System Approach to Biomass Harvest Operations: Simulation Modeling and Linear Programming for Logistic Design

The biomass logistics consists of multiple work processes intensively interlinked. The entire network operates in space and time coordinates. In this contest the feasibility is a function particularly of the logistic costs. Estimation of these costs is a complex task because the process involves the operation of a system of machines. The overall goal of this study was to present the combined use of both the simulation and linear programming models to optimize the flow of biomass from field to a power plant. The simulation predicted the overall system performance. The results from the simulation model were then used as input in the linear programming model, which chosen the best combination of equipment for each field distance and yield, in order to minimize the logistic costs, while satisfying some constraint like the number of hours available for harvest and the area to be harvested. The presented case study refers to corn silage harvest. The optimized logistic costs to harvest and delivery 7200 t of corn silo within a 5 km biomass collection radius is 22.2 $.tDM-1 while the cost raises to 34.5 $.tDM -1 when collecting it in a range of 20 km.