REAL-TIME OPTIMAL STOCHASTIC-CONTROL OF POWER-PLANT RIVER HEATING

To meet environmental pollution standards, the operators of industrial plants must include environmental criteria in their operating objecti ves. This involves dealing with the variability and uncertainty of nat ural processes, and requires mathematical modeling to quantify operati onal effects. An example is given in which optimal operation of a once -through-cooling power plant is affected by the uncertainty in the hyd rometeorological conditions that control the heat exchange between the river water surface and the atmosphere. Real-time optimal control of the power plant is based on simulations provided by a mathematical mod el of the fiver thermal regime. It is demonstrated that optimal result s are achieved when correct information is provided on the uncertainty in the forecasts of the hydrometeorological conditions. Example study results arc given for the Joliet, Illinois, power station and hydrome teorological data for the drought period of July 1988.