Real-time Optimal Operation Decisions for Gas Turbines

The Optimizer proposed in this paper addresses the problem of running a gas turbine optimally to maximize the operational profit of a power utility subject to fluctuating energy prices and changing operating conditions. The proposed optimization scheme determines the optimal load profile of a gas turbine that maximizes the operational profit generated from sale of electricity subject to fuel cost, gas turbine parts cost and other fixed costs while satisfying operational and environmental constraints. The natural formulation of this problem is both nonlinear and non-convex, which causes any real-time optimization application impossible. However, real-time optimization is key to the success of model based optimization technology, since real-time model updates either by sensor information or by user input, ensure optimization of the power plant under current plant and market conditions. To ensure real-time optimization feasibility, the non-convex problem is suitably transformed into a convex optimization problem and real time updates of input data profile of electricity price and fuel price forecasts are used Copyright © 2003 IFAC