• CSPP
• Fuzzy
• H-infinity
• PID
• Robust Control
• Steam Turbine

The Concentrated Solar Power Plants (CSPPs) are complex systems that exploit renewable energy sources for energy production. These type of plants are quite sensitive to variations in the steam production profile and external disturbances, thus advanced control techniques are required. Control laws must ensure the system stability and the achievement of suitable performance criteria even in presence of disturbances, unmodeled plant dynamics and plant-parameter variations. In this thesis, a multi-objective H∞ (H-infinity) robust controller was adopted with the aim to improve performances and stability in presence of model errors and parameter variations, focusing on power control loop. Furthermore, a Fuzzy logic controller which improves the steam turbine governor action, was presented. The advanced control techniques were compared with the current PID-based controller in order to evaluate their performances. Simulations were performed considering typical power ramp loading profile and unperturbed as well as perturbed conditions, taking into account variations of steam conditions, sensor measure delays and power losses.