MIMO State Estimation for Component-Level Actuator Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern engineering systems, such as gas turbine engines and fluid processing systems, face challenges in precise and efficient control due to increased complexity and variability in operational demands, requiring sophisticated modeling techniques to manage thermodynamic parameters and ensure safe, reliable, and efficient operation.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing a multiple-input multiple-output estimator with a physics-based mathematical model to control actuators, incorporating diagnostics and fault detection modules, which generates a model output vector to minimize error and adjust control elements dynamically, ensuring fast and accurate control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If sophisticated modeling techniques are used to manage thermodynamic parameters, then control precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidmodeling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the complex engineering system into multiple controllable components, each with its own mathematical model. The control system divides the overall control task into sub-tasks for different components (compressor, turbine, heat exchangers, etc.), allowing precise control of each segment while managing overall complexity through modular modeling approaches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts thermodynamic parameters (pressure, temperature, flow rates) based on real-time operating conditions. By continuously monitoring and adjusting these parameters through the mathematical models, the system achieves precise control adaptation without requiring complete redesign of the entire control architecture for each operating scenario.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If real-time control capability is provided across performance levels, then operational reliability is improved, but computational load increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational reliabilityVSAvoidcomputational load
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates and stores mathematical models and control strategies for different operating conditions before real-time operation. By having pre-computed models ready for various performance levels and operating scenarios, the system can quickly select and apply appropriate control actions without performing heavy real-time computations, thus reducing computational load while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback loops that monitor actual system performance against model predictions. This feedback mechanism allows the control system to make incremental adjustments based on measured deviations, rather than requiring complete re-computation of control strategies, thereby reducing computational burden while maintaining operational reliability through adaptive correction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2256564B1Design and control of engineering systems utilizing component-level dynamic mathematical model with multiple-input multiple-output estimator
Publication Date: 2021.09.22 UNITED TECH CORP
  • EP2256564B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2256564B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2256564B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A control system comprises an actuator (14), a control law (13) and a processor. The actuator positions a control surface and the control law controls the actuator. The processor comprises an open loop module (21), a corrector (22), a comparator (23), and an estimator (24), and generates an output vector to direct the control law. The open loop module generates the output vector as a function of a state vector and an input vector. The corrector generates a corrector vector as a function of the output vector. The comparator generates an error vector by comparing the corrector vector to the input vector. The estimator generates the state vector as a function of the error vector, such that the error vector is minimized.