An established Slovak university is offering a predictive control of heat exchangers

Annotation

A Slovak university has developed new model-based predictive control (MBPC) algorithms intended for robust predictive and adaptive control of various industrial processes. The algorithms are easy to implement, using standard commercially available software or special-purpose software environments. They are looking for partners via license agreement or commercial agreement with technical assistance.

Offer description

Above mentioned Slovak univesity offers education in technical, technological, technical-economical, technical-information and technical-artistic fields of study. In the area of scientific and research activities, the university successfully joints European Union programmes. Presented technology - the predictive control of heat exchangers - was developed as a part of EU project. The main usage of the algorithms is in the design of advanced controllers for industrial processes. It has enabled stable prediction of the process output using a properly chosen model of the controlled process, and minimisation of given cost function with or without constraints. On-line determination of process parameters is a further key element of the MBPC algorithms (a model-based predictive control algorithm). The family of algorithms contains: conventional generalised predictive control (GPC) algorithm, stabilising constrained receding horizon predictive control (CRHPC) algorithm and continuous-time spline-based predictive control (SBPC) algorithm. The algorithms have been extensively tested in laboratory conditions and currently are implemented in a standard industrial heat exchange station for control of outlet water temperature of heat exchangers. Benefits can be expected in increasing the quality of control and in cost-effectiveness of the industrial technologies. The controllers can adapt to changes in process dynamics and disturbances. This technology is easily applicable in a design of advanced controllers for industrial processes. The university is looking for partners to cooperate with via license agreement or via commercial agreement with trechnical assistance. These types of cooperation were selected because they fit todays needs of the university regarding this technology in a very best way. The main goal of the university is the technology commercialization.

Innovations and advantages

The unique feature of the controllers is their ability to take into account various limitations and constraints occurring in most engineering applications, such as safety limitations (pressure or temperature in some equipment must not be higher than a definite limit), physical restrictions (a valve cannot be opened more than its design allows), or technological requirements (quantities of interest must be kept within specific bounds). The predictive controllers can achieve tighter and more stable control with less standard deviation of the input signals.

Technology keywords

01003008 Data Processing / Data Interchange, Middleware
04001001 Heat storage
04001002 Heat transport and supply, district heating

Market application codes

02007011 Manufacturing/industrial software
06008 Energy Storage
06009 Energy Distribution

Intellectual property rights

Secret Know-how

Profile date

13.02.2018