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 | | From: | Alexander Kubias | | Subject: | Simulation tool | | Date: | Mon, 01 Nov 2004 14:54:25 -0600 |
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 | Hi!
I am a novice in simulation tasks and I want to develop a simulation
tool for recycling (waste-sorting) factories.
In the practical problem a sorting factory consists of various sorting
machines.
Each sorting machine has an input stream of materials and produces some
output streams of materials (O1,...On). A stream contains a mixture of
materials as e.g. Paper: 2 t/h, PET: 1 t/h, PE: 2 t/h, PVC 0.5 t/h.
The composite of each output stream of a sorting machine (O1,...On)
depends on the input stream and the internal sorting-parameters of the
machine.
The output of one sorting machine might be the input for a following
sorting machine. This leads to the structure of a graph of sorting-machines.
In general the graph is cyclic since some of the sorting machines might
be fed back to previous sorting units in the sorting process.
I'm interested in the composite of materials at different positions in
the sorting graph.
A simple example of a graph draft can be seen here
.
I am now not quite sure which kind of simulation model I should use. Is
it e.g. a queue model or shall I work with matrices?
Which programs can I use for this simulation task? Any ideas?
I also need a nice looking and easy to use graphical user interface. Is
this e.g. possible with Mathlab + simulink?
Thanks,
Alex
kubias@uni-koblenz.de
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| | From: | Nicolaas Vroom | | Subject: | Re: Simulation tool | | Date: | Wed, 03 Nov 2004 14:14:37 -0600 |
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| "Alexander Kubias" schreef in bericht
news:cltraf$1bm3$1@news.uni-koblenz.de...
> Hi!
>
> I am a novice in simulation tasks and I want to develop a simulation
> tool for recycling (waste-sorting) factories.
>
> In the practical problem a sorting factory consists of various sorting
> machines.
> Each sorting machine has an input stream of materials and produces some
> output streams of materials (O1,...On). A stream contains a mixture of
> materials as e.g. Paper: 2 t/h, PET: 1 t/h, PE: 2 t/h, PVC 0.5 t/h.
> The composite of each output stream of a sorting machine (O1,...On)
> depends on the input stream and the internal sorting-parameters of the
> machine.
It is not clear how each sorting machine works.
Generaly speeking input to each sorting machine
should be something UNSORTED i.e. one stream.
Output should be SORTED i.e. many streams.
For example in a post office one sorting machine
can be sorting on countries.
Input are all letters output are sorted letters per country.
The next sorting machine can sort on towns in Germany.
Input are letters for Germany
The third sorting machine can sort on streets in Koblenz.
Input are letters for Koblenz
What do you mean with internal sorting parameters.
It is not clear what the final purpose of the whole sorting
process is.
Nicolaas Vroom
> The output of one sorting machine might be the input for a following
> sorting machine. This leads to the structure of a graph of
sorting-machines.
> In general the graph is cyclic since some of the sorting machines might
> be fed back to previous sorting units in the sorting process.
>
> I'm interested in the composite of materials at different positions in
> the sorting graph.
>
> A simple example of a graph draft can be seen here
> .
>
> I am now not quite sure which kind of simulation model I should use. Is
> it e.g. a queue model or shall I work with matrices?
>
> Which programs can I use for this simulation task? Any ideas?
>
> I also need a nice looking and easy to use graphical user interface. Is
> this e.g. possible with Mathlab + simulink?
>
> Thanks,
> Alex
>
> kubias@uni-koblenz.de
>
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| | From: | Jasper Taylor | | Subject: | Re: Simulation tool | | Date: | Tue, 23 Nov 2004 16:53:30 -0600 |
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| That's an interesting one -- I guess the sorting machines don't function
perfectly so their output flows as well as their input flows are actually
mixtures of different materials.
This makes your problem one of a large class that don't seem to be handled
well by system dynamics modelling tools; other examples involve fluids at
different temperatures and with different concentrations of solutes.
A lot of these can be handled by multiple parallel flows, where the flow of
heat or a solute is given by the flow of bulk material times its
concentration in the source reservoir. However you have the additional
problem of charaterizing the behaviour of your machines.
For instance, if you are interested in six different materials, your input
flow to each machine would be disaggregated into six components, and there
would be six groups of six output flows, representing the different
components still present after sorting. With this many flows, your best bet
for a modelling environment would be Simile, since it allows components to
have multiple numerical dimensions, as well as to group them into
'submodels' creating units of functionality that can be replicated.
Cheers
--Jasper
Nicolaas Vroom wrote:
> "Alexander Kubias" schreef in bericht
> news:cltraf$1bm3$1@news.uni-koblenz.de...
>> Hi!
>>
>> I am a novice in simulation tasks and I want to develop a simulation
>> tool for recycling (waste-sorting) factories.
>>
>> In the practical problem a sorting factory consists of various sorting
>> machines.
>> Each sorting machine has an input stream of materials and produces some
>> output streams of materials (O1,...On). A stream contains a mixture of
>> materials as e.g. Paper: 2 t/h, PET: 1 t/h, PE: 2 t/h, PVC 0.5 t/h.
>> The composite of each output stream of a sorting machine (O1,...On)
>> depends on the input stream and the internal sorting-parameters of the
>> machine.
>
> It is not clear how each sorting machine works.
> Generaly speeking input to each sorting machine
> should be something UNSORTED i.e. one stream.
> Output should be SORTED i.e. many streams.
>
> For example in a post office one sorting machine
> can be sorting on countries.
> Input are all letters output are sorted letters per country.
>
> The next sorting machine can sort on towns in Germany.
> Input are letters for Germany
>
> The third sorting machine can sort on streets in Koblenz.
> Input are letters for Koblenz
>
> What do you mean with internal sorting parameters.
>
> It is not clear what the final purpose of the whole sorting
> process is.
>
> Nicolaas Vroom
>
>> The output of one sorting machine might be the input for a following
>> sorting machine. This leads to the structure of a graph of
> sorting-machines.
>> In general the graph is cyclic since some of the sorting machines might
>> be fed back to previous sorting units in the sorting process.
>>
>> I'm interested in the composite of materials at different positions in
>> the sorting graph.
>>
>> A simple example of a graph draft can be seen here
>> .
>>
>> I am now not quite sure which kind of simulation model I should use. Is
>> it e.g. a queue model or shall I work with matrices?
>>
>> Which programs can I use for this simulation task? Any ideas?
>>
>> I also need a nice looking and easy to use graphical user interface. Is
>> this e.g. possible with Mathlab + simulink?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Alex
>>
>> kubias@uni-koblenz.de
>>
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| | From: | Mike Albrecht | | Subject: | Re: Simulation tool | | Date: | Thu, 25 Nov 2004 17:34:56 -0600 |
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| Two articles oin using simulation for waste recycling are:
Mellor,W. , E. Wright, R. Clift, A. Azapagic, G. Stevens, 2002, "A
mathematical model and decision-support framework for material
recovery, recycling and cascaded use," Chemical Engineering Science,
Vol.57 no.22-23, 2002
Abstract: To achieve more than incremental reductions in resource
consumption and waste, it will be necessary to develop new approaches
to the systematic use and re-use of materials in the kind of system
termed an "industrial ecology". This paper presents a new
methodology--CHAin Management of Materials and Products
(CHAMP)--developed for modelling the flow of materials through a
succession of uses with different performance requirements. Although
developed specifically for polymers, the CHAMP approach is also
applicable to other materials and products. Materials are
characterised by a set of technical performance parameters, termed
utilities. Geographical location is also treated as a utility to
enable logistics--both distribution of products and collection of used
products or waste--to be incorporated within the same modelling
framework. Processing, transport and use are treated as activities
through which a material can pass. The costs and environmental impacts
of activities are included in the modelling framework, and are
assessed on a life cycle basis by considering the complete supply
chain of materials and energy used by each activity. The methodology
includes acceptance criteria which determine whether a material is
suitable for specific uses or activities. These criteria are applied
within the model to guide selection of materials for specific
applications and of successive uses for specific materials. A simple
example of the CHAMP approach is given, to illustrate the kinds of
problem to which it has been applied.
Garcia, Humberto E. , 2000, "Operational analysis and improvement of a
spent nuclear fuel handling and treatment facility using discrete
event simulation," Computers & Industrial Engineering, Volume 38,
Issue 2, July 2000, Pages 235-249
Abstract: Spent nuclear fuel handling and treatment often require
facilities with a high level of operational complexity. Simulation
models can reveal undesirable characteristics and production problems
before they become readily apparent during system operations. The
value of this approach is illustrated here through an operational
study, using discrete event modeling techniques, to analyze the Fuel
Conditioning Facility at Argonne National Laboratory and to identify
enhanced nuclear waste treatment configurations. The modeling approach
and results of whatif studies are discussed. An example on how to
improve productivity is presented.
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