Extremum seeking control with reset control

1. A method for optimizing a control process for a plant, the method comprising:

operating the plant using circuitry that implements an extremum seeking control strategy;

detecting an abrupt change in the operation of the plant; and

using a circuit to compensate for the abrupt change in the operation of the plant by resetting the extremum seeking control strategy;

wherein resetting the extremum seeking control strategy comprises providing a reset parameter to the circuitry that implements the extremum seeking control strategy such that a performance gradient operated upon by the circuitry that implements the extremum seeking control strategy is forced to adjust faster than it would normally adjust given the abrupt operation of the plant, wherein the circuitry that implements the extremum seeking control strategy is configured to respond to the reset parameter by deactivating the extremum seeking control for a period of time;

wherein the reset parameter is provided for three to four times a dithering period of the extremum seeking control strategy and wherein the period of time during which the extremum seeking control is deactivated corresponds to the provision of the reset parameter.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting an abrupt change in the operation of the plant comprises:

detecting a change of greater than or equal to two percent in the performance of the plant within a defined time period.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

retrieving historical data on one or more optimum plant settings previously determined by the extremum seeking control strategy from memory; and

using the historical data to determine the reset parameter.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plant is an air handling unit configured to regulate temperature and controlled by a controller configured to provide a control signal to a temperature regulator, wherein the air handling unit also includes a damper controlled by an actuator, and wherein the extremum seeking control strategy is used to operate the actuator.

5. A controller for controlling a plant, the controller comprising:

a circuit configured to operate the plant using an extremum seeking control strategy, the circuit configured to detect an abrupt change in the operation of the plant and the circuit further configured to compensate for the abrupt change by resetting the extremum seeking control strategy, wherein resetting the extremum seeking control strategy comprises generating a reset parameter which interrupts the extremum seeking control strategy operation, causing the extremum seeking control strategy to adapt to the performance gradient observed by the extremum seeking controller faster than the extremum seeking control strategy would normally adapt giving the abrupt operation of the plant, wherein the extremum seeking controller is configured to discontinue the extremum seeking control strategy for a period of time in response to receiving the reset parameter; wherein the circuit is further configured to provide the reset parameter to the extremum seeking control strategy for at least three times a dithering period of the extremum seeking control strategy.

6. The controller of claim 5 , wherein the circuit is further configured to retrieve historical data of one or more optimum plant settings previously determined by the extremum seeking control strategy from memory, and wherein the circuit is configured to use the historical data to determine the duration of the reset parameter.

7. The controller of claim 5 , wherein the plant is an air handling unit configured to regulate temperature and controlled by a controller configured to provide a control signal to a temperature regulator, wherein the air handling unit also includes a damper controlled by an actuator, and wherein the extremum seeking control strategy is used to operate the actuator.