Process for optimally operating an energy producing unit and an energy producing unit

摘要

A predictive control process comprises determining a firing temperature profile that maximizes profit from a summation over a period of time of a difference between return from operation of the energy producing unit and cost of operating the energy producing unit, wherein the cost includes at least one non-linear variable and at least one value for the non-linear variable is provided from a data model; and operating the energy producing unit according to a firing temperature profile derived from the optimized profit. An optimally operated energy producing unit comprises (A) a combustor, and (B) a controller that regulates firing temperature of the combustor for a time period, wherein a firing temperature is determined as an inverse function of a factored hour associated with an optimal profit for the time period; wherein the optimal profit is determined as a summation over a period of time of a difference between return from operation of the energy producing unit and cost of operating the energy producing unit, wherein the cost includes at least one non-linear variable and at least one value for the non-linear variable is provided from a data model.