Abstract:
Adaptive model-based control systems and methods are described so that performance and/or operability of a gas turbine in an aircraft engine, power plant, marine propulsion, or industrial application can be optimized under normal, deteriorated, faulted, failed and/or damaged operation. First, a model of each relevant system or component is created, and the model is adapted to the engine. Then, if/when deterioration, a fault, a failure or some kind of damage to an engine component or system is detected, that information is input to the model-based control as changes to the model, constraints, objective function, or other control parameters. With all the information about the engine condition, and state and directives on the control goals in terms of an objective function and constraints, the control then solves an optimization so the optimal control action can be determined and taken. This model and control may be updated in real-time to account for engine-to-engine variation, deterioration, damage, faults and/or failures using optimal corrective control action command(s).
Abstract:
Boil dry conditions are detected in utensils heated on a cooking appliance having at least one energy source disposed under a cooking surface such as a glass-ceramic plate and a controller for controlling the level of power supplied to the energy source. The boil dry detection system includes a temperature sensor for providing a signal representative of the glass-ceramic temperature to the controller. The controller controls the power source in response to the temperature signal so as to prevent the glass-ceramic plate from exceeding a maximum temperature and provides a power signal that is indicative of the level of power being supplied to the energy source. The controller generates an estimate of the first and second derivatives with respect to time of either the temperature signal or the power signal, depending on its operating mode. The controller then produces the cross-correlation of the first and second derivative estimates and provides a boil dry indication when the cross-correlation exceeds a predetermined threshold. In one preferred embodiment, the portion of the controller that generates the derivative estimates is implemented as two Kalman filters.
Abstract:
A method of operating a waste water treatment plant (WWTP) having at least one of an aerobic digester (AD) and a membrane bioreactor (MBR) is described. The method of operating AD is comprised of monitoring and controlling AD in real-time using an online extended Kalman filter (EKF) having a online dynamic model of AD. The EKF uses real-time AD measured data, and online dynamic model of AD to update adapted model parameters and estimate model based inferred variables for AD, which are used for AD control by AD control system having supervisory and low-level control layers. The method of operating MBR is similar to that of AD. The supervisory control ensures the WWTP satisfying the effluent quality requirement while minimize the operation cost. A WWTP having at least one of AD or MBR is disclosed. The method of operating a WWTP can be implemented using a computer.
Abstract:
A plasma-assisted waste gasification system and process for converting waste stream reaction residues into a clean synthesis gas (syngas) is disclosed. The feedstock is fed into a reactor roughly one-third from the bottom through the use of a feed mechanism. The reactor has three zones; a bottom zone where melting occurs, a middle zone where gasification takes place, and a top zone with integrated plasma torches to control the temperature and polish the syngas. The residence times in the three zones are selected to optimize the syngas composition and melted products. The syngas leaves the reactor and is partially quenched with relatively cooler synthesis gas. The partially quenched syngas is further cooled to recover heat for steam generation and/or preheating the waste stream to the reactor. The cold syngas is then processed to remove pollutants. The clean synthesis gas is combusted in power generation equipment to generate electricity, or converted to other fuels by chemical processes.
Abstract:
A method of operating a waste water treatment plant (WWTP) having at least one of an aerobic digester (AD) and a membrane bioreactor (MBR) is described. The method of operating AD is comprised of monitoring and controlling AD in real-time using an online extended Kalman filter (EKF) having a online dynamic model of AD. The EKF uses real-time AD measured data, and online dynamic model of AD to update adapted model parameters and estimate model based inferred variables for AD, which are used for AD control by AD control system having supervisory and low-level control layers. The method of operating MBR is similar to that of AD. The supervisory control ensures the WWTP satisfying the effluent quality requirement while minimize the operation cost. A WWTP having at least one of AD or MBR is disclosed. The method of operating a WWTP can be implemented using a computer.
Abstract:
Control system and method for controlling an integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plant are provided. The system may include a controller coupled to a dynamic model of the plant to process a prediction of plant performance and determine a control strategy for the IGCC plant over a time horizon subject to plant constraints. The control strategy may include control functionality to meet a tracking objective and control functionality to meet an optimization objective. The control strategy may be configured to prioritize the tracking objective over the optimization objective based on a coordinate transformation, such as an orthogonal or quasi-orthogonal projection. A plurality of plant control knobs may be set in accordance with the control strategy to generate a sequence of coordinated multivariable control inputs to meet the tracking objective and the optimization objective subject to the prioritization resulting from the coordinate transformation.
Abstract:
A die package and a method for manufacturing the die package are provided. The die package includes a second die arranged above a first die, the first die comprising an interconnect region on a surface facing the second die, wherein the second die is arranged laterally next to the interconnect region of the first die; a first package-internal free-standing interconnect structure disposed above the interconnect region of the first die; a second package-internal free-standing interconnect structure disposed above an interconnect region of the second die, the interconnect region of the second die being on a surface of the second die facing away from the first die; and package material formed partially around the first package-internal free-standing interconnect structure and the second package-internal free-standing interconnect structure such that a connecting portion of the first package-internal free-standing interconnect structure and a connecting portion of the second package-internal free-standing interconnect structure remains uncovered to be electrically connected to a package-external interconnect structure.
Abstract:
A computer system independently maintains states of multiple condition indicators as logical state data, each indicator for a different respective condition and having at least an active and inactive state. Multiple condition indicators share a single human-perceptible physical indicator having at least (N+1) states, where N is the number of condition indicators, the physical indicator states including a state for all conditions inactive, and a respective separate state for each respective condition active. Preferably, the conditions comprise a fault condition and an identify condition, and the physical indicator is a light which is off if neither condition is active, is constant on if the fault condition is active, and is flashing if the identify condition is active.
Abstract:
A method and system of controlling a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The engine has sensors to detect one or more parameters and actuators adapted to respond to commands. The method includes receiving data from the sensors of the engine for one or more measured or sensed parameters, estimating a state of the engine by estimating one or more unmeasured or unsensed parameters using the data from the sensors and a predictive model of the engine, generating commands for the actuators based on the state using an optimization algorithm; and transmitting the commands to the engine. The system includes a state estimator adapted to estimate a state of the engine by estimating one or more unmeasured or unsensed parameters using data from the sensors of the engine for one or more measured or sensed parameters. The estimator includes a model of the engine. The system also includes a control module adapted to generate commands for the actuators based on the state. The control module includes an optimization algorithm for determining the commands.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the present invention include approaches for selecting a routing path of a data set from its source to its destination on a network and allocating a network cost for delivering the data set. The approaches include collecting traffic information on the network, determining one or more routing paths from the source to the destination, computing network cost(s) associated with the routing path(s), selecting a routing path based on the associated network costs, a flow value associated with the data set, and the collected traffic information, and allocating the network cost to network users in accordance with a cost policy.