Timed Discrete Event Control of a Parallel Production Line with Continuous Output

Abstract

This chapter presents an approach to formulate and solve certain scheduling tasks using timed discrete event control methods. To demonstrate the approach, it considers a special class of systems—a cyclically operated chemical plant with parallel reactors using common resources and a continuous output. This problem was motivated by a benchmark proposed within the EU Network of Excellence HYCON. In this chapter, two parallel reactors sharing resources as, e.g., reactants, hot steam, cool water, are considered. The reactors are discharged into a shared storage tank that has a continuous outflow. The plant is cyclically operated. For this hybrid system, the goal is to assure non-conflicting work of these reactors and to prevent over- and under-filling of the tank.