Using Fuzzy Set Theory to Ranking Items Case Study: Bangladeshi Coals

This study develops a computational framework for ranking Bangladeshi coals for industrial use based on fuzzy set theory. The ranking process considers coal quality parameters (known as selection or ranking criteria) such as sulphur content (ultimate analysis), fixed carbon, volatile matter, moisture content, and ash content (proximate analysis) and calorific value. The selection criteria are fuzzified according to expert’s opinion and the ranges prescribed in literature. Fuzzy sets are employed to recognize the importance of the selection criteria. Finally, Yager’s fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making approach with min-max aggregator is employed to get the best-ranked coal. Based on the proposed methodology, a software system is developed to facilitate the decision-making process.