Nonlinear Model Predictive Control of Combined Cycle Power Plants
Authors: | Aurora Claudio, CESI spa, Italy Diehl Moritz, University of Heidelberg, Germany Kuehl Peter, University of Heidelberg, Germany Magni Lalo, University of Pavia, Italy Scattolini Riccardo, Politecnico di Milano, Italy |
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Topic: | 6.3 Power Plants and Power Systems |
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Session: | Thermal Power Plant Control |
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Keywords: | Nonlinear Model Predictive Control, Thermal Power Plants, Combined Cycle Power Plants |
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Abstract
The recent widespread diffusion of Combined Cycle Power Plants (CCPPs) is due to crucial technological advantages with respect to oil or coal fired plants. Among them, CCPPs guarantee higher efficiency and lower emissions. However, in the context of a deregulated energy market, better performances of the CCPPs control schemes are required during load transitions to allow for their use in grid frequency regulation.In this paper, an innovative Nonlinear Model Predictive (NMPC) control strategy is applied for the regulation of a detailed nonlinear model of CCPPs, specifically designed for control purposes and validated on real plant data. In particular, the steam temperatures of the Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG) are controlled with NMPC and the plant efficiency is improved at partial load. The obtained results are compared to those achieved with a standard control scheme where the PID regulators have been accurately tuned to optimize the control performance.