Hybrid Power Plant Controller for Emissions and Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hybrid power plants face inefficiencies in monitoring and operation due to the complexity of combining internal combustion engines and gas turbines, leading to emissions issues like nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and ammonia, which existing control systems fail to optimize effectively.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid power plant controller using closed-loop optimal control and a dynamic scheduler to generate operational setpoints based on various operating parameters, including gas turbine acoustics, emissions, and catalyst system conditions, optimizing the performance of gas turbine, piston, and catalyst systems to reduce emissions and improve efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional control systems are used for hybrid power plants, then device complexity is reduced, but performance optimization and emissions control are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into multiple independent controllers: a hybrid power plant controller for overall optimization, a gas turbine controller for turbine-specific parameters, a piston engine controller for engine-specific parameters, and a catalyst system controller for emissions treatment. Each controller manages specific subsystems while the hybrid power plant controller coordinates them collectively to achieve optimal performance and emissions control.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically adjusts operational setpoints based on real-time operating conditions. The hybrid power plant controller continuously receives signals from sensors monitoring various parameters and dynamically generates optimized setpoints for power output, emissions control, and component operation, allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions and maximize efficiency.
2Power
If multiple engine types are combined in hybrid power plant, then power output capability is improved, but monitoring and operation efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The hybrid power plant controller serves multiple functions simultaneously: it coordinates the gas turbine and piston engine operations, manages the catalyst system, optimizes power output distribution, controls emissions treatment, and generates operational setpoints for all subsystems. This multi-functional controller simplifies monitoring and operation despite the complexity of combining different engine types.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system implements comprehensive feedback loops where sensors continuously monitor operating parameters of the gas turbine, piston engine, and catalyst system. The hybrid power plant controller receives these feedback signals and adjusts operational setpoints in real-time to optimize performance and maintain efficient operation across all components.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system includes a hybrid power plant controller programmed to receive a plurality of signals representative of one or more operating parameters of a hybrid power plant. The hybrid power plant includes at least one gas turbine engine, at least one gas engine, and at least one catalyst system. The hybrid power plant controller is programmed to utilize closed-loop optimal control to generate one or more operational setpoints based on the one or more operating parameters for the hybrid power plant to optimize performance of the hybrid power plant. The hybrid power plant controller uses closed-loop optimal control to provide the one or more operational setpoints to respective controllers of the at least one gas turbine engine, the at least one gas engine, and the at least one catalyst system to control operation of the gas turbine engine, the gas engine, and the catalyst system.