Microcomputer based simulation of coal preparation plants: a planning and performance analysis tool for operating personnel in the coal industry

Thesis/Dissertation · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6398989

Chaves, M M

The performance of a coal preparation plant can be simulated using an existing process simulation program and a large mainframe computer. Large computers, however, are not common in a preparation plant environment. The objective of this study was to transfer the simulation technology from a large scale mainframe computer environment to a small scale microcomputer environment. This was accomplished by logically decomposing and physically restructuring the existing program; adding interactive data entry/revision modules; providing a series of modules to control the execution of the individual programs; and adding the facility to review summary output on-line. The completed project was assessed by representatives from industry, government, and academia. The assessors state that the microcomputer based simulator is a valuable planning and analysis tool for design and operations engineers in the coal industry. The simulator created during this project utilized the microcomputer technolgy which was available in 1981-1982. Since that time, technological advances in the field of microcomputers have appeared in the marketplace. These advances involve extended memory capacities, higher density storage disks and faster execution times.

• OSTI ID: 6398989
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
013000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
COAL INDUSTRY
COAL PREPARATION PLANTS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
COMPUTERS
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INDUSTRY
MICROELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
MICROPROCESSORS
PERFORMANCE
PLANNING
SIMULATION