A Coal Unloader: A Finite Queueing System with Breakdowns

Kenneth Chelst, Andrea Zundell Tilles and J. S. Pipis
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Kenneth Chelst: Department of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202
Andrea Zundell Tilles: Control Data Corporation, Rockville, Maryland 20850
J. S. Pipis: Detroit Edison, 2000 Second Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48226

Interfaces, 1981, vol. 11, issue 5, 12-25

Abstract: The Detroit Edison Company owns and operates the coal-fired Monroe Power Plant. Coal is generally brought by train to the plant from mines in nearby states and is unloaded by a single unloader system. There were difficulties in meeting the plant's coal needs with the existing rail transport system. Management observed frequent queues of trains at the unloader system which they attributed to breakdowns of the unloader system. A queueing model was developed to explore the impact on the system of unloader breakdowns and the potential benefits associated with adding a second unloader system. The model was also used to study the relationship between the number of trains, coal throughput, and queueing delays.

Keywords: queues: applications; transportation equipment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1981
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