Power unit wide-range load tracking through set-point optimization and feedforward/feedback control

Current overall unit control strategies for fossil fuel power units consist of decentralized multiloop configurations based on conventional fixed-gain PID control algorithms. These strategies are challenged during wide-range load-following operation by the nonlinear plant dynamics. In this paper, an overall unit control scheme is proposed to achieve optimized wide-range operation. Process optimization is provided by a multiobjective set-point generator, and wide-range operation is facilitated by a fuzzy feedforward control path in addition to the already existing feedback control path. Simulation results demonstrate the feasibility of this approach.