Genetic-Based Active Disturbance Rejection Controller for Super-Heated Steam Temperature Regulation

There are many complex industrial processes with highly nonlinear and uncertain characteristics which are generally difficult to control by well known PID controllers. Active disturbance rejection control (ADRC), a relatively recent nonlinear control method, is an alternative framework which has the advantages on simple algorithm, strong robustness, and less dependence on the mathematical models of the plant. However, owing to the large number of free control parameters for ARDC, the design is not straightforward, i.e., the proper state observer gains are mostly done on a trial and error basis. In this paper, a genetic based new design scheme is proposed, and a digital control solution to super-heated steam temperature regulation of a thermal power plant is presented. For comparison purposes, a PID cascade controller is considered as a base line. The simulation experiments of robustness tests and disturbance rejection tests have proved that the proposed method has outstanding adaptability to the variety of operating regime, can effectively estimate and compensate the plant perturbations of parameters and external disturbances in the regulation system.