Simulation analysis of a flexible integrated chemical production facility

The design of a "green field" chemical production facility is a complex issue. The evaluation of proven and experimental production processes is necessary. Equipment layout and switching station design should address the flexible requirements of production while adhering to budgetary constraints. Production throughput should be quantified with a valid understanding of scheduling sensitivities. The requirement and impact of critical resources such as labor, raw materials, and warehouse transactions must be realized. Finally, the sizing of various holding tanks for environmental treatment requires coordination with production levels.The intricacies of this manufacturing process make traditional throughput calculations and linear programming approaches obsolete. These issues can be better addressed using computer simulation to model the proposed facility. This paper explores how the design of a new chemical production plant was facilitated using simulation analysis.