De Keyser, Robain

GALVEZ, M

Ionescu, Clara-Mihaela

Undetermined

Ghent University Academic Bibliography

Model Based Controllers for a Solar Power PlantManuel Ga´lvez-Carrillo∗, R. De Keyser, C. Ionescu∗Department of Control Engineering and System Analysis∗Universite´ Libre de Bruxelles, Av. F. D. Roosevelt 50 - CP165/55,B1050 Brussels, Belgium∗Email: mgalvezc@ulb.ac.beDepartment Electrical energy, Systems and AutomationGhent University, Technologiepark 913, B9052 Gent-Zwijnaarde, BelgiumEmail: rdk@autoctrl.UGent.beThe concern about renewable energies is growing aroundthe world due to their economical and environmental im-pact. Converting these clean sources of energy in other typesthat can account for human and industrial use is now ofglobal interest [1]. Therefore, it is necessary not only to ad-equately design the conversion processes, but also to ensuretheir optimal technical and economical operation by meansof good control strategies. The present work studies the dis-tributed solar collector field ACUREX of the Plataforma So-lar de Almer´ia, located in the southern Spain. The parabolic-through technology of this plant is the only type of solarplant with existing commercial operating systems [2]. Insuch a system, a fluid (oil) is heated while travelling in thefield, using the energy of the solar radiation concentrated byparabolic mirrors.Our control objective is that the fluid outlet temperature fol-lows the reference signal, by varying the inlet oil-flow. No-tice that the main source of energy, the solar irradiation, can-not be manipulated [3] and constitute the main disturbanceof the process. The process is also challenging because ofthe presence of variable time delay. A schematic of the pro-cess can be seen in Figure 1.In this work, nonlinear and linear models have been ob-tained in order to replicate the process and disturbances,with emphasis of the adequate election of the variable timedelay model. A nonlinear model based predictive control(MPC), the Nonlinear EPSAC (Extended Prediction Self-Adaptive Controller) [4], has been implemented with a mod-ified Smith Predictor in order to overcome the fact of thepresence of the variable time delay. This control strategyhas been tested and compared with other two strategies: alinear MPC, the EPSAC; and a modified PI controller (Fil-tered Predictive PI, FPPI), that is designed based on a modelof the plant. Both strategies are also combined with a SmithPredictor algorithm. The results are presented in Figure 2 forthe output (outlet oil temperature). The nonlinear EPSACcontroller behaves better than the other two linear ones, thelinear EPSAC reacts faster the FPPI, but the latter is morerobust when high changes in reference occur.StorageTankloop 10 loop 2 loop 1PumpTout10 Tout2 Tout1ToutTinQinFlow(q)QQFigure 1: Schematic representation of the solar power plant.12.5 13 13.5 14 14.5 15190200210220230240Outlet oil temperature (ºC)Time (hours)  SP−NEPSACSP−EPSACFPPIFigure 2: Comparison of Output Temperature for the designedcontrollers.References[1] A. Woloski, ”Fuel of the Future: A Global Push To-ward New Energy”. Harvard International Review, vol.27,no.4, 40-43, (2006)[2] V. Quaschning, M. Blanco, ”Solar Power - Photo-voltaics or Solar Thermal Power Plants?”, VGB CongressPower Plants, Brussels, (2001)[3] E. F. Camacho, M. Berenguel, F. Rubio, ”AdvancedControl of Solar Power Plants”, Springer-Verlag, (1997)[4] R. De Keyser,”Model Based Predictive Control”, In-vited Chapter in UNESCO Encyclopedia of Life SupportSystems (EoLSS), article 6.43.16.1, Eolss Publishers Co Ltd,30p, ISBN 0 9542 989 18-26-34 (2003)

Model-based controllers for solar power plant

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Model-based controllers for solar power plant

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Ghent University Academic Bibliography