A physical plant, also known as a building plant, mechanical plant, or industrial plant (often simply referred to as a plant where the context is clear), refers to the technical infrastructure used in the operation and maintenance of a facility. The operation of these technical systems and services, or the department within an organization responsible for them, is commonly referred to as plant operations or facility management.
Power plants
Nuclear power
The design and equipment of nuclear power plants have, for the most part, remained largely unchanged over the past 30 years.
[Taylor, JJ Improved and safer nuclear power. Science, vol. 244, no. 4902, 1989, p. 318.] There are three primary types of reactor cooling mechanisms: light water reactors, liquid metal reactors, and high-temperature gas-cooled reactors.
[Taylor, JJ Improved and safer nuclear power. Science, vol. 244, no. 4902, 1989, p. 319.] Although the core equipment has remained consistent, some minor modifications have been implemented to improve safety and efficiency.
[Taylor, JJ Improved and safer nuclear power. Science, vol. 244, no. 4902, 1989, p. 321.] While significant design innovations have been proposed for all three reactor types, these remain largely theoretical and have not been widely implemented.
[Taylor, JJ Improved and safer nuclear power. Science, vol. 244, no. 4902, 1989, p. 318-324.]
Nuclear power plant equipment is generally classified into two main categories: primary systems and balance-of-plant systems.
Balance-of-plant systems refer to equipment commonly used across various types of power plants for power generation and distribution.
Broadcast engineering
In broadcast engineering, the term
transmitter plant refers to the portion of the physical plant associated with the
transmitter, its controls and inputs, the studio-transmitter link (if the
radio studio is off-site),
the
radio antenna and
,
feedline and
desiccation or
nitrogen systems,
broadcast tower and associated
quonset hut, tower lighting, generator, and air conditioning systems. These components are often monitored by an automatic transmission system, which transmits status updates via
telemetry through the studio-transmitter link.
Telecommunication plants
Fibre-optic telecommunications
Economic factors, such as capital and operational expenditures, have led to the widespread use of Passive Optical Networks (PON) as the primary model for connecting users to the fibre-optic plant.
[Tanji, H 'Optical fiber cabling technologies for flexible access network.(Report)'. Optical Fiber Technology, vol. 14, no. 3, 2008, p. 178.] A central office hub employs transmission equipment that enables signal distribution to between one and 32 users per line.
The main fibre backbone in a PON network is known as the optical line terminal.
Operational considerations—such as maintenance requirements, equipment sharing efficiency, fibre-sharing capabilities, and potential future expansion—determine which specific PON variant is deployed.
A fiber-optic splitter is used to connect multiple users to the same fibre backbone.
Cellular telecommunications
are a critical component of mobile telecommunications infrastructure, serving to connect end users to the main network.
[New South Wales. Department of Planning 'NSW Telecommunications facilities guidelines including Broadband.'. 2010, p. 13.] These stations house transmission equipment protected by physical barriers and are typically mounted on masts or on the roofs or sides of buildings. The placement of a base station is determined by local radio frequency (RF) coverage requirements.
[New South Wales. Department of Planning 'NSW Telecommunications facilities guidelines including Broadband.'. 2010, p. 11-13.] Various types of antennas are used—either mounted on buildings or on natural landscapes—to transmit and receive signals.
[New South Wales. Department of Planning 'NSW Telecommunications facilities guidelines including Broadband.'. 2010, p. 11.] Directional antennas focus signals in specific directions, while line-of-sight radio-communication antennas facilitate communication between base stations.
Base stations are generally classified into three categories: macro cells, micro cells, and pico cells.[New South Wales. Department of Planning 'NSW Telecommunications facilities guidelines including Broadband.'. 2010, p. 12.] These are usually mounted on streetlights and typically do not require radio-communication dishes, as they are interconnected through fibre-optic cables.
Desalination plants
Desalination are facilities designed to remove salt and other impurities from water sources, making the water suitable for human consumption and other uses.
[Fritzmann, C., Löwenberg, J., Wintgens, T. and Melin, T. State-of-the-art of reverse osmosis desalination. Desalination, 216(1-3), 2007, p. 3.] The primary processes and technologies used in desalination include reverse osmosis, multi-stage flash distillation (MSF), and multi-effect distillation (MED).
Thermal technologies such as MSF and MED are widely used in the Middle East due to limited freshwater availability and access to surplus energy resources.
Reverse osmosis
Reverse osmosis (RO) plants use semi-permeable membrane polymers that allow water molecules to pass through while blocking salts and other impurities.
[Fritzmann, C., Löwenberg, J., Wintgens, T. and Melin, T. State-of-the-art of reverse osmosis desalination. Desalination, 216(1-3), 2007, p. 8.] These systems typically employ intake pipes to draw water from the source, which is then directed to pre-treatment centres. Pre-treatment involves the removal of suspended particles and the addition of chemicals to prevent scaling and fouling.
High-pressure (HR) and booster pumps are used to maintain the required pressure throughout the system, facilitating water movement through the reverse osmosis modules. Depending on the system specifications, RO membranes can remove between 98% and 99.5% of salt content from the water. Waste byproducts from the pre-treatment and RO processes are transferred to energy recovery units, with remaining waste discharged via outfall pipes. Control systems continuously monitor operations to ensure optimal performance.[Fritzmann, C., Löwenberg, J., Wintgens, T. and Melin, T. State-of-the-art of reverse osmosis desalination. Desalination, 216(1-3), 2007, p. 9.]
Pre-treatment systems also include intake screening equipment, such as forebays and Screen filter.
Electrodialysis
Electrodialysis is an alternative to reverse osmosis that has been used in industrial applications since the 1960s.
It employs
and
in multiple stages to separate
, concentrating the salts and leaving behind purified water. Due to its relatively high energy consumption, electrodialysis is primarily used for treating
brackish water, which contains lower salt concentrations than
seawater.
Multi-stage flash distillation
Multi-stage flash (MSF) distillation is a thermal desalination process commonly used in the Middle East. Like RO systems, MSF plants include water abstraction and pre-treatment systems. However, MSF uses different chemical additives such as anti-scalants and anti-corrosives. The process involves heating water at multiple stages and pressure levels until it reaches a brine heater, which generates steam at controlled conditions. This steam causes rapid boiling (flashing) in successive stages, thereby separating freshwater from the saline solution.
Traditional water treatment plants
Conventional
Water treatment are designed to extract, purify, and distribute water sourced from bodies of water that are already suitable for potable use. These facilities rely on extensive networks of equipment to retrieve, store, and transport water to the plant for treatment. Water from
Groundwater is typically extracted via
, which commonly include components such as pipes, pumps, and protective shelters.
[Spellman, FR Handbook of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations. CRC Press, Hoboken. 3rd ed. 2013, p. 607.][Spellman, FR Handbook of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations. CRC Press, Hoboken. 3rd ed. 2013, p. 609.] If the source is located far from the treatment plant, aqueducts may be used to transport the water.
[Spellman, FR Handbook of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations. CRC Press, Hoboken. 3rd ed. 2013, p. 324.]
Various transport systems, including aqueducts, Water pipelines, and tunnels, often use open-channel flow to facilitate water delivery.[Spellman, FR Handbook of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations. CRC Press, Hoboken. 3rd ed. 2013, p. 325.] This method relies on topography and gravity to move water naturally, without the need for additional pumping. Flow measurement equipment is employed to monitor the consistency and stability of water flow.[Spellman, FR Handbook of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations. CRC Press, Hoboken. 3rd ed. 2013, p. 327.] Drainage basin are geographical areas where surface water converges and is often collected for storage and treatment.
Upon arrival at the treatment plant, water undergoes pre-treatment, during which it passes through screens (e.g. passive or bar screens) to remove Debris flow that could damage downstream equipment.
Due to increased acidity following chemical treatment, Corrosion piping materials such as PVC, Aluminium alloy, and stainless steel are used for water conveyance.
In flocculation basins, temperature changes help aggregate smaller particles into larger clusters.
Plant responsibility
Responsibilities for water treatment plant operation and equipment maintenance are shared among multiple stakeholders.
[Bingley, WM esponsibility for Plant Operations. American Water Works Association, vol. 64, no. 3, 1972, p. 132.] Plant owners are generally responsible for the maintenance of distribution infrastructure leading to end users.
oversee the operation and upkeep of treatment equipment within the facility. Public regulators are tasked with monitoring water quality and ensuring that it meets safety standards for human consumption.
[Bingley, WM esponsibility for Plant Operations. American Water Works Association, vol. 64, no. 3, 1972, p. 133.] Manufacturers, while not involved in on-site operations, are responsible for equipment quality assurance prior to deployment.
[Bingley, WM esponsibility for Plant Operations. American Water Works Association, vol. 64, no. 3, 1972, p. 134.]
HVAC
An
HVAC plant typically comprises systems for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, and may also include other mechanical systems. In some cases, it is responsible for the maintenance of additional infrastructure, such as plumbing and lighting. These systems are commonly installed in various types of facilities, including office buildings, school campuses, military bases, apartment complexes, and similar structures.
HVAC systems are designed to control and distribute heat to specific areas within a facility.[Jouhara, H & Yang, J 'Energy efficient HVAC systems'. Energy and Buildings, vol. 179, 2018, p. 83.] are used to move heat in a desired direction, and may include technologies such as solar thermal and ground-source heat pumps. Other common components include finned-tube heat exchanger and fans; however, these components can be subject to efficiency losses and heat dissipation.
Ventilation systems in HVAC plants primarily function to remove airborne particles through forced air circulation, thereby contributing to indoor air quality and comfort.[Jouhara, H & Yang, J 'Energy efficient HVAC systems'. Energy and Buildings, vol. 179, 2018, p. 84.]
See also
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Activity relationship chart
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Building information modeling
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Computerized maintenance management system
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Property maintenance
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, an engineering rule of thumb.
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Property management
Footnotes
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Ahmad Anas, S 2012, 'Hybrid fiber-to-the-x and free space optics for high bandwidth access networks' Photonic Network Communications, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 33–39,
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Bingley, WM 1972, 'Responsibility for Plant Operations' Journal ‐ American Water Works Association, vol. 64, no. 3, pp. 132–135,
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Fritzmann, C., Löwenberg, J., Wintgens, T. and Melin, T., 2007. State-of-the-art of reverse osmosis desalination. Desalination, 216(1–3), pp. 1–76.
[New South Wales. Department of Planning 'NSW Telecommunications facilities guidelines including Broadband.'. 2010, p. 178.]
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www-pub.iaea.org. 2007. Nuclear Power Plant Design Characteristics. online Available at:
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Henthorne, L. and Boysen, B., 2015. State-of-the-art of reverse osmosis desalination pretreatment. Desalination, 356, pp. 129–139.Taylor, JJ 1989, 'Improved and safer nuclear power' Science, vol. 244, no. 4902, pp. 318–325,
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Jouhara, H., & Yang, J (2018), 'Energy efficient HVAC systems' Energy and Buildings, vol. 179, pp. 83–85,
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Spellman, FR 2013, Handbook of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations, Third Edition., 3rd ed., CRC Press, Hoboken.
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Tanji, H (2008), 'Optical fiber cabling technologies for flexible access network. (Report)' Optical Fiber Technology, vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 177–184,
