Abstract: A method for controlling at least one operational parameter of a plant (1) having a combustion unit (3) can include estimating a status of at least one operational variable of the plant to identify an estimated value for the operational variable. For each operational variable, the estimated value for the operational variable can be compared with a measured value of the operational variable to determine an uncertainty value based on a difference in value between the measured value and the estimated value for the operational variable. A control signal can be generated based on a reference signal, the measured value, and the deviation value for sending to at least one element of the plant (1) for controlling a process of the plant (1).

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a control system for NOx reduction in a power plant, the control system comprising a model predictive controller; a proportional integral differential controller and/or an adaptive controller; where the proportional integral differential controller and/or an adaptive controller are subordinated to and in operative communication with the model predictive controller; where the proportional integral differential controller and/or an adaptive controller comprise a feedback loop; a NOx reduction system comprising a NOx reducing agent supply tank and a water supply tank; and a furnace for combusting a fuel; where the furnace lies downstream of the NOx reduction system and where the furnace is provided with a plurality of nozzles that are in fluid communication with the NOx reduction system; where the control system is in electrical communication with the NOx reduction system.

Abstract: A method for controlling at least one operational parameter of a plant (1) having a combustion unit (3) can include estimating a status of at least one operational variable of the plant to identify an estimated value for the operational variable. For each operational variable, the estimated value for the operational variable can be compared with a measured value of the operational variable to determine an uncertainty value based on a difference in value between the measured value and the estimated value for the operational variable. A control signal can be generated based on a reference signal, the measured value, and the deviation value for sending to at least one element of the plant (1) for controlling a process of the plant (1).

Abstract: A plant (1) and a gas processing unit (GPU) (17) of the plant can be configured to operate in accordance with a method that is configured to permit the GPU (17) to operate such that the optimum operating point for the GPU (17) at steady state to produce liquid carbon dioxide product from a separation unit (117) of the GPU (17) for sending to a storage device (19) is achieved with a desired purity level while simultaneously maintaining a required minimum carbon capture rate with the minimum consumption of power and/or minimum economic cost associated with operations of the GPU (17). A controller (23) can be configured to communicate with elements of the GPU (17) to receive parameter values to calculate manipulated variables configured to bias set points for parameters used to control operations of different elements of the GPU (17).

Abstract: A control system (207) for optimizing a chemical looping process of a power plant includes an optimizer (420), an income algorithm (230) and a cost algorithm (225) and a chemical looping process models. The process models are used to predict the process outputs from process input variables. Some of the process in puts and output variables are related to the income of the plant; and some others are related to the cost of the plant operations. The income algorithm (230) provides an income input to the optimizer (420) based on a plurality of input parameters (215) of the power plant. The cost algorithm (225) provides a cost input to the optimizer (420) based on a plurality of output parameters (220) of the power plant. The optimizer (420) determines an optimized operating parameter solution based on at least one of the income input and the cost input, and supplies the optimized operating parameter solution to the power plant.

Abstract: A system for optimizing and controlling a circulating fluidized bed combustion (FBC) system (7) and an air pollution control (APC) system (9) includes a controller (205, 305, 406) and an optimizer (210, 310). The controller (205, 305, 406) is connected to the FBC system (7) and/or the APC system (9). The optimizer (210, 310) is connected to the controller (205, 305, 406). The optimizer (210, 310) provides an optimized setpoint (220, 320, 420) to the controller (205, 305, 406) based on an economic parameter (235, 335, 435) and system outputs (230, 330) from the FBC system (7) and the APC system (9). The controller (205, 305, 406) provides an optimized input (215, 315) to the FBC system (7) and/or the APC system (9) based on the optimized setpoint (220, 320, 420) from the optimizer (210, 310) to optimize operation of the FBC system (7) and/or the APC system (9).

Abstract: A method is provided for managing an amount of energy utilized by a carbon dioxide capture system. The method includes providing a fuel and a feed stream to a combustion system. The feed stream includes oxygen and a portion of a flue gas stream generated upon combustion of the fuel. The method also includes subjecting the flue gas stream to a carbon dioxide capture system to remove carbon dioxide therefrom, measuring a concentration of oxygen present in the feed stream, and selectively adjusting an amount of the flue gas stream included in the feed stream based on the measured concentration of oxygen in the feed stream. The selective adjustment is performed such that the feed stream maintains an oxygen concentration in a range of between about 10% to 90% by volume and the carbon dioxide capture system operates at an energy load between 1.4 GJ/ton of carbon dioxide and 3.0 GJ/ton of carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A control system, and method for using the same, for controlling a boiler having a furnace is provided. The system includes at least one camera positioned in visual communication with a combustion chamber in a furnace. The camera is in communication with a controller and is operable to transmit signals indicative of a parameter of a flame within the furnace. Based at least in part on the received signals, the controller generates control adjustments for one or more of the boiler components. The control adjustments are communicated to the boiler components, which in turn are adjusted to optimize the performance of the boiler and reduce pollution.

Abstract: A system for optimizing and controlling a circulating fluidized bed combustion (FBC) system (7) and an air pollution control (APC) system (9) includes a controller (205, 305, 406) and an optimizer (210, 310). The controller (205, 305, 406) is connected to the FBC system (7) and/or the APC system (9). The optimizer (210, 310) is connected to the controller (205, 305, 406). The optimizer (210, 310) provides an optimized setpoint (220, 320, 420) to the controller (205, 305, 406) based on an economic parameter (235, 335, 435) and system outputs (230, 330) from the FBC system (7) and the APC system (9). The controller (205, 305, 406) provides an optimized input (215, 315) to the FBC system (7) and/or the APC system (9) based on the optimized setpoint (220, 320, 420) from the optimizer (210, 310) to optimize operation of the FBC system (7) and/or the APC system (9).

Abstract: A device for optimizing a modeled fluidized bed combustion power plant (10) includes a model (112) of a fluidized bed combustion system and an optimizer (114). The model (112) of the fluidized bed combustion system provides at least one simulated output parameter of the fluidized bed combustion power plant (10) in response to a user selected parameter of the fluidized bed combustion power plant (10). The optimizer (114) provides at least one optimized simulated output parameter of the fluidized bed combustion power plant (10) in response to at least one user selected optimization setting (126) and the at least one simulated output parameter.

Abstract: A control system (207) for optimizing a chemical looping process of a power plant includes an optimizer (420), an income algorithm (230) and a cost algorithm (225) and a chemical looping process models. The process models are used to predict the process outputs from process input variables. Some of the process in puts and output variables are related to the income of the plant; and some others are related to the cost of the plant operations. The income algorithm (230) provides an income input to the optimizer (420) based on a plurality of input parameters (215) of the power plant. The cost algorithm (225) provides a cost input to the optimizer (420) based on a plurality of output parameters (220) of the power plant. The optimizer (420) determines an optimized operating parameter solution based on at least one of the income input and the cost input, and supplies the optimized operating parameter solution to the power plant.

Abstract: The video image of the end effector (26) and work surface (32) in the vicinity of the end effector is converted into a series of continually generated digitized images (132), which are further processed to detect and track the relative motion between the end effector and the work surface. After calibration (126), whereby an index of coordinates and arm orientation is established for a known positioning of the end effector relative to a known reference feature (28a) on the work surface, the tracking (168) of the motion of the end effector is utilized to continually update the index (104) to indicate the actual coordinate and orientation of the end effector relative to the work surface. The updated index is displayed on a live video monitor (44), and can be used as input to the feedback circuit (94) of the manipulator control system.