Analysis Method of Terminal Throughput Capacity for Coal Export Terminals

Abstract

Considering the limitations of previous calculation methods for the throughput capacity of coal export terminals, this paper proposes a new analysis method for terminal throughput capacity on the basis of a computer simulation model. The simulation analysis model was built considering many certain factors, such as terminal layout, a loading and unloading process scheme, equipment efficiency, and several uncertain parameters, such as the frequency of ships to the terminal, frequency of trains going to the terminal, and shiploads. The simulation model has two characteristics. First, to describe the status of it more accurately in the model, a coal stockyard was divided into small grids. Second, two logical structures for the model are proposed in this paper: the train arrival plan that was informed by the ship arrival plan, and the ship arrival plan and the train arrival plan, which are independent of each other. Applying the simulation model to a coal terminal shows that the error between the calculation results and the actual throughput is very small, thus verifying the accuracy of the analysis method. The model can be used not only to calculate the throughput capacity of a coal export terminal but also to analyze capacity changes for varying storage times, shiploads, and frequencies of ships going to the terminal.