Optimized FOPID controller for steam condenser system in power plants using the sinh-cosh optimizer

Area of Science:

• Engineering
• Control Systems
• Thermodynamics

Background:

• Steam condensers are vital components in power plants, essential for optimizing the thermodynamic cycle efficiency.
• Effective pressure regulation within steam condensers is critical for stable power generation.
• Existing control methods may face challenges in achieving optimal performance under dynamic operational conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel control strategy for steam condenser pressure regulation.
• To enhance the efficiency and stability of the power generation cycle through advanced control.
• To compare the performance of a proposed optimization algorithm against established methods.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a fractional-order proportional-integral-derivative (FOPID) controller for pressure regulation.
• Utilization of the sinh-cosh optimizer (SCHO) for tuning the FOPID controller parameters.
• Comparative analysis against Gravitational Search Algorithm, Whale Optimization Algorithm, Manta Ray Foraging Optimization, and Aquila Optimizer.

Main Results:

• The SCHO-tuned FOPID controller demonstrated superior performance in minimizing integral of time-weighted absolute error (ITAE), overshoot, and settling time.
• Achieved minimal ITAE of 14.80, 6.06% overshoot, and 17.66s settling time, indicating enhanced system response.
• Nonlinear analyses confirmed the method's efficacy across various parameters including temperature, flow rate, steam heat, and condenser pressure.

Conclusions:

• The SCHO-based FOPID controller offers a robust and highly effective solution for steam condenser pressure control.
• This advanced control strategy significantly improves system performance, stability, and efficiency in power generation.
• The proposed method provides a reliable and consistent approach for managing complex power plant operations.