Unitary base and integral housing for chemical equipment

Abstract

An apparatus for structural support of process equipment including a unitary structural base. The structural base includes a first surface having a mounting recess shaped to receive a first equipment component and a second surface located on the opposite side of the first surface and having a stiffening rib shaped to provide structural support. The structural base also includes a side surface located between the first and second surface and including an aperture shaped to receive a lifting component.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for structural support of process equipment, comprising: 
 a unitary structural base including, 
 a first surface including a mounting recess shaped to receive a first equipment component,  
 a second surface located on an opposite side of the structural base from the first surface and including a stiffening rib shaped to provide structural support, and  
 a side surface located between the first and second surface and including an aperture shaped to receive a lifting component.  
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable component carrier shaped to receive a second equipment component, wherein the first surface includes an aperture shaped to receive the component carrier.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface includes at least one component mounting hole configured to interface with the first equipment component.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the side surface is curved.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the structural base is made of at least one of a metal, a reinforced ceramic, and a polymer.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a ducting baffle attached to the structural base.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a heat exchanger supported by the ducting baffle.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a duct inlet attached to the structural base.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a filter supported by the duct inlet.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing attached to the structural base.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the structural base includes an integral sealing element that seals an interface between the structural base and the housing.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a structural frame attached to the structural base, wherein the housing is attached to the structural frame.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the housing includes multiple external panels.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the external panels is curved.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the external panels includes a stiffening element.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein a first one of the external panels includes an integral ventilation inlet louver.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein a second one of the external panels includes an integral exhaust louver.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the ventilation inlet louver is positioned on the first one of the external panels at least 18 inches above the second surface of the structural base.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the exhaust louver is positioned near a top edge of the second one of the external panels.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the external panels includes a material that at least one of flame retardant and static-dissipative.  
     
     
         21 . A method of making an apparatus for structural support of process equipment, comprising: 
 forming a unitary structural base in a first near-net shape process, wherein the unitary structural base includes, 
 a first surface including a mounting recess shaped to receive a first equipment component,  
 a second surface located on the opposite side of the first surface and including a stiffening rib shaped to provide structural support, and  
 a side surface located between the first and second surface and including an aperture shaped to receive a lifting component.  
   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 forming the structural base by casting, forging, powder metallurgy, or molding.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the structural base is made of at least one of a metal, a reinforced ceramic, or a polymer.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 attaching a housing to the structural base, wherein the housing includes an external panel.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 forming the external panel in a second near-net shape process.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 forming the external panel by hydroforming, vacuum forming, rotational molding, hand lay up, spray up, resin transfer molding, or compression injection molding.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the external panel is made of a material that is at least one of flame retardant and static-dissipative.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 adding to the external panel a material that is at least one of flame retardant and static-dissipative.    
     
     
         29 . A method of assembling and maintaining chemical process equipment, comprising: 
 providing a unitary structural base;    positioning a first chemical process component in an integral component mounting recess of the structural base; and    enclosing the first process equipment by attaching a housing to the structural base around the first equipment component.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising: 
 positioning a second chemical process component in a removable component carrier;    attaching the component carrier to an integral aperture of the structural base;    removing the component carrier from the aperture to repair or replace the second chemical process component.