Economic Model Predictive Control and Applications for Diesel Generators

When developing control systems for diesel generators, tuning of the controller's parameters to achieve acceptable performance is a significant challenge, particularly while satisfying input, emission, and safety constraints in the face of unknown system disturbances. Robust economic model predictive control (EMPC) can simplify this process by directly addressing the generator's objectives, while systematically handling constraints in a robust way. This paper details how robust EMPC can be implemented as the control solution for diesel generators. To illustrate the process, two distinct generator applications are considered. The first application is a power tracking diesel generator, operating under emissions constraints. Such an application is found in series hybrid electric vehicles. The second application concerns diesel generators onboard submarines. In this application, engine speed and exhaust temperatures must be kept constant, despite significant system disturbances. An experimental study highlights the effectiveness of the EMPC as a solution for both applications.