Central plant control system with plug and play EMPC

A method for implementing an economic model predictive control (EMPC) strategy to optimize production and consumption of resources across a central plant, the method comprising:

• receiving, from a client device, first user input including resources and subplants associated with the central plant, wherein the subplants are configured to consume and/or produce the resources;
• determining that the first user input includes a new resource or a new subplant that was not previously defined in a data model;
• extending the data model to include the new resource or the new subplant;
• receiving, from the client device, second user input including connections between the subplants and one or more loads served by the central plant;
• generating an optimization problem for the central plant using a high level EMPC algorithm based on the second user input and the data model;
• solving the optimization problem to determine control decisions for the central plant;
• and
• operating the central plant according to the control decisions.

A system for optimizing production and consumption of resources in a central plant, the system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more computer-readable storage media having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement operations comprising:
• receiving, from a user, first user input including resources and subplants associated with the central plant, wherein the subplants are configured to consume and produce the resources;
• comparing the first user input to a data model to determine whether a new resource or a new subplant is defined by the first user input;
• in response to determining that the new resource or the new subplant is defined by the first user input, extending the data model to define the new resource or the new subplant;
• receiving, from the user, second user input including connections between the subplants;
• generating an optimization problem for the central plant based on the second user input and the data model;
• and
• solving the optimization problem to provide insight regarding the central plant.