Output tracking control of a nonlinear boiler-turbine unit

The capability to perform fast load changes has been an important issue in the power market. An output tracking control system for improving the load-following capability of boiler-turbine units has therefore been developed. The system is composed of stable inversion and feedback controller. The stable inversion is implemented as a feedforward controller to improve the load-following capability, and the feedback controller is utilized to guarantee the stability and robustness of the whole system. Loop-shaping H_∞ method is used to design the feedback controller and the final controller is reduced to a multivariable PI form. The output tracking control system takes account of the multivariable, nonlinear and coupling behavior of boiler-turbine system, and the simulation tests show that the control system works well and applies to a wide range of units.