Scheduling optimization of transfer terminal of product pipeline network based on discrete time

Transfer terminal is an important part of product pipeline network. The published literatures on schedule optimization of oil product pipeline network usually focus on the batch plans of each pipeline, without considering the tank loading and unloading schedule of transfer terminals. In this paper, a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model with discrete time was developed to deal with the loading and unloading schedule of transfer terminals. This model takes the minimization of tank switching times as the objective function on the premise that the oil loading and unloading assignments before and after the transfer terminal shall be fulfilled in the planned period. Various constraints of transfer terminal scheduling are included in this model as much as possible, e.g., the material balance, the operational rules of oil tanks, the topological structure of transfer terminals and the settling of the oil products stored in a tank. Finally, a certain terminal was taken as example to test this model. It is shown that by virtue of this model, the global optimal solution can be obtained in a shorter time. And it provides important guidance for the scheduling of transfer terminal of product pipeline network.