An improved extreme learning machine with self-recurrent hidden layer

Extreme learning machine (ELM) is widely used in complex industrial problems, especially the online-sequential extreme learning machine (OS-ELM) plays a good role in industrial online modeling. However, OS-ELM requires batch samples to be pre-trained to obtain initial weights, which may reduce the timeliness of samples. This paper proposes a novel model for the online process regression prediction, which is called the Recurrent Extreme Learning Machine (Recurrent-ELM). The nodes between the hidden layers are connected in Recurrent-ELM, thus the input of the hidden layer receives both the information from the current input layer and the previously hidden layer. Moreover, the weights and biases of the proposed model are generated by analysis rather than random. Six regression applications are used to verify the designed Recurrent-ELM, compared with extreme learning machine (ELM), fast learning network (FLN), online sequential extreme learning machine (OS-ELM), and an ensemble of online sequential extreme learning machine (EOS-ELM), the experimental results show that the Recurrent-ELM has better generalization and stability in several samples. In addition, to further test the performance of Recurrent-ELM, we employ it in the combustion modeling of a 330 MW coal-fired boiler compared with FLN, SVR and OS-ELM. The results show that Recurrent-ELM has better accuracy and generalization ability, and the theoretical model has some potential application value in practical application.