Power Plant Control Parameter Optimization Without Panel Modification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power plant control systems struggle to accommodate diverse control panel specifications and operational requirements, necessitating modifications to control panels or equipment, which is not feasible for all plants.

Innovation Solution

A control parameter optimizing system that sets objective functions such as start-up time, load change rate, equipment lifetime consumption, and fuel cost, using sensitivity analysis to select and adjust control parameters without modifying existing control panels or equipment, allowing for optimized operation across various plant types and specifications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If control panel specifications and operational requirements are standardized for optimization, then optimization effectiveness is improved, but adaptability to different plants deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptimization effectivenessVSAvoidadaptability to different plants
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes parameters by allowing dynamic configuration of objective functions and control parameters specific to each plant's control panel specifications and operational requirements, rather than using fixed standardized parameters. This enables the optimization system to adapt to different plant types while maintaining optimization effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements dynamics by making the optimization framework flexible and configurable, where objective functions, control parameters, and constraints can be dynamically adjusted according to each plant's specific control panel specifications and operational requirements, transforming a static standardized system into an adaptive dynamic one.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If control panel or equipment is modified to accommodate diverse requirements, then operational requirements are met, but system complexity and modification costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation of operational requirementsVSAvoidmodification complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a virtual model or copy of the plant's control parameters and operational characteristics, allowing optimization to be performed on this digital representation without physically modifying the actual control panel or equipment. This copying approach maintains adaptability while avoiding modification complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The optimization system acts as an intermediary layer between the existing control panel and the optimization objectives, translating diverse operational requirements into optimized control parameter settings without requiring direct modifications to the control panel or equipment architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If sensitivity analysis is performed to select control parameters, then operational efficiency is improved, but computational time and analysis complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidcomputational time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary sensitivity analysis to identify and select the most influential control parameters before executing the full optimization process. This preliminary action reduces the dimensionality of the optimization problem, improving operational efficiency while minimizing the computational time required for the main optimization execution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3851920B1Control parameter optimizing system and operation control optimizing apparatus equipped therewith
Publication Date: 2023.06.14 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND LTD
  • EP3851920B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3851920B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3851920B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A control parameter optimizing system 100 and an operation optimizing apparatus equipped therewith are provided, the system being applicable to an existing plant without modifying the control panel or equipment of the plant, the system further being capable of optimizing the operation control of the plant in accordance with diverse operational requirements. The system includes an objective function setting section 1, a plant model 3, and a control parameter optimizing section 2. The control parameter optimizing section 2 includes an optimization control parameter selecting section 7 and an optimization control parameter adjusting section 8. The optimization control parameter selecting section 7 selects as an optimization control parameter the control parameter for optimizing an objective function based on control logic information extracted from a power plant 300. The optimization control parameter adjusting section 8 adjusts the value of the optimization control parameter using the plant model 3 in such a manner as to optimize the objective function.