How to maximize the output of a given power plant: Implementation of an operation assistance system in a solar power tower

Abstract

For the achievement of the highest possible profit, it is essential to optimize the operation strategy of power plants. A helpful tool in this context is an operation assistance system, which gives the plant operator advice on how to set process inputs of the power plant. In this paper the path towards an operation assistance system followed in the SiBopS project is presented. The SiBopS project takes Jülich experimental power plant as an example. The presented operation assistance system is divided into four consecutive stages. The first of these is the prediction mode. It is explained using the example of the prediction of the future state of the packed bed thermal storage of Jülich experimental power plant. Therefore, the model used for the storage is described. Furthermore a Simulink test environment for the prediction mode is presented and the results gained from the test environment are presented and discussed.