Control of Solar Energy Systems

Control of Solar Energy Systems details the main solar energy systems, problems involved with their control, and how control systems can help in increasing their efficiency.  After a brief introduction to the fundamental concepts associated with the use of solar energy in both photovoltaic and thermal plants, specific issues related to control of solar systems are embarked upon. Thermal energy systems are then explored in depth, as well as  other solar energy applications such as solar furnaces and solar refrigeration systems. Problems of variable generation profile and of the contribution of many solar plants to the same grid system are considered with the necessary integrated and supervisory control solutions being discussed. The text includes material on:

·         A comparison of basic and advanced control methods for parabolic troughs from PID to nonlinear model-based control;

·         solar towers and solar tracking;

·         heliostat calibration, characterization and offset correction;

·         solar radiation, estimation, prediction, and computation ; and

·         integrated and supervisory control of solar plants. 

Control of Solar EnergySystems contains worked examples and simulation models in the text but its particular strength is its description of real plant installations and applications. These make the text ideally suited to the needs of practitioners from either the solar energy or control engineering communities. Academics studying the various types of control algorithm described in the book will also find it of value as a reference for details of their application and the fact that only basic prior knowledge of control theory and sampled data analysis is required makes the book suitable as a resource for graduate students.