Critical section methods for loop plant allocation

Allocation is the planning of current and future commitments of spare feeder capacity in the loop plant network. The purpose of allocation is to make the most efficient use of existing and future feeder facilities to reduce network operating costs and to defer capacity expansion. In this paper, new heuristic allocation algorithms are described that can be applied to multigauge feeder routes with complex topologies. Algorithms are described for both routes with high growth in customer demand and for routes with substantial customer movement but with little net growth. A combined algorithm that can be applied to routes with general growth characteristics is also described. A detailed application example is also included.