Release Notes

Details on changes, new features, and bug fixes in each version of CatCost.

Version 1.1.0 – Major Update – 05/20/2021 – CURRENT

  • General
    • Estimate
      • "Total Catalyst Cost" renamed to "Catalyst Purchase Cost"
      • "Total Catalyst Cost, Including SCV" renamed to "Net Catalyst Cost"
      • "PGM/noble" renamed to "precious metals"
    • Estimate > 4 Spent Catalyst

      • CatCost now calculates active phase losses, using the data for metals loss in use, with metals content in fresh and spent catalyst calculated as a fraction of the active phase values. Previously, the non-metal active phase mass was forgotten, resulting in an underestimation of recovery fees, landfill fees, and sale values in some cases.

    • Contact Us page added
      • Join our mailing list for occasional updates
      • Contact the developers
    • CatCost Data Tools released
      • You can now convert an estimate or libraries from the spreadsheet version of CatCost to JSON files that can be imported to the web app. Get started with the latest release.
  • Web App
    • Process templates added: You can now select from a list of templates to populate equipment, utilities, or both, matching the spreadsheet version.
    • Major performance improvements: Loading times are greatly reduced
    • Completion checks: Model now gives better feedback on missing inputs throughout using orange dots for incomplete items
    • Cost Indices: ChemPPI and CEPCI updated through Q1 2021
    • Estimate > 1 Inputs:
      • Added Flat Margin and Plant Lifetime to match spreadsheet
    • Estimate > 3b Equipment:
      • Added User Label field to match spreadsheet
    • Estimate > 3c Utilities:
      • Added units for utility consumption (e.g., kWh electricity) and unit cost (e.g., $/kWh) to new estimates
      • Added scaling inputs for utilities consumptions (see spreadsheet change in v1.0.4)
    • Estimate > 3d CapEx:
      • Fixed Purchased Equipment factor baseline at 100%, and Installation as determined by 3b Equip (matching spreadsheet)
    • Estimate > 3e OpEx:
      • Default direct operating labor rate ("Direct Labor Rate") updated to $48/hr (includes benefits) for a 2016 basis in the US Gulf Coast
    • Estimate > 4 Spent Catalyst:
      • Model now accepts both US and SI units for catalyst bulk density
      • Outputs reorganized to better match the presentation in the spreadsheet
      • Moved Bulk Density Lookup Tool to a sidebar dialog similar to the editing dialogs for Materials, Equipment, Utilities, etc.
    • Libraries:
      • Fixed a bug that could prevent import of the default Materials, Equipment, and Spent Catalyst libraries
    • Materials Library:
      • Added feature to display all prices in user-selected year and mass unit
    • Visualizations:
      • Numerous improvements for visual clarity and ease of use
      • Added Direct Labor
      • Added Selling Margin / Return on Capital Investment
    • Visualizations > Sensitivity Analysis (new feature)
      • Added Sensitivity (Tornado Plot) and Sensitivity (by Category), new features that allow sensitivity analysis on an estimate. Please note that these plots may take up to 20 seconds to load.
    • Other:
      • Renamed Documentation to "User Guide"
      • Helptext now scrolls with the window
      • Many other bug fixes, performance improvements, and UI upgrades.
  • Spreadsheet
    • 3b Equip:
      • Updated process template names for greater clarity
      • Added descriptions of each process template
      • New templates:
        • Metal Carbide (Bulk)
        • Strong Electrostatic Adsorption
        • Zeolite ZSM-5
      • Updated the following templates:
        • FCC template updated to use cost adders instead of specified equipment items for the auxiliary equipment; this avoids inflating the number of operators
    • 5c Printable Outputs:
      • New feature - simply click on this sheet and click 'print' to produce a summary of any CatCost model for meetings, publications, etc. You can also copy the individual sections into a word processor, for example to include in a paper SI. Note: 5b is reserved for the future addition of a Detailed Outputs view like the one in the web app.

Version 1.0.4 – 09/21/2020

  • Spreadsheet
    • 3b Equipment:
      • Naming changes to improve clarity of equipment scaling parameters ("THIS PROCESS Design Production Rate" and "ESTIMATE Design Production Rate"). See documentation for details.
      • The Custom Process name is now formatted as an input field to encourage editing.
      • Updates to size and quantity for Metal Carbide on Metal Oxide and Wet Impregnation - Metal on Metal Oxide templates.
    • 3c Utilities:
      • Process template utilities consumption values now have an input field that defines the mass unit of catalyst or active phase that consumptions are to be entered relative to, for automated conversion to the estimate units. Previously, changing the output mass unit required manually editing the utilities consumption values to be per-kg, per-lb, etc.
      • The Custom Process name automatically updates from the input field on 3b Equipment.
      • The utilities consumption values for the wet impregnation process template were incorrect and have been updated. We apologize for any confusion or inconvenience.
    • 3e OpEx:
      • Default direct operating labor rate ("Direct Labor Rate") updated to $48/hr (includes benefits) for a 2016 basis in the US Gulf Coast
    • Cost Indices:
      • ChemPPI and CEPCI updated through mid-2020.
    • Many minor bug fixes.

Version 1.0.3 – 04/05/2019

  • Web App
    • Libraries:
      • Added a button on the Catalyst Estimates list page that downloads the CatCost default Materials, Equipment, and Spent Catalyst libraries from ChemCatBio in one click. This orange button appears only when all three libraries are empty in the user's browser (e.g., when the user loads the tool for the first time).
    • Estimate > 2 Materials:
      • Fixed a bug that caused the cost contribution (e.g., $/lb catalyst) of raw materials to be calculated incorrectly in some cases
    • Estimate > 3b Equipment:
      • Fixed a bug that caused equipment entries without a CEPCI value to generate incorrect purchase prices
    • Estimate > 3d CapEx:
      • Fixed a bug that caused TCI to exclude Working Capital
    • Estimate > 3e OpEx:
      • Fixed a bug that caused direct labor to not be included in Direct Operating total (Laboratory, Supplies, Maintenance, and Lab (LSM))
      • Fixed a bug that caused Distribution and Marketing and Research and Development not to calculate if 4 Spent Catalyst is incomplete
    • Estimate > 5 Outputs:
      • Fixed a bug that caused Return on Capital Investment to fail to appear or to show a zero value
      • Naming and layout improvements
    • Visualizations
      • Various improvements

Version 1.0.2 – 12/6/2018

  • Web App
    • Materials Library:
      • Fixed a bug in which prices for materials having bulk price quotes of quantities other than one (e.g., $12 for 100 lb, $3000 for 0.6 tonne) were calculated incorrectly
    • Estimate > 3d CapEx:
      • Fixed a bug that prevented the “Indirect Capital Unit Cost” from being calculated correctly

Version 1.0.1 – 10/17/2018

  • Web App
    • Libraries:
      • Added buttons on Materials Library, Equipment Library, and Spent Catalyst Library pages that download the respective CatCost default libraries in one click (e.g., “Add ChemCatBio Equipment Defaults”). These orange buttons appear only when that library is empty in the user's browser.

Version 1.0.0 – 10/16/2018

  • ChemCatBio launch of version 1.0.0 of CatCost (web app and spreadsheet)