A feedforward-feedback hybrid control strategy towards ordered utilization of concentrating solar energy

In this work, a feedforward-feedback hybrid control strategy was proposed for concentrating solar thermal technology. Inside, the feedforward unit was designed to counteract the measured disturbance (mainly originated from the changeable weather), and the feedback unit employing proportional-integral controller to counteract some unmeasured and non-linear disturbances, e.g. local cloud cover, local defocus and mirror damage. For disturbance-rejecting and setpoint-tracking regulating issues, the hybrid strategy is superior to the single control mode in improving responsiveness, reducing steady-state error, as well as weakening overshoot. A feedforward-relaxed hybrid scheme allows enough tolerance for feedforward implementation and simultaneously helps determine the optimal regulation. For a closed power plant, the regulated operation contributes to additional 0.5%–1% daily efficiency in four typical meteorological days. Above all, the high-performance control strategy in energy-supply side lays the foundation for scheduling and dispatching the available energy and leaves enough room for the global energy management and market balance. It is suggested to incorporate feedforward information to enhance regulation performance, meet multi-grade energy demands, as well as turn the feedback-dominated regulation tide.