Patent ID: 8068923

Claim:
A computer system programmed to optimize operation of at least one power generating unit comprised of a plurality of components, the computer system comprising: a unit optimization system including: a unit model comprised of a plurality of models, each of the models respectively associated with one of the plurality of components of the at least one power generating unit, wherein each of said plurality of models receives input values associated with manipulated variables and disturbance variables and predicts an output value for at least one controlled variable associated with operation of the component respectively associated with the model, and a unit optimizer for determining optimal setpoint values for manipulated variables and/or controlled variables associated with control of the plurality of components of the at least one power generating unit, wherein said optimal setpoint values are determined in accordance with one or more goals and constraints associated with operation of the plurality of components, wherein said unit optimization system uses said optimal setpoint values for manipulated variables and/or controlled variables associated with control of the plurality of components to determine optimum values for goals and/or constraints for a plurality of component optimization systems, a multi-component optimization system comprised of the plurality of component optimization systems, wherein each component optimization system is respectively associated with optimizing operation of one of said plurality of components, each component optimization system including: a model of the component, said model receiving input values associated with manipulated variables and disturbance variables, and predicting an output value for at least one controlled variable associated with operation of said component, wherein the manipulated variables are variables changeable by an operator or component optimization system to affect the at least one controlled variable, and an optimizer for determining optimal setpoint values for manipulated variables associated with control of the component, wherein said optimal setpoint values are determined in accordance with said optimal values for said goals and/or constraints as determined by said unit optimization system, said optimizer determining optimal setpoint values by minimizing a cost function that mathematically represents the one or more goals.