Model Predictive Hybrid PID Control and Energy-Saving Performance Analysis of Supercritical Unit

In response to the escalating challenges of rapid load fluctuations and intricate operating environments, supercritical power units demand enhanced control efficiency and adaptability. To this end, this study introduces a novel model predictive hybrid PID control strategy that integrates PID with model predictive control (MPC), leveraging the operational characteristics of multi-loop systems. The proposed strategy adeptly marries the swift response of PID controllers with the foresight and optimization capabilities of MPC. A dynamic model of a supercritical unit is constructed using the subspace identification method. The model’s high precision is confirmed by its alignment with field data. Load change simulations demonstrate that the PID–MPC hybrid controller shows faster response times and more precise tracking capabilities compared to the feedforward-PID strategy. It achieves substantial improvements in the IAE index for three loops, with increases of 29.2%, 54.1%, and 57.3% over the feedforward-PID controller. An energy-saving performance analysis indicates that the proactive control actions of both the PID–MPC and MPC strategies lead to dynamic exergy efficiency and coal consumption rates with a broader range of dynamic process changes. The disturbance scenario simulation regarding the proposed controller achieves faster settling times and minimizes control deviation compared to the traditional controller.