Intermediate storage tank operation strategies in the production scheduling of multi-product batch processes

Multi-product batch processes use intermediate storage tanks to increase pl ant productivity and operational efficiency. In this paper, relations are d eveloped for production scheduling models of the multi-product batch proces ses with storage time constraints of the intermediate storage tank. Numeric al formulas are obtained to determine the makespan and the completion times of products on each unit. These results are extended to accommodate the ge neral serial process networks with storage time and the product constraints of the intermediate storage tank. Next, the effects of the location and th e number of the intermediate storage tank on the production scheduling are considered. From the above analysis, a MIPL model to find the minimum makes pan is proposed. Applications of the developed model are presented with an example. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.