Automatic Control of the Middle Route Project for South-to-North Water Transfer Based on Linear Model Predictive Control Algorithm

Kong Kong,Zhu Zhu,Yang Yang,Song Song,Quan Quan

doi:10.3390/w11091873

Abstract

The application of automatic control to irrigation canals is an important means of improving the efficiency of water delivery. The Middle Route Project (MRP) for South-to-North Water Transfer, the largest water transfer project in China, is currently under manual control. Given the complexity of the MRP, there is an urgent need to adopt some form of automatic control. This paper describes the application of model predictive control (MPC), a popular real time control algorithm particularly suited to the automatic control of multi-pool irrigation water delivery systems, to the MRP using a linear control model. This control system is tested in part of the MRP by means of numerical simulations. The results show that the control system can deal with both known and unknown disturbances, albeit with a degree of resonance in some short pools. However, it takes a long time for the MRP to reach a stable state under the MPC system and the calculation time for the whole MRP network would be too long to satisfy the requirements of real-time control. Suggestions are presented for the construction of an automatic control system for the MRP.

Highlights

Long-distance water transfer is the most effective and direct means of adjusting the uneven spatial and temporal distribution of water resources, and enables differences in the supply and demand of water resources to be overcome [1]
The offtake flow changes are not considered in the model predictive control (MPC); for the known disturbances, the information about the changes is considered
The results presented in this paper show that in a reasonable canal control system, the stabilization time is the longest, at about 4–5 times the sum of the delay times of all pools

Summary

Introduction

Long-distance water transfer is the most effective and direct means of adjusting the uneven spatial and temporal distribution of water resources, and enables differences in the supply and demand of water resources to be overcome [1]. The control goal of water delivery systems is to provide users with safe and reliable water supply services, requiring flexible adjustments to the flow to meet the needs of users [2]. The stability of the water supply flow is achieved by maintaining water level stability at certain points, which are usually referred to as control points. These control points are at the downstream end of the pools. The Middle Route Project (MRP) for South-to-North Water Transfer, which began to deliver water in December 2014, is the largest open canal water transfer project in China. The project delivers water to some large cities in Henan province and Hebei province, along with Tianjin City and Beijing City, the capital of China, and has become the main source of urban water in Tianjin City and Beijing City [3]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion