Centralized and hierarchical scheduling frameworks for copper smelting process

Abstract

<p>Optimal scheduling of copper smelting process is an ongoing challenge due to conflicting objectives of the various process units and the inter-dependencies that exist among these units. To design a scheduling framework, two potential alternatives – centralized and hierarchical approaches – can address those inter-dependencies in this process. These approaches represent the two extremes and the choice depends on the accuracy, reliability, and complexity of the scheduling task. In this study, optimization-based centralized and hierarchical scheduling frameworks are developed to find an optimal schedule for the smelting process, considering the inter-dependencies among process units. We propose a practical and effective coordination scheme for the hierarchical framework that finds a near-optimal schedule with reasonable computational demands. Two case studies are presented to demonstrate that the proposed hierarchical framework is capable of finding a near plant-wide optimum for the copper smelting process and it can be used in similar plant-wide scheduling applications.</p>