Modeling and analysis for optimal scheduling of biodiesel batch-plants

Generally, scheduling problems accompanying typical batch processes are vitally important to be solved for improving the plant productivity. In these respects, finding a good and feasible schedule or even an optimal result, by which costs and lead times can be reduced, is often a very complex and also a difficult task. Moreover, in large plants, the challenges come not only from the modeling ways that require systematic and structured approaches, but also from the exact strategies how the performance of the model can be analyzed. The goal of this research is to develop a comprehensive study on industrial-sized plants, with regard modeling and analysis of scheduling problems. Formalization of the required plant specifications, the modularly modeling ways? which refer to the widely used batch standards, and also the strategies for tackling complexity, are the main contributions of this thesis. These studies will be carried out by using the Timed Net Condition/Event Systems (TNCES) model. Finally, the model is analyzed to synthesize an optimal control strategy for the investigated plants.