Abstract
Economic feasibility of a power plant requires smooth and uninterrupted plant operation in the face of varying electrical power demand. The feed-water system in a power plant is a major contributor to plant unavailability. In this paper, a fuzzy model predictive control (FMPC) approach is introduced to design a level control system in a drum boiler. In this approach, the process is described by a fuzzy convolution model that consists of a number of quasi-linear fuzzy implications (FI). The whole process behavior is characterized by a weighted sum of the outputs from all quasi-linear fuzzy implications. In controller design, prediction errors and control energy are minimized through a two-layered iterative optimization process. At the lower layer, optimal local control policies are identified to minimize prediction errors in each subsystem. A globally optimal control policy is then identified through coordinating the subsystems to reach an overall minimum prediction error at the upper layer. Results from validation of the control system are presented. A Client/Server architecture is proposed for implementation.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.