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A Coal Unloader: A Finite Queueing System with Breakdowns

Author

Listed:
  • 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)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Kenneth Chelst & Andrea Zundell Tilles & J. S. Pipis, 1981. "A Coal Unloader: A Finite Queueing System with Breakdowns," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 11(5), pages 12-25, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orinte:v:11:y:1981:i:5:p:12-25
    DOI: 10.1287/inte.11.5.12
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    Cited by:

    1. K-H Wang & Y-C Chiang & J-C Ke, 2003. "Cost analysis of the unloader queueing system with a single unloader subject to breakdowns," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 54(5), pages 515-520, May.

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