Optimization of coal recovery and production rate as a function of panel dimensions

This chapter presents a modeling approach to optimizing coal recovery and production rate as a function of panel dimensions. The proposed approach accounts for cut sequences and fleet size during production activities. Discrete-event simulation (DES) is used to determine the relationship between panel width and production rate. The relationship is then used to formulate a dual-objective optimization problem that determines optimal panel dimensions for maximizing recovery and production rate. The optimization model is based on a one-dimensional cutting stock problem. The problem is solved using a commercially available integer programming solver that employs the branch-and-cut algorithm, which is illustrated with case studies. Other approaches are available including the branch-and-price method, which may be a more efficient solution algorithm