Adaptive predictive expert control of superheated steam temperature in a coal‐fired power plant

Abstract

SUMMARY This paper describes the application of an adaptive predictive expert (ADEX) control solution to the attemperation process for superheated steam temperature control in the ScottishPower coal‐fired power station at Cockenzie near Edinburgh in Scotland. The project comprised two phases, the first of which was a trial to establish the feasibility and potential benefits of ADEX compared with the existing control system by using a software platform on PC connected to the plant Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) via Object linking and embedding for Process Control (OPC), and the second phase was to verify and install a permanent, robust solution using an ADEX controller module with a digital link to the plant PLC. The overall objective of the project was to reduce steam temperature variations caused by load changes and other perturbations in order to protect the steam turbine (Unit 3) and to minimize thermal stresses in the attemperation pipework and boiler and so minimize premature failures along with associated cost risk. In the first phase, ADEX demonstrated a 50% improvement in reducing steam temperature variation overall compared with the existing method, and the subsequent installation of the ADEX controller module provided the necessary robustness and backups for a final industrial solution. The results of both phases are displayed graphically. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

IGPC-QFT Cascade Control and Its Application in Superheated Steam Temperature Control System

“…In [2], the PID parameters are adjusted by the comprehensive satisfaction function determined by the New Luus-Jaakola (NLJ) algorithm to reduce the influence of changed model parameters. In [3], the Adaptive Predictive Expert (ADEX) control method is used to control the steam temperature to maintain the thermal pressure minimum. In [4], an improved generalized predictive control algorithm is proposed.…”

Industrial optimized adaptive control

“…This special issue is intended to demonstrate that the use of optimized adaptive controllers integrated in the appropriate control strategy can solve the industrial process dynamic stabilization problem and approach optimized process control performance in industry. It includes a cover paper and five applications currently optimizing the performance of industrial processes in different domains including combined cycle and coal‐fired power plants (energy), levels in large canals (water), sulphur recovery plants in a refinery (petrochemical), and waste water treatment plant (environmental).…”