Patent ID: 7474998

Claim:
A method of simulating a production process on the basis of a continuous fluid model with discrete time evolution, the continuous fluid model having a plurality of stations processing a plurality of fluids, at least a first station initially being assigned a first amount of at least a first fluid and a second amount of at least a second fluid, each of the at least first and second fluids being assigned a priority identifier, the simulation extending over successive simulation cycles, the method comprising: (a) assigning the at least first station resources to the at least first and second fluids at a predetermined time, the assignment being performed on the basis of the priority identifier of the at least first and second fluids; (b) incrementing the predetermined time by a simulation cycle time interval; (c) updating the first and second amounts of the at least first and second fluids on the basis of the assignment of the at least first station resources to the at least first and second fluids, and performing said simulation; and (d) modifying said production process based on results of said simulation and on the updated first and second amounts of said at least first and second fluids.