Robust evolving cloud-based control for the distributed solar collector field

This paper presents robust evolving cloud-based controller (RECCo) for the distributed solar collector field (DSCF). The main issue of the DSCF is that the primary energy source (variable) cannot be manipulated. Beside this, unpredictable changing of environmental conditions (outlet temperature, cloudiness, solar radiation) on the daily basis strongly influence the dynamics of the whole process. According to this, the RECCo controller is robust enough to cope with the high levels of uncertainty present in the DSCF plant. RECCo is a fuzzy rule-based type of controller based on parameter-free premise (IF) part while the PID-type control consequent is used. Algorithm starts with zero fuzzy rules (zero clouds in data space). During operation it evolves its structure (adding new data clouds) and adapts the PID parameters for each data cloud while preforming the control of the plant. This means that no a-priori knowledge of the controlled process is required. Moreover, the ability of the learning is tested on the different operating points which cover the majority of the operating range of the DSCF plant.