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equipment-sizing-calculator skill

/plugins/babysitter/skills/babysit/process/specializations/domains/science/chemical-engineering/skills/equipment-sizing-calculator

This skill sizes process equipment using established engineering correlations and standards to produce datasheets, calculations, and equipment specifications.

npx playbooks add skill a5c-ai/babysitter --skill equipment-sizing-calculator

Review the files below or copy the command above to add this skill to your agents.

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SKILL.md
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---
name: equipment-sizing-calculator
description: Process equipment sizing skill using established engineering correlations and standards
allowed-tools:
  - Read
  - Write
  - Glob
  - Grep
  - Edit
  - Bash
metadata:
  specialization: chemical-engineering
  domain: science
  category: Process Simulation
  skill-id: CE-SK-005
---

# Equipment Sizing Calculator Skill

## Purpose

The Equipment Sizing Calculator Skill performs process equipment sizing using established engineering correlations, industry standards, and manufacturer guidelines.

## Capabilities

- Vessel sizing (residence time, L/D ratios)
- Heat exchanger rating and design (TEMA methods)
- Pump sizing and NPSH calculations
- Compressor selection and performance
- Column sizing (flooding, weeping checks)
- Pressure drop calculations
- Agitator sizing
- Piping sizing

## Usage Guidelines

### When to Use
- Sizing process equipment
- Rating existing equipment
- Developing equipment specifications
- Evaluating design alternatives

### Prerequisites
- Process conditions defined
- Flow rates established
- Physical properties available
- Design codes identified

### Best Practices
- Apply appropriate design margins
- Follow applicable standards
- Consider operability requirements
- Document all assumptions

## Process Integration

This skill integrates with:
- Equipment Sizing and Specification
- Distillation Column Design
- Membrane Separation System Design

## Configuration

```yaml
equipment-sizing-calculator:
  equipment-types:
    - vessels
    - heat-exchangers
    - pumps
    - compressors
    - columns
  design-codes:
    - ASME
    - TEMA
    - API
```

## Output Artifacts

- Equipment datasheets
- Sizing calculations
- Specification sheets
- Design drawings

Overview

This skill performs process equipment sizing using established engineering correlations, industry standards, and manufacturer guidelines. It generates datasheets, sizing calculations, and specification-level outputs for vessels, heat exchangers, pumps, compressors, columns, and piping. The goal is to produce repeatable, auditable sizing results that integrate with design workflows and downstream documentation.

How this skill works

The skill accepts process conditions, flow rates, and physical properties, then applies correlations and code-based methods (for example, residence time and L/D checks for vessels, TEMA-based heat exchanger rating, NPSH and pump curves, and column flooding/weeping checks). It calculates key performance metrics, performs pressure-drop and operability checks, and outputs equipment parameters and specification items. Results include assumptions and design margins so they can be reviewed, adjusted, and exported to datasheets or drawings.

When to use it

  • Sizing a new piece of process equipment from process parameters
  • Rating existing equipment against updated operating conditions
  • Preparing equipment specification sheets for procurement
  • Comparing alternative designs or vendor options
  • Validating operability and code compliance during design reviews

Best practices

  • Provide complete process inputs: flows, temperatures, pressures, and fluid properties
  • Select the appropriate design code (ASME, TEMA, API) before final calculations
  • Apply conservative design margins and document all assumptions
  • Run sensitivity checks on key variables (flow, fouling, vapor fraction)
  • Cross-check critical results (NPSH, flooding) with vendor data or detailed simulation

Example use cases

  • Generate a shell-and-tube exchanger rating and specification from required duty and process temps
  • Size a stirred reactor for a target residence time and provide L/D and motor torque estimates
  • Calculate pump power and NPSH available for a liquid transfer system and flag suction issues
  • Perform preliminary distillation column diameter and flooding-overlay checks for feasibility
  • Produce piping pressure-drop estimates and recommend pipe sizes for a skid-level layout

FAQ

What inputs are required?

Minimum inputs are flow rates, temperatures, pressures, and relevant fluid properties; additional data such as allowable pressure drop and fouling factors improves accuracy.

Which design codes does it follow?

It supports common industry codes and standards—examples include ASME for vessels, TEMA for heat exchangers, and API methods for rotating equipment—selectable per calculation.