Adaptive MPC for a reefer container. (November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sørensen, Kresten K.; Stoustrup, Jakob; Bak, Thomas
• Is Part Of: Control engineering practice. Volume 44(2015)
• Page Start: 55
• Page End: 64
• Publication Date: 2015-11
• Subjects: Adaptive control -- MPC -- Refrigeration -- Parameter estimation -- Set-point optimization -- Reefer container; Automatic control -- Periodicals; 629.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conengprac.2015.05.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0967-0661

Abstract

Abstract: In this work, the potential energy savings from adapting to daily ambient temperature differences for frozen cargo in reefer containers are studied using a model of the Star Cool reefer. The objective is to create a controller that can be implemented on an embedded system, and a range of methods are used to reduce the computational load. A combination of MPC and traditional control is used, and the accuracy of the MPC is enhanced with an on-line update of the model parameters. The simulation experiments show that potential energy savings of up to 21% are achieved when the MPC is allowed to control both the cooling capacity and the ventilation of the cargo area. The largest cost reduction is achieved through a reduced ventilation rate.