A linear programming approach for designing a herbaceous biomass delivery system

There are a variety of systems-related issues associated with the production and distribution of herbaceous biomass from supply points to a centrally located plant. This modeling effort is directed toward the design of such a biomass delivery system that incorporates storage, scheduling and transportation issues. A statement of the problem along with its salient characteristics is presented and a linear programming model is constructed to represent it. The nondeterministic aspects of the system related to uncertainty in production levels due to weather is addressed by reformulating the linear program as a two-stage problem with recourse. This enables the incorporation of alternative scenarios to enhance the decision-making process. A specific case study of a plant located in a county in the Piedmont of Virginia, is considered. The model is solved using the data set for this study, and appropriate sensitivity analyses are conducted to illustrate the range of decision-making options that are available to facilitate an effective systems planning exercise aimed at minimizing cost subject to operational constraints. Specific areas for further research are also identified.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Industrial and Systems Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Industrial and Systems Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

1995

Author dc:creator

• Dias, Neil Pravin

Chairs dc:contributor.committeechair

• Sherali, Hanif D.
• Cundiff, John S.

Committee member dc:contributor.committeemember

• Reasor, Roderick J.

• systems planning

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

etd-01242009-063100

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/40730