Optimal self-maintained energy management system and use

• US 8,682,635 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2010
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Sayyar-Rodsari, Bijan
• Primary Examiner(s): Rivas, Omar Fernandez
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAY, HERNG DER
• Application Number:
  US12/790,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20110295585A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• Field of Search: 703/18, 700/291
• US Class Current: 703/18
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/54 according to a pre-established time schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/144 Demand-response operation of the power transmission or distribution network
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving

Abstract

The present invention provides novel techniques for controlling energy systems. In particular, parametric hybrid models may be used to parameterize inputs and outputs of groups of equipment of energy systems. Each parametric hybrid model may include an empirical model, a parameter model, and a dynamic model. Critical parameters for groups of equipment modeled by the parametric hybrid models, which are correlated with, but not the same as, input and output variables of the groups of equipment may be monitored during operation of the energy system. The critical parameters may be used to generate optimal trajectories for the energy system, which may be used to control the energy system.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an energy system, comprising:

providing an integrated parametric hybrid model of an energy system for optimizing the energy system and determining desired trajectories over a temporal control horizon as control objectives, wherein the integrated parametric hybrid model comprises one or more parametric hybrid models of unit operation, one or more parametric hybrid models of constraints, and one or more parametric hybrid models of objective functions, each of the parametric hybrid models comprising one or more empirical models for generating values for one or more empirical model outputs, one or more parameter models for generating values for one or more fundamental model parameters of the energy system, and one or more parametric first principles models for generating values for one or more energy system outputs, wherein the fundamental model parameters correlate with, but are not the same as, inputs and outputs of the respective parametric hybrid model;

receiving operating information for the energy system;

receiving constraint information for the energy system;

receiving prediction information for the energy system;

executing the models of the parametric hybrid models of the integrated parametric hybrid model to generate the fundamental model parameters, and thereby automatically modifying the integrated parametric hybrid model and an optimization problem formulation for the energy system by online updating of the generated fundamental model parameters for each parametric hybrid model in accordance with the desired trajectories, the operating information, the constraint information, and the prediction information;

determining target values and optimal trajectories for a plurality of manipulated variables for the energy system using the modified integrated parametric hybrid model and the modified optimization problem formulation; and

controlling the energy system in accordance with the target values and the optimal trajectories.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising for each of the parametric hybrid models:

generating values for the one or more empirical model outputs using the one or more empirical models based at least in part on the operating information;

generating values for the one or more fundamental model parameters using the one or more parameter models based at least in part on the operating information and the one or more empirical model outputs; and

generating values for a first set of energy state variables and the one or more energy system outputs using the one or more parametric first principles models based at least in part on the operating information, the one or more fundamental model parameters, and a second set of energy state variables.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each parametric hybrid model of unit operation models a different group of equipment of the energy system.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein each parametric hybrid model of unit operation is configured to determine optimal trajectories for fundamental model parameters of the respective parametric hybrid model, wherein the fundamental model parameters are different than input and output variables of the respective group of equipment.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the groups of equipment relate to boiler processes, electrical generation processes, absorption chiller processes, or evaporative chiller processes.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the groups of equipment collectively share common input and output variables based on fuel loop usage, electricity loop usage, condenser loop usage, evaporator loop usage, and steam loop usage, wherein the fundamental model parameters are different than the shared common input and output variables.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising iteratively updating the fundamental model parameters of the parametric hybrid models during operation of the energy system.

8. A non-transitory computer-accessible memory medium that stores program instructions for controlling an energy system, wherein the memory medium stores:

an integrated parametric hybrid model of an energy system, wherein the integrated parametric hybrid model comprises one or more parametric hybrid models of unit operation, one or more parametric hybrid models of constraints, and one or more parametric hybrid models of objective functions, each of the parametric hybrid models comprising one or more empirical models for generating values for one or more empirical model outputs, one or more parameter models for generating values for one or more fundamental model parameters of the energy system, and one or more parametric first principles models for generating values for one or more energy system outputs, wherein the fundamental model parameters correlate with, but are not the same as, inputs and outputs of the respective parametric hybrid model, the integrated parametric hybrid model comprising program instructions executable to;

receive operating information for the energy system;

receive constraint information for the energy system; and

receive prediction information for the energy system;

determine desired trajectories over a temporal control horizon as control objectives; and

program instructions executable to;

execute the models of the parametric hybrid models of the integrated parametric hybrid model to generate the fundamental model parameters, and thereby automatically modify the integrated parametric hybrid model and an optimization problem formulation for the energy system by online updating of the generated fundamental model parameters for each parametric hybrid model in accordance with the desired trajectories, the operating information, the constraint information, and the prediction information;

determine target values and optimal trajectories for a plurality of manipulated variables for the energy system using the modified integrated parametric hybrid model and the modified optimization problem formulation; and

control the energy system in accordance with the target values and the optimal trajectories.

9. The memory medium of claim 8, wherein the integrated parametric hybrid model comprises program instructions executable to, for each of the parametric hybrid models:

generate values for the one or more empirical model outputs using the one or more empirical models based at least in part on the operating information;

generate values for the one or more fundamental model parameters using the one or more parameter models based at least in part on the operating information and the one or more empirical model outputs; and

generate values for a first set of energy state variables and the one or more energy system outputs using the one or more parametric first principles models based at least in part on the operating information, the one or more fundamental model parameters, and a second set of energy state variables.

10. The memory medium of claim 8, wherein each parametric hybrid model of unit operation models a different group of equipment of the energy system.

11. The memory medium of claim 10, wherein each parametric hybrid model of unit operation is configured to determine optimal trajectories for fundamental model parameters of the respective parametric hybrid model, wherein the fundamental model parameters are different than input and output variables of the respective group of equipment.

12. The memory medium of claim 11, wherein the groups of equipment relate to boiler processes, electrical generation processes, absorption chiller processes, or evaporative chiller processes.

13. The memory medium of claim 12, wherein the groups of equipment collectively share common input and output variables based on fuel loop usage, electricity loop usage, condenser loop usage, evaporator loop usage, and steam loop usage, wherein the fundamental model parameters are different than the shared common input and output variables.

14. The memory medium of claim 8, wherein the memory stores program instructions executable to iteratively updating the fundamental model parameters of the parametric hybrid models during operation of the energy system.

15. A system for controlling an energy system, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-accessible memory medium that stores;

an integrated parametric hybrid model of an energy system, wherein the integrated parametric hybrid model comprises one or more parametric hybrid models of unit operation, one or more parametric hybrid models of constraints, and one or more parametric hybrid models of objective functions, each of the parametric hybrid models comprising one or more empirical models for generating values for one or more empirical model outputs, one or more parameter models for generating values for one or more fundamental model parameters of the energy system, and one or more parametric first principles models for generating values for one or more energy system outputs, wherein the fundamental model parameters correlate with, but are not the same as, inputs and outputs of the respective parametric hybrid model, wherein the integrated parametric hybrid model is operable to;

receive operating information for the energy system;

receive constraint information for the energy system; and

receive prediction information for the energy system;

determine desired trajectories over a temporal control horizon as control objectives; and

a control system operable to;

execute the models of the parametric hybrid models of the integrated parametric hybrid model to generate the fundamental model parameters, and thereby automatically modify the integrated parametric hybrid model and an optimization problem formulation for the energy system by online updating of the generated fundamental model parameters for each parametric hybrid model in accordance with the desired trajectories, the operating information, the constraint information, and the prediction information;

determine target values and optimal trajectories for a plurality of manipulated variables for the energy system using the modified integrated parametric hybrid model and the modified optimization problem formulation; and

control the energy system in accordance with the target values and the optimal trajectories.

16. The system of claim of claim 15, wherein the integrated parametric hybrid model is operable to, for each of the parametric hybrid models:

generate values for the one or more empirical model outputs using the one or more empirical models based at least in part on the operating information;

generate values for the one or more fundamental model parameters using the one or more parameter models based at least in part on the operating information and the one or more empirical model outputs; and

generate values for a first set of energy state variables and the one or more energy system outputs using the one or more parametric first principles models based at least in part on the operating information, the one or more fundamental model parameters, and a second set of energy state variables.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein each parametric hybrid model of unit operation models a different group of equipment of the energy system.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein each parametric hybrid model of unit operation is configured to determine optimal trajectories for fundamental model parameters of the respective parametric hybrid model, wherein the fundamental model parameters are different than input and output variables of the respective group of equipment.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the groups of equipment relate to boiler processes, electrical generation processes, absorption chiller processes, or evaporative chiller processes.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the groups of equipment collectively share common input and output variables based on fuel loop usage, electricity loop usage, condenser loop usage, evaporator loop usage, and steam loop usage, wherein the fundamental model parameters are different than the shared common input and output variables.