a5c-ai Process Economics Estimator Skill
Purpose
The Process Economics Estimator Skill performs economic analysis of chemical processes including capital cost estimation, operating cost calculation, and profitability metrics.
Capabilities
- Capital cost estimation (factored, equipment-based)
- Operating cost calculation
- Raw material cost analysis
- Utility cost calculation
- Labor cost estimation
- Depreciation and taxes
- Profitability metrics (NPV, IRR, payback)
- Sensitivity analysis
- Monte Carlo simulation
Usage Guidelines
When to Use
- Evaluating project economics
- Comparing process alternatives
- Supporting investment decisions
- Analyzing sensitivity
Prerequisites
- Equipment list available
- Capacity defined
- Utility requirements known
- Market prices available
Best Practices
- Use appropriate estimation method
- Document all assumptions
- Include contingency
- Perform sensitivity analysis
Process Integration
This skill integrates with:
- Equipment Sizing and Specification
- Process Flow Diagram Development
- Separation Sequence Synthesis
Configuration
process-economics-estimator:
estimation-classes:
- order-of-magnitude
- study
- preliminary
- definitive
profitability-metrics:
- NPV
- IRR
- payback
- ROI
Output Artifacts
- Capital cost estimates
- Operating cost analyses
- Cash flow projections
- Profitability analyses
- Sensitivity charts