Variable Structure and Time-Varying Parameter Control for Hydroelectric Generating Unit

Conventional governor control for hydro-turbines is linear PI or PID with constant parameters. Thus, one set of constant PID parameters is used for different cases. In fact, the hydro-turbine governing system has variable structure and parameters. Therefore, fixed control structure and parameters are not the most suitable for various plant structures and a control with variable structure and parameters is more appropriate. An intelligent self-improving control strategy with both variable structure and parameters is developed. The controller is multistructural and parameter variable. The selection of control structure and the optimization and adjustment of control parameters are directed by a processing unit. This unit bases its action on the information received from another block that tracks the system operating conditions in real-time, and detects and identifies the plant structure and parameters.