Flatness-based control of gas-turbine electric power generation units

A differential flatness theory-based control and state estimation method is proposed for electric power units that comprise synchronous generators connected to gas turbines. Since the dynamic model of the power unit satisfies the properties of differential flatness, one can transform it into an input-output linearized form. Moreover, it is shown that the state-space description of the power system can be written in the canonical (Brunvsky) form. Using the latter representation of the system's dynamics a solution to its control and state estimation problem is given. At a first stage, a stabilizing feedback controller is designed. Moreover, with the use of a differential flatness theory-based implementation of the Kalman Filter it becomes possible to solve the state estimation problem of the gas-turbine power unit. At a second stage, by redesigning the aforementioned Kalman Filter as a disturbance observer one can also identify in real time and compensate for exogenous perturbations that affect the gas-turbine power unit.