​The Department was founded in 1943.

​Summary

The Department of Automated Control Systems for Thermal Processes was founded in MPEI in 1943 by professors V.P. Preobrajenskiy and S.G. Gerasimov, the latter became the first head of the department. MPEI became the first university in the USSR training specialists on measurement, control and automation in power engineering.

Nowadays professors of the department deliver lectures, seminars and laboratory classes on approximately 20 disciplines every term; the department has some Bachelor, Master, PhD and advanced training programs.

There are several educational and scientific laboratories, a computer class and a training simulation center. The department collaborates with Mosenergo, SAS Institute, Owen and other companies.

Our graduates work at thermal and nuclear power plants, engineering and design companies, technical universities, research institutes and other firms.

Research areas

Development and upgrade of modern integrated control systems for power plants based on modern software and hardware.

Simulation of power plants and processes

Development of computer training simulation systems for power plant employees

Intellectualization and reliability of chemical monitoring systems

Modern control theory, adaptive and auto-tuning systems

AI-technologies in thermal and nuclear power engineering

Integrated Industrial Control

Reliability and Diagnostics

Machine learning and big data

Thermal Processes and Control System Simulation

Dataware of Control Systems

Smart Sensors in thermal and nuclear power engineering

Recent projects

  • Development of highly intellectual control systems on the basis of Russian hardware and software complexes for improvement of energy efficiency of electric power generation at modern power plants.
  • Development of dynamical models of thermal and hydrodynamical steam turbines of steam and gas turbine units for control and optimization of their parameters and performance in highly off-design modes.
  • Development of a concept of integrated power plant design and upgrade on the basis of modern software.
  • Development of basic procedures for design of modern computer training simulators for power plant operating staff.
  • Control system design based on microprocessor controllers that permit to implement the complex control algorithms.

        Features

        • The department has excellent modern measuring and control equipment and cooperates with many Russian and foreign companies. We perform a large number of R&D wherein students may also participate, and support students’ participation in international competitions, conferences, etc.

        • In 2018 the department organized a student design and engineering group where students could work in three challenging spheres:

        • Mathematical models and calculation and prediction methods for power plant equipment reliability;
        • Artificial intelligence, big data and data mining for estimation and prediction of equipment condition;
        • Mathematical models and optimization methods for power plants.

        Unique equipment

        Modern software and hardware complexes Freelance 800F (ABB, Germany) and SPPA T3000 with user-friendly software and interfaces, intended for control system development for large and small plants.

        Modern Russian software and hardware complex KVINT SI (system integrator), the equipment is represented by a multi-channel controller R-380, a low-channel controller R-390 and HMI devices.

        A chemical monitoring workbench with a model of a power plant water-steam circuit.

        PLC and control hardware laboratory (MZTA Contar, Owen PLC, Danfoss ECL).

        Automated control system laboratory (single channel controllers, physical analogs of heating systems, actuators).

        Measuring instruments laboratory (various kinds of  thermometers, manometers, heat meters, flow meters, gas and liquid analyzers).​​

        Educational programs

        Bachelor (4 years)

        13.03.01 – Thermal Power Engineering and Heat Engineering

        Master (2 years)

        • 13.04.01 – Thermal Power Engineering and Heat Engineering

        PhD (4 years)

        -  specialization: 05.13.06 – Automation of Industrial Processes

        Two areas:

        ·     ​    - 27.06.01 – Control in technical systems

        ·         - 09.06.01 – IT and computer engineering.​

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