BOOK INTRODUCTION
It has been more than twenty years since I worked as a Senior Mechanical Plant Engineer in an Oleo-chemical plant, but my desire to write a book on operating cost estimation remained burning. Finally, the book manuscript is currently in its final copywriting stage. I am happy to present, “Unit Cost Approach to Estimating a Steam Power Plant Operating Budget, “ or perhaps, the better title is, “How to Estimate a Steam Power Plant Annual Operating Budget-Simple Approach.”
Suppose there is a choice between two production methods; the usual favored approach would be the one with the lowest total cost. However, it is not always the best choice. Therefore, presenting a straightforward approach to calculating the unit cost is essential. We can use it to facilitate the selection of the best alternatives with an optimized economic return. This book introduces the method of obtaining the material (or process) unit cost of a Steam Power Plant to calculate its annual operating budget and touches on the reliable estimation of operation, maintenance, and project works. I have designed each section to walk the new cost specialist or plant engineer every step of the way, leading to complete understanding.