Engineering
System design and design of major components usually progress concurrently. Computer Aided Design has greatly eased the insertion of major components into the system design. By the time engineering for equipment, such as fryers, blanchers and batter applicators is started, the equipment has been sized and design review meetings have been held. Most projects are on a fast track, necessitating quick work on engineering calculations necessary to determine final specifications on pumps, motors and gear boxes, etc, so that these components can be ordered in time to ensure that their lead time does not impact project completion. The first step, in design of equipment, is to draw cross sections, elevation and plan views. If critical fluid flows are involved, Computational Fluid Dynamics (in layman's terms: Computerized Fluid Flow Profiling) are used to fine-tune the design to obtain the most desirable fluid flow characteristics. Necessary stress analysis, to aid in selection of material thickness and structural components is done at this time. As soon as major equipment design is far enough along to freeze exterior size and shape, design of support structure, piping, conveyors and other external systems is started. Fortunately, manufacture of these auxiliary components does not take as long as manufacture of the major components. Often the manufacture of a fryer will be over half-complete by the time external piping, support structure and catwalks start through manufacturing.
