Control systems and methods suitable for use with power production systems and methods

1. A power production system with an integrated control system configured for automated control of at least one component of the power production system, the power production system comprising:

a heater;

a power producing generator; and

at least one controller;

wherein the at least one controller is configured to receive a first input downstream from the heater and provide an output that is configured to adjust a flow of a fuel to the heater and thereby control a heat output by the heater;

wherein the at least one controller is configured to receive a second input downstream from the heater, the second input being the same or different from the first input, and provide an output to control a flow of a stream of a working fluid to the heater; and

wherein the at least one controller includes a fuel/oxidant ratio controller configured to receive one or both of an input related to fuel flow rate into the heater and an input related to oxidant flow rate into the heater and provide one or both of the following:

provide an output to a fuel valve to allow more fuel or less fuel to be passed to the heater;

provide an output to an oxidant valve to allow more oxidant or less oxidant to be passed to the heater.

2. The power production system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one controller includes a power controller configured to receive an input related to power produced by the power producing generator and provide the output that is configured to adjust a flow of a fuel to the heater and thereby control the heat output by the heater.

3. The power production system of claim 2 , wherein the power controller is configured to meet one or both of the following requirements:

provide an output to the heater to increase or decrease heat production by the heater;

provide an output to a fuel valve to allow more fuel or less fuel to be passed to the heater.

4. The power production system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one controller includes a pump controller configured to receive an input related to a temperature of an exhaust stream downstream from the heater and provide an output to a pump to control the flow of the stream of the working fluid to the heater.

5. The power production system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one controller includes an oxidant pump controller configured to receive an input related to one or both of a mass flow of the fuel and a mass flow of an oxidant passed to the heater and calculate a mass flow ratio of the fuel and the oxidant, and wherein the oxidant pump controller is configured to provide an output to an oxidant pump to change the power of the pump so as to affect the mass flow ratio of the fuel and the oxidant passed to the heater.

6. The power production system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one controller includes an oxidant pressure controller configured to receive an input related to the pressure of an oxidant stream upstream from an oxidant compressor and to provide an output to cause more of the working fluid or less of the working fluid to be added to the oxidant stream upstream from the oxidant compressor.

7. The power production system of claim 1 , wherein the working fluid is substantially pure CO 2 .

8. The power production system of claim 1 , wherein the heater is a combustor.

9. The power production system of claim 1 , wherein the heater is configured for providing heating from a fluid stream at a temperature above 400° C.

10. A power production system with an integrated control system configured for automated control of at least one component of the power production system, the power production system comprising:

a heater;

a power producing generator; and

at least one controller;

wherein the at least one controller is configured to receive a first input downstream from the heater and provide an output that is configured to adjust a flow of a fuel to the heater and thereby control a heat output by the heater;

wherein the at least one controller is configured to receive a second input downstream from the heater, the second input being the same or different from the first input, and provide an output to control a flow of a stream of a working fluid to the heater; and

wherein the at least one controller includes an oxidant pump controller configured to receive an input related to one or both of a mass flow of the fuel and a mass flow of an oxidant passed to the heater and calculate a mass flow ratio of the fuel and the oxidant, and wherein the oxidant pump controller is configured to provide an output to an oxidant pump to change the power of the pump so as to affect the mass flow ratio of the fuel and the oxidant passed to the heater.

11. A power production system with an integrated control system configured for automated control of at least one component of the power production system, the power production system comprising:

a heater;

a power producing generator; and

at least one controller;

wherein the at least one controller is configured to receive a first input downstream from the heater and provide an output that is configured to adjust a flow of a fuel to the heater and thereby control a heat output by the heater;

wherein the at least one controller is configured to receive a second input downstream from the heater, the second input being the same or different from the first input, and provide an output to control a flow of a stream of a working fluid to the heater; and

wherein the at least one controller includes an oxidant pressure controller configured to receive an input related to the pressure of an oxidant stream upstream from an oxidant compressor and to provide an output to cause more of the working fluid or less of the working fluid to be added to the oxidant stream upstream from the oxidant compressor.