Nonlinear continuous-time generalized predictive control of solar power plant

• Published in: International journal for simulation and multidisciplinary design optimization Vol. 6; p. A3
• Main Authors: Khoukhi, Billal, Tadjine, Mohamed, Boucherit, Mohamed Seghir
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Les Ulis EDP Sciences 2015
• Subjects: Nonlinear control; Nonlinear system description; Power plants; Predictive control; Solar energy; Solar power plant; Solar radiation
• ISSN: 1779-627X; 1779-6288; 1779-6288
• DOI: 10.1051/smdo/2015003

This paper presents an application of nonlinear continuous-time generalized predictive control (GPC) to the distributed collector field of a solar power plant. The major characteristic of a solar power plant is that the primary energy source, solar radiation, cannot be manipulated. Solar radiation varies throughout the day, causing changes in plant dynamics and strong perturbations in the process. A brief description of the solar power plant and its simulator is given. After that, basic concepts of predictive control and continuous-time generalized predictive control are introduced. A new control strategy, named nonlinear continuous-time generalized predictive control (NCGPC), is then derived to control the process. The simulation results show that the NCGPC gives a greater flexibility to achieve performance goals and better perturbation rejection than classical control.