On transitioning from PID to ADRC in thermal power plants

• Published in: Control theory and technology Vol. 19; no. 1; pp. 3 - 18
• Main Authors: Wu, Zhenlong, Gao, Zhiqiang, Li, Donghai, Chen, YangQuan, Liu, Yanhong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Guangzhou South China University of Technology and Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science, CAS 01.02.2021; Springer Nature B.V; School of Electrical Engineering,Zhengzhou University,Zhengzhou 450001,Henan,China%Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering,Cleveland State University,Cleveland,OH 44115,USA%State Key Lab of Power Systems,Department of Energy and Power Engineering,Tsinghua University,Beijing 100084,China%Mechatronics,Embedded Systems and Automation(MESA)Lab,Department of Mechanical Engineering,School of Engineering,University of California,Merced,CA 95343,USA
• Subjects: Active control; Coal-fired power plants; Complexity; Computational Intelligence; Control; Control and Systems Theory; Engineering; Gas turbines; Mechatronics; Nuclear power plants; Optimization; Proportional integral derivative; Research Article; Robotics; Systems Theory; Thermal power plants; Active disturbance rejection control (ADRC); Coal-fired power plant; Thermal processes; Proportional–integral–derivative (PID); Field applications; Proportional-integral-derivative(PID); Active disturbance rejection control(ADRC)
• ISSN: 2095-6983; 2198-0942
• DOI: 10.1007/s11768-021-00032-4

This paper focuses on the recent progress in the adoption of active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) in thermal processes as a viable alternative to proportional–integral–derivative (PID), especially in coal-fired power plants. The profound interpretation of this paradigm shift, with backward compatibility, is discussed in detail. A few fundamental issues associated with ADRC’s applications in thermal processes are discussed, such as implementation, tuning, and the structural changes. Examples and case studies are presented, encompassing coal-fired power plants, gas turbines and nuclear power plants, as well as highlighting results of field applications. Also discussed are future research opportunities brought by ADRC’s entry as the baseline control technology in thermal processes.