DE SMET ENGINEERS & CONTRACTORS - From Basic Engineering to Full Turnkey Projects

DSEC's commitment on the construction of Biodiesel plants is based on a very specialized technical knowledge of the Biofuels production processes; in this article you will find a more detailed understanding about the process of Methanol Rectification and Glycerin Purification. Methanol Rectification The methanol coming from the upstream process units is fed to the rectification column. The methanol is recycled to reactor loop circuits.

DSEC is your trusted partner for the construction of your biomass energy plants. Biomass to energy via cogeneration is a sustainable power source, its valorisation can be done trough many different processes. The choice for the suitable technology depends on its various characteristics (moisture, size, ashes melting point, chlorine content, ashes content, ...). Several applications can be developed, from heat production to power generation or even combined heat and power plant. Through its numerous references in biomass valorization, DSEC is able to provide the right expertise to the customer. De Smet Engineers & Contractors is an actor into the green heat and electricity field, developing realizations from concept to start-up. Thanks to our wide turnkey experience, we may give warranties on the schedule, the investment and the performances. Developed biomass energy via cogeneration projects concern pellet production, biomethanisation, wood chips gasification, straw combustion, sunflower husks, bagasse and other agricultural residues valorization for direct steam production or electricity production with back pressure or condensing turbine. De Smet Engineers and Contractors offers you turnkey solutions fitting with your specific needs, that can start with Conceptual Engineering and FEED studies and finally evolve into a Full EPC biomass energy plant project.

The industry is looking for alternative energy production meeting new requirements: CO2 emission reduction, sustainability, self-sufficiency, co-product valorization. Amongst all the biomass valorizations, combustion keeps the first position in the green energy production market. The term ''biomass'' covers a wide variety of materials with very different characteristics. Depending on its use (production of heat, steam, pellets, gas...) it should undergo various transformations and handling in which DSEC is specialized.

De Smet Engineers & Contractors has performed numerous studies and audits related to agro-industrial plants implementation, restructuring and energy efficiency improvement ranging from simple advice to fully detailed studies. DSEC is also capable of providing investors with Conceptual Engineering, Front End Engineering Design (FEED) and project cost estimates that are the key to projects viability analysis. Conceptual and Pre-engineering services can also be the basis of the establishment of comprehensive tender documents that can be launched on the market by project promoters. DSEC technical opinions and budgeting services are recognized by lenders and Export Credit Agencies as a reliable tool for their own analysis of a potential investment.

EPCM: The key features of the EPCM contractual set-up (Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management) is that De Smet Engineers & Contractors works "for account and order" of the investor. DSEC's commitment are limited to the services rendered, providing nevertheless clients with fully reliable assistance throughout the execution of his project. Although the EPCM provides high flexibility for the investor, latter must however rely on his own capabilities to cover risks related to the investment time schedule, performances and budget. EPCM+®: Aware of the problems inherent to EPC and EPCM contractual alternatives, De Smet Engineers & Contractors is offering the best possible compromise that meets full transparency and flexibility as required by investors while providing the necessary guarantees in term of deadlines, technical performances and budget. This scheme is called EPCM+® as it offers the security of an EPC combined with the flexibility of an EPCM, having DSEC working "For & On Behalf" of the investor as for a classic EPCM contract, but providing in addition guarantees possibly similar to the EPC set-up: - Ensuring technical performance of the plant through a clause of “make good”; - Delivering the project within the approved budget; - Respecting the overall project time schedule. The EPCM+® is a flexible solution that gives to the investor a wide choice of selection of equipment within the approved budget and quality standards. Unlike the EPC model, modifications can be made to the project specifications without lengthy change order procedures.

The Semi Turnkey set-up is a Partial EPC contract whereby the investor procures directly some packages and services if it is felt by him to be more cost effective and presenting a level risk that he can control. De Smet Engineers & Contractor can nevertheless retain the overall assignment management and provide engineering, documentation and advisory services for all activities undertaken by the investor under an EPCM commitment. The Partial EPC contract can be applied for the construction of industrial plants in any of the main Sectors of Activities where DSEC offers its services like the following: Sugar Production & Refining Bio-Ethanol Production Biochemical Production Edible Oils & Fats Processing Bio-Diesel Production Biomass to Energy facilities To adapt to the needs of every client, in addition to the Semi Turnkey Construction DSEC offers different contractual alternatives: FEED, Pre-Engineering, Audits and Conceptual Engineering For & On Behalf Management EPCM and EPCM+® Full Turnkey (EPC) Construction

The full turnkey construction contract also referred to as "EPC" (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) offers full guarantee of efficiency in the implementation of the project with minimal intervention on the investor’s side. Responsibility is centralized in De Smet Engineers & Contractors' hands and do not expose investors to risk inherent to contracts with equipment suppliers and site services providers. The EPC contract guarantees compensation for delays in project completion and also assumes full responsibility for overall project cost and performances as defined in the Contract. The single point of control over for the total plant design and project management provided by the EPC contract greatly favours the homogeneity of the plant concept as well as of equipment and materials in general.

De Smet Engineers & Contractors (DSEC) is a general contracting company capable of undertaking projects from their early definition stage up to full turnkey with post commissioning assistance, under a Single point responsibility. Main fields of contracting activities are projects involving in-house know-how such as Sugar plant and Edible Oil processing facilities as well as agro-industrial activities like Bioethanol and Biochemicals production involving similar unit operations and construction philosophy. DSEC's is also specialized in developing all utilities and auxiliary facilities related to the above plants. Contracting operations generally cover the whole range of Engineering, Procurement and Construction tasks (EPC), some of them, however, possibly being undertaken directly by our customer or managed in partnership (partial EPC, EPCM or EPCM+®). Close co-operation with the customer at all stages of the project definition and preliminary design is required before De Smet Engineers & Contractors can effectively start working on a project. Such dialogue with the end-user or investors is essential in order to freeze the project concept and eliminate grey areas, thus avoiding overruns, extra expenditure and unforeseen delays. Especially in critical areas such as local construction works, DSEC’s experts will exercise full control on preliminary investigation and studies to ensure that the Full Responsibility Concept is guaranteed. Accurate budgets are often commissioned by DSEC’s customer with a view of checking project feasibility study hypothesis.