Energy-based control of a distributed solar collector field

Abstract

Model-based control of the outlet temperature of a distributed solar collector field is studied. An energy-based controller is derived using internal energy as a controlled variable. The controller relies on a distributed parameter nonlinear plant model and includes feedforward from the solar irradiation and inlet temperature. Convergence of the closed loop is proved, and the method is experimentally verified to perform well on a pilot-scale solar power plant. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.