Model-Based Control of Load-Following Nuclear and Conventional Power Plants for Reduced Ecological Footprint via Lifetime Extension

Abstract

Life cycle assessment of utility power plants confirms that a significant and nearly unchangeable portion of their ecological footprint is generated at the beginning and end of their lives. This is especially valid for nuclear and renewable power plants with practically zero CO2 emission during operation, and also for other, traditional power plants. This is why extending the lifetime of such power plants directly and markedly contributes to climate change mitigation. Let us consider that material ageing seems to be a major cause of limited lifetime in dominant power plants. Let us also note that it is mostly affected by mechanical and thermal stresses, which are strongly influenced by the control system, the effect of which is sharpened by the load-following operation. Although the control theory offers excellent tools for handling such complex systems too, their practical applications in power plants are still on a very low level because of insufficient engineering background on plant operation, process engineering, and material ageing. The current work, summarized in this chapter, integrates all the above disciplines, starting out from the practical plant requirements and properties, extended towards an application-oriented review of matured advanced control methods. Further, a very advantageous, generally applicable structure will be outlined, which includes online (fast acting, local) and offline (more detailed, remote) modeling and control elements. Additionally, as the proposed method also improves plant efficiency, it simultaneously contributes to higher financial benefit and lower emission.