Feedback control method in V-shaped characteristic system, and NH3 injection rate control method for NOx removal apparatus using the same

• US 6,868,294 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2003
• Issued: 03/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
• Inventors: Suzuki, Kenji, Hattori, Akira, Iida, Kozo, Onishi, Toshiyuki, Takeshita, Kazuko, Kouno, Susumu
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, RAMESH B
• Application Number:
  US10/337,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20030145601A1
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 700/44, 700/45, 700/46, 700/74, 700/282, 423/210, 423/212, 423/235
• US Class Current: 700/46
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/8631 Processes characterised by a specific device
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/90 Injecting reactants

Abstract

In the NH₃ injection rate control method for an NO_x removal apparatus, operating area of the apparatus is divided into first area in which molar ratio of NH₃ injection rate with respect to NO_x flow rate at an inlet of the apparatus is smaller than molar ratio at minimum point where NO_x concentration assumes minimum value and second area in which the molar ratio is equal to or larger than the minimum point molar ratio, and virtual NO_x concentration with respect to the molar ratio is set according to virtual characteristic line which varies monotonically to stride across desired operating point without rising with increase of the molar ratio from the first area to the second area. Moreover, feedback control is implemented for adjusting the NH₃ injection rate with respect to the NO_x flow rate in direction that the virtual NO_x concentration is brought close to the desired NO_x concentration.

Claims

1. An NH₃ injection rate control method for use in an NO_x removal apparatus in which a correlation between a molar ratio of an NH₃ injection rate into said NO_x removal apparatus with respect to an NO_x flow rate at an inlet of said NO_x removal apparatus and an NO_x concentration at an outlet of said NO_x removal apparatus shows a downwardly protrusive V-shaped characteristic curve on a plane where said molar ratio and said NO_x concentration are expressed in the form of X-Y coordinates, said NH₃ injection rate control method for suppressing said NO_x concentration to below a predetermined desired NO_x concentration through the use of said NH₃ injection rate reaching a minimum comprising:

a step of, when an operating area of said NO_x removal apparatus is divided into a first area in which said molar ratio is smaller than a molar ratio at a minimum point where said NO_x concentration assumes a minimum value and a second area in which said molar ratio is equal to or larger than said minimum point molar ratio, setting a virtual NO_x concentration with respect to said molar ratio according to a virtual characteristic line which varies monotonically to stride across a desired operating point without rising with an increase of said molar ratio from said first area to said second area; and

a step of implementing feedback control for adjusting said NH₃ injection rate with respect to said NO_x flow rate on the basis of a deviation between said desired NO_x concentration and said virtual NO_x concentration in a direction that said virtual NO_x concentration is brought close to said desired NO_x concentration.

2. An NH₃ injection rate control method for use in an NO_x removal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in a right-hand area from said desired operation point, said virtual NO_x concentration is set at a value obtained by offsetting by a predetermined quantity from said desired NO_x concentration to a minus side.

3. An NH₃ injection rate control method for use in an NO_x removal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in said first area, said virtual NO_x concentration is set at a greater value of a value obtained by offsetting from said desired NO_x concentration by a predetermined quantity to a minus side and an actual NO_x concentration, and in said second area, said virtual NO_x concentration is set at a smaller value of a value obtained by offsetting from said desired NO_x concentration by said predetermined quantity to a minus side and an inverted value of said actual NO_x concentration with respect to said desired NO_x concentration.

4. An NH₃ injection rate control method for use in an NO_x removal apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said predetermined quantity is increased in accordance with an increase of said molar ratio.

5. An NH₃ injection rate control method for use in an NO_x removal apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said predetermined quantity is increased in accordance with an increase of said molar ratio.

6. An NH₃ injection rate control method for use in an NO_x removal apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said predetermined quantity is made adjustable variably, and in a case in which a leakage NH₃ quantity is small and at least said NO_x concentration is controlled to below said desired NO_x concentration, or in a case in which a variation of said NH₃ injection rate is made smaller, said predetermined quantity is set at zero.

7. An NH₃ injection rate control method for use in an NO_x removal apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said predetermined quantity is made adjustable variably, and in a case in which a leakage NH₃ quantity is small and at least said NO_x concentration is controlled to below said desired NO_x concentration, or in a case in which a variation of said NH₃ injection rate is made smaller, said predetermined quantity is set at zero.

8. An NH₃ injection rate control method for use in an NO_x removal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a gain of said feedback control is changed in accordance with a magnitude of said molar ratio.

9. An NH₃ injection rate control method for use in an NO_x removal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a gain of said feedback control is changed in accordance with a temperature of an exhaust gas flowing into said NO_x removal apparatus.

10. An NH₃ injection rate control method for use in an NO_x removal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said minimum point is changed in accordance with a temperature of an exhaust gas flowing into said NO_x removal apparatus on the basis of a characteristic of said NO_x removal apparatus.

11. An NH₃ injection rate control unit for use in an NO_x removal apparatus in which a correlation between a molar ratio of an NH₃ injection rate into said NO_x removal apparatus with respect to an NO_x flow rate at an inlet of said NO_x removal apparatus and an NO_x concentration at an outlet of said NO_x removal apparatus shows a downwardly protrusive V-shaped characteristic curve on a plane where said molar ratio and said NO_x concentration are expressed in the form of X-Y coordinates, said control unit comprising:

NO_x concentration detecting means for detecting said NO_x concentration at said outlet of said NO_x removal apparatus;

desired NO_x concentration setting means for setting a desired NO_x concentration at said outlet of said NO_x removal apparatus;

NO_x flow rate detecting means for detecting said NO_x flow rate at said inlet of said NO_x removal apparatus;

NH₃ injection rate adjusting means for adjusting said NH₃ injection rate into said NO_x removal apparatus;

virtual NO_x concentration setting means for, when an operating area of said NO_x removal apparatus is divided into a first area in which said molar ratio is smaller than a molar ratio at a minimum point where said NO_x concentration assumes a minimum value and a second area in which said molar ratio is equal to or larger than said minimum point molar ratio, setting a virtual NO_x concentration with respect to said molar ratio according to a virtual characteristic line which varies monotonically to stride across a desired operating point without rising with an increase of said molar ratio from said first area to said second area; and

feedback control means for adjusting, through the use of said NH₃ injection rate adjusting means, said NH₃ injection rate on the basis of said NO_x flow rate, detected by said NO_x flow rate detecting means, in accordance with a deviation between said desired NO_x concentration and said virtual NO_x concentration, set by the virtual NO_x concentration setting means, in a direction that said virtual NO_x concentration is brought close to said desired NO_x concentration.

12. A feedback control method for use in a V-shaped characteristic system in which a correlation between input and output values shows a V-shaped characteristic curve having one minimum point on a plane where said input and output values are expressed in the form of X-Y coordinates, said feedback control method for bringing said output value close to a desired output value, said control method comprising:

a step of, when an operating area of said system is divided into a first area in which a deviation between said input value and an input value at said minimum point has a specific sign and a second area having a sign different from said specific sign, setting a virtual output value with respect to said input value according to a virtual characteristic line which varies monotonically to stride across a desired operating point so that an inclination of said output value to said input value in said first area and an inclination of said output value to said input value in said second area do not have different signs; and

a step of changing said input value on the basis of a deviation between said desired output value and said virtual output value in a direction that said virtual output value is brought close to said desired output value.

13. A control unit for use in a V-shaped characteristic system in which a correlation between input and output values shows a V-shaped characteristic curve having one minimum point on a plane where said input and output values are expressed in the form of X-Y coordinates, said control unit comprising:

detecting means for detecting said output value from said system;

desired out put value setting means for setting a desired output value;

inputting means for inputting said input value to said system;

virtual output value setting means for, when an operating area of said system is divided into a first area in which a deviation between said input value and an input value at said minimum point has a specific sign and a second area having a sign different from said specific sign, setting a virtual output value with respect to said input value according to a virtual characteristic line which varies monotonically to stride across a desired operating point so that an inclination of said output value to said input value in said first area and an inclination of said output value to said input value in said second area do not have different signs; and

feedback control means for changing said input value on the basis of a deviation between said desired output value and said virtual output value in a direction that said virtual output value is brought close to said desired output value.