Discrete Event Simulation Approach for Energy Efficient Resource Management in Paper & Pulp Industry

Abstract

To improve energy efficiency of a Paper & Pulp industry, full capacity utilization of the processing equipment and diverse energy source utilities are promoted, while same time processing of diverse raw materials, meeting of strict processing time requirements, seamless material flow and obtaining required product quality are important concerns to be fulfilled. This is similar to a resources management problem while energy is considered as one of the measurable resources, wherein estimation of energy consumptions is crucial/complicated aspect. Discretized form of energy consumption (approximate energy consumed by unit amount of intermediate products at different intermediate processing stages) concept is utilized here with discrete event simulation for consumed energy estimation/analysis. The research deals with a real time working Paper & Pulp industry resource management problem, wherein overall energy consumption rate and production rate were analyzed for some commonly occurring situation of efficiency reduction of the processing station(s). Energy efficient solutions are evaluated with varying production flow (varying the percentage of raw material) and resources management options (turning on/off paper machines). Energy efficient solution which ensures minimum loss in production rate and minimizes disturbances in material flow is suggested for implementation.