Parameters Tuning via Simplex-Search based Model-Free Optimization for the Steam Generator Level Control

Abstract

Control performance is critical to a control system. To improve the performance of the steam generator level control system, the control system parameters need to be optimized. Traditional parameters tuning methods, such as trial and error and Design of Experiments etc., are usually experience-based, cumbersome and time-consuming. To address the above inefficiencies, in this paper, the simplex-search based Model-Free Optimization(MFO) has been proposed to search for the optimal control system parameters. The optimized parameters will be gained to maximize the system's control per- formance. Rather than traditional controller parameter tuning method, this method optimizes the control system by di- rectly using measurements of control performance. An example of the PID parameters tuning for the steam generator level control was illustrated. The efficiency and the effectiveness of the Simplex-search based Model-Free Optimization - ba- sed control parameters tuning methodology has been verified through simulation experiments.