Algorithm for integrated production and utility system scheduling of batch plants

Onsite utility systems feature in many industrial units. Due to technological advances in utility generation technologies, even energy intensive batch plants are attracted towards using onsite utility system. However in batch plants emphasis is placed solely on production process and utility aspects are not incorporated into the general scheduling model. This article presents an extended resource task network (ERTN) representation that can be used to develop a universal scheduling model that would concurrently undertake scheduling of production unit as well as an onsite utility system.