Optimization of the truck discharge zone of an oil terminal using discrete-event simulation

This paper presents an optimization study of the truck discharge zone at an oil terminal using discrete-event simulation. The latest scientific literature on the subject is analyzed. The literature review shows that most studies focus on the application of simulation modeling to optimize operations at container terminals, while other types of terminals — such as bulk and liquid cargo terminals — have received considerably less attention. However, optimization of transport and handling processes at these terminals is equally important for their efficient operation. The study proposes a model developed in Python using the SimPy library to determine the optimal number of discharge racks required for efficient processing of tank trucks. The main optimization criteria are minimizing the truck queue length and waiting time. The model accounts for parameters such as truck unloading time, intervals between arrivals, and discharge performance at the racks. Five simulation runs were conducted with varying numbers of racks using a dataset with specified initial conditions. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed model enables effective analysis of technological and layout solutions for the truck discharge zone. The model can be used to justify the required number of technological elements of the terminal. Based on the simulation outcomes, it is possible to draw conclusions about the adequacy or insufficiency of the number of racks for a given cargo flow and to assess the need for additional handling capacity. The proposed model is simple, transparent, and effective for use in the design of oil terminals.

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