Aims at solving the online measurement of multiphase flow parameters, working fluid and pollutants in energy utilization process, online measurement and control theory, method, technology is studied. Meanwhile, research about theory, method and technique of process dynamic characteristic, advanced control and combined optimization is carried out while also take the severe nonlinearity, time variability, large lagging and distributed parameters into consideration.
Our institution has already obtained some important research achievements. Such as:
●Process detection, control and optimization
The study of high-temperature laser spectroscopy measurement and diagnosis was finished in 1969 relying on the key research project “magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) power generation” directed by the former State Planning Commission and the Ministry of Education. China’s first high-temperature flame temperature measuring instrument for MHD power generator was successfully developed in 1986. In recent years, several basic research projects from National Natural Science Foundation and national 973 projects were completed. The distinctive featured research fields have been formed in particulate measurement, gas-solid two-phase online measurement, laser and spectrum online detection and application. Multi-phase flow measurement laboratory and some other laboratories were built to break though the key technique in the velocity and concentration online measurement of gas-solid two-phase flow. And the developed wind velocity measurement and air-coal monitoring systems were successfully applied in more than 300 sets of large scale power plant units (including 10 sets of 1000MW units, 56 sets of 600MW units and 110 sets of 300MW units).
●Coal-fired Power Plant Simulation and Control
Southeast University is one of the earliest to study the simulation and control of coal-fired power plant. Several research laboratories were built including Power Plant Simulation Control Laboratory and the Research-based Power Plant Simulation Center. The Second Award of technology achievement from Department of Energy was awarded in 1988 due to the complete of China’s first 125MW power plant simulation system. And then took part in the construction of AF Technology, providing more than 20 sets of simulation systems for China’s electric power industry. Moreover, the Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant Simulatorwas awarded as one of the National Ten Technology Achievements in 1995. Advanced research results were made in computer monitoring of unit plant, dynamic characteristic studying of supercritical unit, DCS and its domestication, thus obtained seven national and provincial technology achievement awards. Independent developed power plant optimization system has been successfully applied on more than 50 sets of large scaled power plant which brings significant economic and social benefit. Distinctive studying results have been made in fuzzy modeling, the neural network modeling, and advanced control theory and technology research of power plant. And they were practical used in the control of steam temperature system, combustion system and milling system of large scaled power plant. In recent years, research areas have been extended to IGCC, gasification of biomass, fuel cell, wind power systems and some other energy systems. Financial assistance was obtained from National Natural Science Foundation, the National 863 Project and the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province Ministry of Education.
●Thermal system measurement, control and optimization in extreme condition
To support the astronomical investigation in the Antarctic mainland and provide long-term unattended comprehend protecting system for the research equipment, the first research and development work about this was carried out in Southeast University. The independent designed international advanced first generation of Antarctic Mainland Astronomical Investigative Support Platform was worked out in just one year and a half. The platform was transported to the Antarctic with the twenty-seventh Inland Antarctic expedition team, and successfully applied in Antarctic Kunlun Station, providing power support for kinds of the astronomical instruments. Currently the planning and developing work of the second-generation support platform has already started.
●Currently the focuses of research are as including follows:
(1) Measurement and control of system performance under extreme condition (measuring method of thermal physical properties of thermal insulation material under ultra-high/low temperature and low pressure, advanced thermal insulation and controlling technique, performance testing and controlling of equipment and the comprehend insulation and controlling system );
(2) Measuring method and technique of process characteristic parameters under high temperature, high pressure, highly corrosive environment (multi-phase flow measurement based on laser and modern optical technologies, bimodal electrostatic capacitance tomography with two-phase multi-parameter measurement and flow visualization, laser spectroscopy combustion diagnosis and acoustic wave online testing, etc. );
(3) Process dynamics and advanced control theory (process dynamics and system identification methods, advanced control theory and methods);
(4) Collaborative multi-objective optimization of process and system (decomposition, reduce dimension of system and collaborative optimization, the integration of objective optimization algorithm and control algorithms, etc. ).
