Optimal Control for Compressed Air Systems
Wim van Roy
Atlas Copco Airpower
Tuesday, January 17, 2023, 13:30 - 14:30
Room 02-012, Georges-Köhler Allee 102, Freiburg 79110, Germany
Compressed air systems exist in many industries, such as water treatment centres, hospitals, production facilities and mining. They account for approximately 10 % of the power consumption in the industry. A compressed air system consists of several compressors and air utility devices collaborating to produce a demand flow. This demand flow must obey several requirements, such as humidity, pressure levels or air purity. To achieve this demand, a master controller or central room controller controls the elements of this system. The control algorithms on these devices need to handle both the integer controls caused by the state machine and the continuous variables due to the system's dynamics. As a compressor manufacturer, Atlas Copco is researching the design and control of these systems. This talk will give an overview of the landscape of control research at Atlas Copco Airpower. Afterwards, the optimal control problem of a central room controller will be discussed together with some possible control approaches.
Remote participation is possible via the group meeting Zoom link.