Title: A fuzzy decision model for the selection of coals for industrial use

Authors: M. Shamsuzzaman; A.M.M. Sharif Ullah; F.T. Dweiri

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, College of Engineering, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, UAE ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kitami Institute of Technology, 165 Koen-cho, Kitami, Hokkaido 090-8507, Japan ' Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, College of Engineering, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, UAE

Abstract: This study describes a fuzzy-logic-based multiple-criteria decision-making approach to rank coals for industrial use. Calorific value and chemical compositions (i.e. sulphur, fixed carbon, volatile matter, moisture and ash contents) of coals are considered criteria. The desired values of each criterion are expressed by an appropriate fuzzy number, whereas all possible values of a criterion of a given coal are captured by a numerical range. A mathematical entity called 'range compliance' is used to formally compute the compliance between a given range (i.e. all possible values of a criterion of a given coal) and desired values of a criterion (i.e. a fuzzy number). The max-min operation is used to aggregate the contributions of all criteria to a single score so that the final decision is made based on crisp numerical values. A computerised decision-making tool called CoalExpert is developed to automate the coal ranking process.

Keywords: coal selection; industrial use; MCDM; multicriteria decision making; fuzzy logic; compliance analysis; coal ranking; calorific value; chemical composition; modelling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJISE.2013.053739

International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering, 2013 Vol.14 No.2, pp.230 - 244

Published online: 27 Dec 2013 *

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