Evaluation of bunker size for continuous/discrete flow systems by applying discrete event simulation: A case study in mining

Continuous and discrete event simulations are often applied to study the behavior of systems with continuous and discrete flow, respectively. However, in real-life scenarios, both continuous and discrete flows can be observed within the same system. In such cases, discretization of a continuous flow system can allow modeling the system using discrete event simulation (DES) techniques. This paper presents the development of simulation scenarios to model the main transport system at an underground longwall coal mine in the Eastern US using DES. The goal of the simulation scenarios is to evaluate the impact of different stockpiling strategies and determine the capability of the system to meet long-term performance targets. Strategies to address system bottlenecks to meeting performance targets are evaluated to identify the most effective alternative.