Model-based decentralised allocation of product flow paths

The model of product flow paths is a novel reference model for performing product transport operations in a correct and safe manner within processing plants. Thereby, the management of product flow paths is defined as a collection of tasks which enable process control systems to embrace the model of product flow paths and apply it to its operations. This paper presents an approach to the allocation of product flow paths in a plant, which is one of the tasks that a product flow path management system needs to fulfil. This allocation technique is based on a model of the plant and operates in a fully decentralised manner, thus supporting the implementation of decentralised product flow path management systems within current distributed process control systems.