New Coordinated Control Design for Thermal-Power-Generation Units

A nonlinear model combining boiler-turbine-generator dynamic characteristics for a thermal-power-generation unit is first introduced. Based on the nonlinear model, a new coordinated control design is proposed using the backstepping method incorporating the coordinated passivation approach that considers the entire boiler-turbine-generator system as a whole. The control design consists of three subcontrollers, namely, a main steam valve controller, an excitation controller, and a fuel flow controller. It is shown that the proposed coordinated control design can ensure asymptotical stability of the closed-loop system and improve the electric power regulation performance. Simulation results based on a practical thermal-power-plant model are presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed control design.