Alstom Benchmark Challenge II on Gasifier Control

Abstract

Gasification offers a clean and efficient method for producing gas from carbon-based feedstock such as high-sulphur fuel oil, refinery tars, petroleum coke, coal and biomass. The product gas can then be burnt cleanly and efficiently in a combined cycle gas turbine to produce electricity. The authors introduce the second ALSTOM Benchmark Challenge on Gasifier Control, in which a validated non-linear model of a coal gasifier was put forward as the subject of a control challenge to the research community. The challenge problem includes the operating constraints, disturbance characteristics, control specifications and closed-loop performance tests. A baseline Proportional+Integral controller is provided as part of the challenge for the purpose of comparison. The design methods used and performance results obtained for the baseline controller are described.