Question

You work for ChampionX Chemical Technologies Operations in Big Spring, Texas and have been assigned to make a purchase new natural gas distribution pumps. a. Give an example problem associated with this purchase that you would be solving.

b. What kind of model would you create to solve this problem? Describe the rationale behind this model selection. What is the main information you wish to get from this model and why?

c. What are some trade studies you would perform related to this problem? How formal would this trade study be and why? Give at least three different comparisons.

d. Before a manufacturing method is implemented, experimentation would be required to determine how effective the new process would be. When considering this circulating pump, give an example of direct experimentation that might be done, then repeat this for indirect experimentation.

Answer 1

a. An example problem could be determining the optimal number of natural gas distribution pumps. b. A mathematical model, like linear programming, could optimize pump configuration. c. Trade studies could compare different pump manufacturers, maintenance contracts, and environmental impact.

Step-by-step explanation:

a. An example problem associated with this purchase could be determining the optimal number of natural gas distribution pumps needed based on the expected demand and capacity of the system. A mathematical model, such as a linear programming model, could be created to solve this problem. This model would help optimize the allocation of resources, such as determining the number of pumps and their locations, based on various factors like cost, distance, and efficiency. The main information to obtain from this model would be the optimal pump configuration that maximizes efficiency and minimizes costs.Some trade studies that could be performed include Comparing different pump manufacturers and models to evaluate their performance, reliability, and cost Comparing different maintenance and servicing contracts offered by suppliers to determine the best support arrangement.Comparing the energy consumption and environmental impact of different pump options to assess their sustainability.These trade studies would be formal to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of the available options.Direct experimentation for this circulating pump could involve testing its efficiency, flow rate, and reliability in a controlled laboratory setting. Indirect experimentation could involve collecting data from existing natural gas distribution systems that use similar pumps and analyzing their performance metrics to estimate the effectiveness of the new pump.