Process Economics - GATE-CH Questions

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Profitability

GATE-CH-1999-2-19-eco-2mark

1999-2-19-eco

Each of the methods given in the left-hand column is closely linked to one of the items listed in the right-hand column. Match each method with the corresponding item.

GATE-CH-1999-1-29-eco-1mark

1999-1-29-eco

In a manufacturing industry, break-even point occurs when

GATE-CH-2000-1-29-eco-1mark

2000-1-29-eco

For a typical project, the cumulative cash flow is zero at the

GATE-CH-2001-1-22-eco-1mark

2001-1-22-eco

An investment of $ 100 million is to be made for construction of a plant which will take two years to start production. The annual profit from operation of the plant is $ 20 million. What will be the payback time?

GATE-CH-2002-1-13-eco-1mark

2002-1-13-eco

The total investment in a project is $ 10 million and the annual profit is $ 1.5 million. If the project life is 10 years, then the simple rate of return on investment is


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GATE-CH-2005-73-eco-2mark

2005-73-eco

The depreciable fixed cost is $ 100 million. The average profit per year is $ 15 million. The average depreciation cost per year is $ 10 million. What is the payout period in years, if there is no interest charge ?

GATE-CH-2006-64-eco-2mark

2006-64-eco

A sale contract signed by a chemical manufacturer is expected to generate a net cash flow of $ 250,000 per year at the end of each year for a period of three years. The applicable discount rate (interest rate) is 10%. The net present worth of the total cash flow is $

GATE-CH-2008-18-eco-1mark

2008-18-eco

For the case of single lump-sum capital expenditure of $ 10 billion which generates a constant annual cash flow of $ 2 billion in each subsequent year, the payback period (in years), if the scrap value of the capital outlay is zero is

GATE-CH-2008-66-eco-2mark

2008-66-eco

A reactor has been installed at a cost of $ 50,000 and is expected to have a working life of 10 years with a scrap value of $ 10,000. The capitalized cost (in $) of the reactor based on an annual compound interest rate of 5% is

GATE-CH-2016-20-eco-1mark

2016-20-eco

Two design options for a distillation system are being compared based on the total annual cost. Information available is as follows:
Option \(P\)     Option \(Q\)
Installed cost of the system
($ in million)
150 120
Cost of cooling water for condenser  
($ in million/year) 
6 8
Cost of steam for reboiler
($ in million/year)
16 20
The annual fixed charge amounts to 12% of the installed cost. Based on the above information, what is the total annual cost ($ in million/year) of the better option?


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GATE-CH-2016-22-eco-1mark

2016-22-eco

Terms used in engineering economics have standard definitions and interpretations. Which one of the following statements is INCORRECT?

0900-9-eco-1mark

0900-9-eco

What is the capitalized cost of a public works project that will cost $ 25,000,000 now and will require $ 2,000,000 in maintenance annually? The effective annual interest rate is 12%.

GATE-CH-1989-19-i-eco-4mark

1989-19-i-eco

An equipment costs Rs. 1,70,000 and will have a scrap value of Rs. 25,000 at the end of its useful life of 10 years. If the interest is compounded at 10% per year, what are: (i) the present worth of renewable perpetuity, and (ii) the capitalised cost (all in Rs.)?

(i) ____________

{#1}

(ii) ____________
{#2}

GATE-CH-1997-28-eco-2mark

1997-28-eco

For a chemical plant, the fixed capital investment is Rs. \(4\times 10^9\) and the working capital is 20% of the total capital investment. The annual total product costs are Rs. \(2\times 10^9\) whereas the annual depreciation costs are Rs. \(2\times 10^8\). If the annual sales are Rs. \(3\times 10^9\) and the income-tax rate is 40%, then determine (by neglecting start-up costs): 

(a) the percent of total capital investment returned annually as gross profit.
{#1}

(b) the pay-out time (year).
{#2}

GATE-CH-2000-12-eco-5mark

2000-12-eco

A plant is designed to produce \(1.2 \times 10^8\) kg/yr of an agrochemical. The estimated fixed capital investment is $ \(1.5\times 10^9\). The working capital is $ \(2\times 10^8\) and start-up cost (only in the first year of commissioning and to be accounted for in the first year) is $ \(1.5\times 10^8\).
The following cost data are available: 

Raw materials: $ 0.8/kg product
Labour and utilities, etc: $ 0.27/kg product
Selling price of product: $ 10/kg
Other costs (on per year basis) including maintenance, insurance, etc. @10% of fixed capital.
Indirect cost of administration, R& D, marketing, etc. @ 20% of sale proceeds.
The plant will be fully depreciated over a period of 5 years using the straight-line method.
The rate of income tax is 40%.

Calculate:

(a) the net profit at the end of first year (in $) {#1}

(b) the payout period (in years, rounded to 1 decimal) {#2}


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GATE-CH-2003-82-83-eco-4mark

2003-82-83-eco

A process has fixed capital investment of $ 150 millions, working capital $ 30 millions and salvage value zero. Annual revenues from sales are $ 250 millions, manufacturing costs $ 145 millions and other expenses 10% of the revenue. Assume project life span of 11 years, tax life of 5 years and interest rate to be 10%. Tax rate is 40% and straight line depreciation, i.e. 20% per year, is applicable.

(i) Discounted value (to present time) of the profit before tax (for the total plant life period) in $ is {#1}

(ii) Discounted value of the depreciation benefit over the tax life in $ is {#2}

GATE-CH-2010-50-51-eco-4mark

2010-50-51-eco

A plant produces phenol. The variable cost in rupees per tonne of phenol is related to the plant capacity \(P\) (in tonnes/day) as \(45,000 + 5P\). The fixed charges are $ 100,000 per day. The selling price of phenol is $ 50,000 per tonne.

(i) The optimal plant capacity (in tonnes per day) for minimum cost per tonne of phenol, is

{#1}

(ii) The break-even capacity in tonnes per day, is

{#2}

GATE-CH-PI-2010-50-51-eco-4mark

PI-2010-50-51-eco

A company is engaged in producing and selling a single product. The fixed cost of the product is \(F\) per period. The selling price for the product is \(S\) per unit. The variable cost is \(V\) per unit, which is half of the selling price, i.e., \(S/2\) per unit. The company has computed its Break Even Sales in monetary units. Not being satisfied with this Break Even Sales, the company has decided to increase the selling price from \(S\) to \(1.5S\). The company has again computed the new Break Even Sales in monetary units keeping the fixed cost (\(F\)) and variable cost (\(S/2\) per unit) of the product same.

(i) The ratio of new to old Break Even Sales is

{#1}

(ii) The firm desires to make a profit equal to fixed cost of the product. In this scenario, the ratio of new to old Required Sales Volume is

{#2}

GATE-CH-1987-18-i-eco-2mark

1987-18-i-eco

A plant is producing 1000 ton/year of a product. The overall yield is 70% on mass basis. The raw material costs Rs. 100/ton, and the product sells at Rs.350/ton. A process modification has been devised that will increase the yield to 75%. The additional investment required is Rs. 400,000. Is the modification worth making if the minimum acceptable rate of return is 20%? (Yes/No)

GATE-CH-1988-19-ii-eco-6mark

1988-19-ii-eco

A single effect evaporator costs Rs. 100,000 and a two effect evaporator costs Rs. 200,000 for identical duty. The annual steam cost for single effect is Rs. 25,000, and for double effect it is Rs. 5,000. Depreciation is calculated on a straight line basis, assuming a ten-year service life and zero salvage value. Should one effect or two effects be used if the value of money is 15 percent?


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GATE-CH-1990-19-ii-eco-6mark

1990-19-ii-eco

For a project having a life of ten years the following cash flow pattern is expected:

End of year Net cash flow (Rs.)
0 \(-\)50,00,000
1-10 20,00,000
10 \(-\)1,50,00,000
If the expected interest rate is 20 percent, what is your recommendation about implementing the project?

GATE-CH-2002-2-15-eco-2mark

2002-2-15-eco

A company has a depreciable investment of Rs. 36300 which is depreciated in equal installments in two years. Assume that the tax rate is 50% and interest rate is 10%. The net present value of tax (in Rs.) that the company would have saved (over and above he first case), if it had depreciated 2/3 of the investment in the first year and the rest in the second year, is

GATE-CH-2003-81-eco-2mark

2003-81-eco

Two pumps under consideration for installation at a plant have the following capital investments and salvage values. Pump \(A\): \(C_I\) = $ 40,000; \(C_S\) = $ 3,900. Pump B: \(C_I\) = $ 50,000; \(C_S\) = $ 20,000. Using capitalized cost, determine what should be the common life of the pumps for both to be competitive (economically equivalent). Interest rate is 10% per annum. Maintenance and operational costs are negligible.

GATE-CH-2004-84-eco-2mark

2004-84-eco

Fixed capital investment for a chemical plant is $ 40 million with an estimated useful life of 6 years and a salvage value of $ 4 million. The rate of interest is 15%. Tax is 25% of the annual taxable income. In the first year of operation, the income from sales is $ 20 million and manufacturing expenses are $ 5 million. The plant depreciates on a straight line basis. The net present value (NPV) in million $ at the start and at the end of first year operation is respectively given by

GATE-CH-2010-45-eco-2mark

2010-45-eco

A reactor needs to be lined with a corrosion resistant lining. One type of lining costs $ 5 million and is expected to last for 2 years. Another type of lining lasts for 3 years. If both choices have to be equally economical, with the effective interest rate being 18%, compounded annually, the price one should pay for the second type of lining is


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GATE-CH-2012-44-eco-2mark

2012-44-eco

Heat integration is planned in a process plant at an investment $ \(2\times10^6\). This would result in a net energy savings of 20 GJ per year. If the nominal rate of interest is 15% and the plant life is 3 years, then the breakeven cost of energy, in $ per GJ (adjusted to the nearest hundred), is

GATE-CH-PI-2011-45-eco-2mark

PI-2011-45-eco

A company proposes to spend $ 200,000 for a new machine. The service life of the machine is three years and the minimum acceptable rate of return per year is 25%. The annual savings (in $) due to the machine, assumed to incur at the year end, should be at least

GATE-CH-1989-19-ii-eco-4mark

1989-19-ii-eco

The annual production costs for a plant are Rs. 36.4 lakhs, while the sum of the annual fixed charges, overhead costs and general expenses are Rs. 26.0 lakhs. What is the break-even point, in units of production per year if the total annual sales are Rs. 72.8 lakhs and the product sells at Rs. 520 per unit?

GATE-CH-1991-20-ii-eco-6mark

1991-20-ii-eco

A heat exchanger with an initial investment of Rs. 300,000 has a 6 years life. How much (Rs.) can be spent on an improved design which has a life of 12 years and is expected to save Rs. 10,000 per year?
Annual compound interest rate = 8%.

GATE-CH-1999-21-eco-5mark

1999-21-eco

A new equipment made of material \(A\) costs, post installation, Rs. 3,00,000 and is expected to have a scrap value of 10% of this cost at the end of a useful life of 10 years. Similar equipment made of material \(B\) costs Rs. 1,50,000, but is likely to have no scrap value. Assume that both types of equipments could be replaced at a cost that is 20% more than the original value. On the basis of equal capitalized costs for both types of equipments, estimate what should be the useful life (in year) for equipment made of material \(B\). The company has to pay an annual interest on the investment at a rate of 15%.

GATE-CH-2014-44-eco-2mark

2014-44-eco

A polymer plant with a production capacity of 10,000 tons per year has an overall yield of 70%, on mass basis (kg of product per kg of raw material). The raw material costs $ 50,000 per ton. A process modification is proposed to increase the overall yield to 75% with an investment of $ 125 million. In how many years can the invested amount be recovered with the additional profit?

GATE-CH-2002-20-eco-5mark

2002-20-eco

An engineer has purchased a pump for which the installed cost is Rs. 200,000. If no annual maintenance is carried out on the pump, it will have a service life of 5 years, with no salvage value. On the other hand, if annual maintenance is carried out at a cost of Rs. 10,000 per year, then the pump will have a service life of 7 years, with a salvage value of Rs. 10,000.

  1. Derive the formula for capitalized cost, in terms of \(C_I\) (initial purchase cost of the equipment), \(C_S\) (salvage value), \(n\) (lifetime), \(C_M\) (annual end-of-year maintenance cost) and \(i\) (interest rate). Assume that the cost of replacing the equipment at the end of its service life is the same as its initial cost.

  2. If the interest rate is 10%, determine based on capitalized cost analysis, whether annual maintenance on the pump should be carried out or not (neglect depreciation in your analysis).


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Last Modified on: 02-May-2024

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