCI_published

Built-in indices: CEPCI_2019 (607.5) through CEPCI_2025 (840). Escalate any literature correlation that's published with a base year.

Pattern 4 — Equipment-Specific Methods

Equipment	Method	Sizing input
Vertical pressure vessel	`calcVerticalVesselCost(weight_kg)`	shell weight
Horizontal vessel	`calcHorizontalVesselCost(weight_kg)`	shell weight
Distillation column	`calcColumnShellCost(weight_kg)` + `calcSieveTraysCost(D, N)`	weight + diameter + tray count
Shell-tube HX	`calcShellTubeHeatExchangerCost(area_m2)`	area
Plate HX	`calcPlateHeatExchangerCost(area_m2)`	area
Air cooler	`calcAirCoolerCost(area_m2)`	bare-tube area
Centrifugal pump	`calcCentrifugalPumpCost(power_kW)`	shaft power
Centrifugal compressor	`calcCentrifugalCompressorCost(power_kW)`	shaft power
Reciprocating compressor	`calcReciprocatingCompressorCost(power_kW)`	shaft power
Piping	`calcPipingCost(D_m, L_m, schedule)`	diameter, length
Control valve	`calcControlValveCost(Cv)`	Cv

Pattern 5 — Material and Pressure Factors (Turton)

double Fp = CostEstimationCalculator.getPressureFactor(designP_barg);  // ~1.0–3.0
// Fm constants: FM_CARBON_STEEL=1.0, FM_SS304=1.8, FM_SS316=2.1,
//               FM_SS316L=2.3, FM_MONEL=3.2, FM_HASTELLOY_C=3.8, FM_TITANIUM=4.5

Pattern 6 — Stackup Convention

Cp        = purchased equipment, FOB factory          (input)
Cbm       = Cp × (B1 + B2 × Fm × Fp)                  bare module
Ctm       = Cbm × 1.18                                + contingency 15% + fees 3%
Cgr       = Ctm × 1.30                                + 30% auxiliary (utilities, storage, OSBL)

Pattern 7 — Cost Estimate for a Whole Process

double totalCgr = 0.0;
for (ProcessEquipmentInterface eq : process.getUnitOperations()) {
    Cp = costForEquipment(eq, cost);   // dispatch by type
    cost.calculateCostEstimate(Cp, designP, weight, eqType);
    totalCgr += cost.getGrassRootsCost();
}

Common Mistakes

Mistake	Fix
Using outdated CEPCI	Always set `setCurrentCepci(CEPCI_<year>)` before calculating
Hardcoding Fm = 1	Pick from `FM_*` constants based on actual material of construction
Missing pressure factor at high P	Use `getPressureFactor(P)` — silently × the cost at HP/HIPPS service
Reporting Cp as "installed cost"	Cp is FOB only; installed = at minimum Cbm
Mixing currencies	Use `setCurrency(code, rate)` then read all costs through `convertFromUSD/convertToUSD`
Claiming Class-3 accuracy on capacity-factored	Capacity factor (six-tenths) → Class 5; named in AACE 18R-97
Ignoring location	`setLocationByRegion("Norway")` ≈ 1.3× US Gulf Coast for offshore

Validation Checklist

CEPCI year matches the project base year
Material of construction set per stream service (e.g. SS316L for wet sour)
Pressure factor applied for design P > 10 barg
AACE class declared in report (5/4/3) with stated accuracy band
Stackup shown: Cp → Cbm → Ctm → Cgr with each multiplier
Currency and location factor stated
JSON saved via cost.toJson() to results.json under capex section
Sensitivity to ±20% on key drivers (compressor power, column trays) reported

Related Skills

neqsim-field-economics — project NPV / IRR / fiscal
neqsim-api-patterns — CompressorDesignFeasibilityReport includes integrated cost
neqsim-standards-lookup — AACE 18R-97