A Continuous-Time Scheduling Model for Liquefied Petroleum Gas Production, Blending and Delivery

Liquefied Petroleum Gases (LPG) constitute a set of leading products in the refining process. LPG primarily consists of a mixture of hydrocarbons with three and four carbons. Commercial grades commonly adhere to a set of specifications. In a configuration where blending and final product qualities are determined at a terminal and intermediate and final qualities can share capacity within a defined time horizon, the scheduler's objective is to optimize the sequence of intermediate qualities transferred through a gas pipeline connecting the refinery to the terminal. Additionally, the scheduler must determine the optimal final quality mixtures delivered to the market while adhering to various constraints. This work aims to develop a model that optimizes the sequencing of products in the pipeline, the allocation of resources at the terminal, and the blending and delivery of final product qualities. It aims to provide an optimal solution to a real-world problem within a reasonable time frame.