Intermediate storage in batch processing systems under stochastic equipment failures

The role of intermediate storage in buffering a process train from the effects of stochastically varied equipment failures is studied. Two models of upstream failures are investigated Analytical formulae are derived for the distributions of minimal and maximal values of the intermediate storage hold up, by means of which the favorable storage volume can be determined. Also, an algorithm and computer program is presented for designing the favorable volume of an intermediate storage. The program can also be used for studying the general behavior of such systems with the aid of simulation. An example is presented for illustrating the applicability of the analytical formulae and the computer program in sizing the intermediate storage in batch processing systems. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.