Linear Programming to Solve Coal Blending Problem
17th International Mining Congress and Exhibition of Turkey- IMCET 2001, © 2001, ISBN 975-395-417-4
Optimum Blending of Coal by Linear Programming for the Power Plant at Seyitömer Coal Mine
K.Erarslan, H.Aykul, H.Akçakoca & N.Çetin
Dumlupınar University, Department of Mining Engineering, 43100, Kütahya, Turkey
ABSTRACT: In this study, a linear programming model is developed to determine the optimum coal blend in terms of quality and quantity. Coal with various features is mined from different panels of Seyitömer Lignite Coal District and fed to a nearby power plant. The quality of the coal is extremely variable through the horizontal and vertical directions, which entails the precise planning of coal blending during the mining and stockpiling stages. Otherwise, a large penalty has to be paid to the power plant. In this study, the objective is to match the calorific values required by the power plant. The quality features and production capacities of coal from different panels are determined and are used in quality constraints. The power plant requires coal in two groups, which are of different qualities and quantities. Therefore, two linear programming models complementing each other are developed in order to determine the blending conditions that satisfy the needs of the plant. The models are introduced and solved m the LINDO package program. Reasonable solutions are obtained and optimal amounts of blending are handled. The model also allows the evaluation of coal panels of low quality.
1 INTRODUCTION ' Linear Programming (LP) is one of the most widely used methods of operation research for decision problems. This method is a reasonable and reliable procedure for determining the optimum distribution of resources, optimal production, minimum cost, maximum profit, etc., which comprise the objectives (Öztürk, 1997). In this method, decision parameters to make the objective optimal are linear or assumed to be linear (Taha, 1992, Hillier and Liebermann,
Optimum Blending of Coal by Linear Programming for the Power Plant at Seyitömer Coal Mine
K.Erarslan, H.Aykul, H.Akçakoca & N.Çetin
Dumlupınar University, Department of Mining Engineering, 43100, Kütahya, Turkey
ABSTRACT: In this study, a linear programming model is developed to determine the optimum coal blend in terms of quality and quantity. Coal with various features is mined from different panels of Seyitömer Lignite Coal District and fed to a nearby power plant. The quality of the coal is extremely variable through the horizontal and vertical directions, which entails the precise planning of coal blending during the mining and stockpiling stages. Otherwise, a large penalty has to be paid to the power plant. In this study, the objective is to match the calorific values required by the power plant. The quality features and production capacities of coal from different panels are determined and are used in quality constraints. The power plant requires coal in two groups, which are of different qualities and quantities. Therefore, two linear programming models complementing each other are developed in order to determine the blending conditions that satisfy the needs of the plant. The models are introduced and solved m the LINDO package program. Reasonable solutions are obtained and optimal amounts of blending are handled. The model also allows the evaluation of coal panels of low quality.
1 INTRODUCTION ' Linear Programming (LP) is one of the most widely used methods of operation research for decision problems. This method is a reasonable and reliable procedure for determining the optimum distribution of resources, optimal production, minimum cost, maximum profit, etc., which comprise the objectives (Öztürk, 1997). In this method, decision parameters to make the objective optimal are linear or assumed to be linear (Taha, 1992, Hillier and Liebermann,