Discrete rate simulation
In the field of
Areas of application
Industrial areas where discrete rate simulation is used include:
- Bulk material handling (e.g. minerals and ores, powders, particles, mixed wastes, wood chips)
- Liquids and gases
- Pulp and paper processing
- Oil and gas pipelines
- Traffic
- High speed/volume
Compared to discrete-event and continuous simulation
Discrete rate simulation combines the event-based timing of
Discrete rate simulation is similar to discrete event simulation in that both methodologies model the operation of the system as a discrete
Discrete rate simulation is also similar to continuous simulation in that it simulates homogeneous flow. In addition, both methods recalculate flow rates, which are continuous variables, whenever a state change occurs. However, discrete rate simulation S differs from continuous simulation in that it is event-based and does not simulate every time slice. Modeling linear flow systems using continuous simulation has limitations because it usually is unable to detect important events, such as a tank becoming full or empty, until after the event has occurred plus requires many more system recalculations during the course of the simulation.[4]
Example
An exercise in learning how to build discrete-rate simulations is to model a tank filling and emptying over time. The tank fills at a constant rate and empties at two different rates, one rate until it is full and a faster rate until it is empty. There are 4 types of events in the simulation: start simulation, storage full, storage empty, and end simulation. At each event the model determines which emptying rate to use; between events the emptying rate remains constant.
References
- ^ "Discrete Rate Simulation Using Linear Programming" (PDF). Retrieved 2014-03-11.
- ^ "Simulation of Bulk Flow and High Speed Operations" (PDF). Retrieved 2014-03-11.
- ^ "Simulation of Mixed Discrete and Continuous Systems: an Iron Ore Example" (PDF). Retrieved 2014-03-11.
- ^ "ExtendSim Advanced Technology: Discrete Rate Simulation" (PDF). Retrieved 2014-03-11.