Method and system of controlling a hydroelectric plant

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention may incorporate an adaptive model based control (MBC) for determining a physical parameter, such as, but not limiting of, generator output, head, generator speed, or the like. The adaptive MBC may reduce the need for pre-defined control curves. The adaptive MBC may receive a plurality of data on the hydroelectric plant and then build an operating model. This model may then be used to forecast and/or control an output variable, such as, but not limiting of, a generator output of the hydroelectric plant. The control system of an embodiment of the present invention may be configured to automatically and/or continuously monitor the hydroelectric plant to determine whether a physical parameter is within a desired range. Alternatively, the control system may be configured to require a user action to the initiate operation. An embodiment of the control system of the present invention may function as a stand-alone system. Alternatively, the control system may be integrated as a module, or the like, within a broader system, such as a turbine control or a plant control system.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.