Optimisation of solar energy collection with smart adaptive control

Solar power plants collect available thermal energy in a usable form at the desired temperature range. Efficient operation requires a fast start-up and reliable operation in varying cloudy conditions without unnecessary shutdowns and start-ups. Fast and well damped linguistic equation (LE) controllers have been tested in Spain at a collector field, which uses parabolic-trough collectors to supply thermal energy in form of hot oil to an electricity generation system or a multi-effect desalination plant. Control is achieved by means of varying the flow pumped through the pipes in the field during the operation. Solar energy can be collected only when the irradiation is high enough. The nights and the heavy cloud periods need to come up with the storage. The LE controllers extend the operation to varying cloudy conditions in a smart way. Varying energy demand during the daytime can be smoothly handled in the LE control system with predefined model-based adaptation techniques. The system activates special features when needed. The intelligent state indicators react well to the changing operating conditions and can be used in smart working point control to further improve the operation in connection with the other energy sources in SmartGrids. The working point can be chosen in a way which improves the efficiency of the energy collection. A trade-off of the temperature and the flow is needed to achieve a good level for the collected power.