Abstract
In today's technologically developed society, new products and processes are constantly being developed to challenge the frontiers of knowledge on selection of materials of construction. Higher temperatures, higher pressures, environmental restrictions, and the ever increasing corrosive environments of chemical processes industries dictate a need for finding cost-effective solutions.
These solutions vary depending upon specific situations, and can be better materials of construction, electrochemical protection, inhibitors, coatings or changes in processing. This paper concentrates on use of metals and alloys as materials of construction for process equipment needed to bring about the physical and chemical changes in the various chemical process industry.
An economic analysis must not only take into account original material costs, but also must consider the total installed first cost, including fabrication and installation along with total "life cycle" costs. Total life cycle costs are comprised of many segments.
Attempts are made to show the total installed costs of major equipment used in industry using different alloys, their comparison to Type 316L stainless steel and the life-cycle cost analysis with case histories.
