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A large class of process operations, including manufacturing systems, batch processing, valving operations, startup and shutdown procedures, can be characterized as discrete-event systems. This paper proposes the use of Petri nets as a modeling tool for the analysis and control of such systems. Modeling rules are developed for several specific situations. It is shown how the graphical model can be translated to a system of linear equations and constraints. An optimal control can then be implemented by solving a mixed-integer linear program to minimize the number or cost of the control actions required to move the system from one state to another. Additional operational constraints can be incorporated in the control calculation.
Yamalidou et al. (1991) studied this question.