Application of a nonlinear predictive controller to a solar power plant

Abstract

This paper presents the application of a nonlinear controller, using a predictive control strategy, to the distributed collector field of a solar power plant at the Plataforma Solar de Almeria (Spain). The design procedure of the controller, developed at RuhrUniversity] Bochum, uses the mathematical inputoutput model of the plant to find a controller output, using an evident search strategy which minimizes a cost function for a given prediction horizon. It is, in principle] an indirect adaptive controller, since the model it uses could be changing at every sampling instant. However, the nonlinear model of the plant, adopted for the application of the nonlinear controller , was assumed to be one of "time-invariant" nature: developed by INESC, Lisbon.

Predictive Adaptive Feedforward Control of a Time Scaled Solar Plant

“…Other thermal mechanisms, such has e.g. thermal diffusion, have been neglected in the model presented next (Pickhardt and Silva, 1998). The model is nonlinear, yet, it is given by a simple formula with only two parameters that relates the output temperature out T , with the input temperature in T , and the solar radiation R :…”

“…The ACUREX field used in these work is described in the available literature (Camacho et al, 1992;Camacho et al, 1988). In this plant the main sources of disturbances are measured and its dynamic behaviour depends strongly on its geometry (available).…”

Time scaling internal state predictive control of a solar plant

“…the flow). In (Pickhardt and Silva, 1998) a different approach for obtaining the model given by equations (8) and (9) is shown, based on energy balances.…”

“…Although the authors, among other researchers, have participate on the development of several controllers for this plant using adaptive predictive control techniques Silva et al, 1998;Silva et al, 1997;Rato et al, 1997;Pickhardt and Silva, 1998), i.e. without any a priori knowledge about the plant, in this work, the goal was to increase performance by the development of an adaptive predictive controller embedding in its design the relevant physical characteristics of the plant.…”

Neural Output Regulation for a Solar Power Plant

“…One possibility to overcome these difficulties is to use adaptive control schemes, on the basis of local linear models of the plant, which mimic changes during the operation and are used for self-tuning or within predictive control schemes (Camacho et al, 1992;Camacho et al, 1994;Pickhardt and Silva, 1998). The distributed solar collector field is a process where the main disturbances, the solar radiation and the inlet oil temperature, are measurable.…”