A model predictive control (MPC) system for a solar-thermal reactor was developed and applied to the solar-thermal steam-gasification of carbon. The controller aims at rejecting the disturbances in solar irradiance, caused by the presence of clouds. Changes in solar irradiance are anticipated using direct normal irradiance (DNI) forecasts generated using images acquired through a Total Sky Imager (TSI). The DNI predictor provides an estimation of the disturbances for the control algorithm, for a time horizon of 1 min. The proposed predictor utilizes information obtained through the analysis of sky images, in combination with current atmospheric measurements, to produce the DNI forecast. The predictions of the disturbances are used, in combination with a dynamic model of the process, to determine the required control moves at every time step. The performance of the proposed DNI predictor-controller scheme was compared to the performance of an equivalent MPC that does not use DNI forecasts in the calculation of the control signals. In addition, the performance of a controller fed with perfect DNI predictions was also evaluated.
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February 2014
Research-Article
Use of Image-Based Direct Normal Irradiance Forecasts in the Model Predictive Control of a Solar-Thermal Reactor
Elizabeth Saade,
David E. Clough,
Alan W. Weimer
Alan W. Weimer
1
e-mail: alan.weimer@colorado.edu
and Biological Engineering,
University of Colorado,
596 UCB,
Boulder, CO 80309-0596
Department of Chemical
and Biological Engineering,
University of Colorado,
Jennie Smoly Caruthers Biotechnology Building
,596 UCB,
Boulder, CO 80309-0596
1Corresponding author.
Search for other works by this author on:
Elizabeth Saade
e-mail: maria.saadesaade@colorado.edu
David E. Clough
e-mail: david.clough@colorado.edu
Alan W. Weimer
e-mail: alan.weimer@colorado.edu
and Biological Engineering,
University of Colorado,
596 UCB,
Boulder, CO 80309-0596
Department of Chemical
and Biological Engineering,
University of Colorado,
Jennie Smoly Caruthers Biotechnology Building
,596 UCB,
Boulder, CO 80309-0596
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Solar Energy Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF SOLAR ENERGY ENGINEERING. Manuscript received August 2, 2013; final manuscript received October 20, 2013; published online November 19, 2013. Assoc. Editor: Aldo Steinfeld.
J. Sol. Energy Eng. Feb 2014, 136(1): 010905 (9 pages)
Published Online: November 19, 2013
Article history
Received:
August 2, 2013
Revision Received:
October 20, 2013
Citation
Saade, E., Clough, D. E., and Weimer, A. W. (November 19, 2013). "Use of Image-Based Direct Normal Irradiance Forecasts in the Model Predictive Control of a Solar-Thermal Reactor." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. February 2014; 136(1): 010905. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4025825
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