Optimal control of a coupled tanks system with model-reality differences

Abstract

In this paper, an efficient computational approach is proposed to optimize and control a coupled tanks system. Since the dynamics of the coupled tanks system is nonlinear, determination of the optimal water level in the tanks could be formulated as an optimal control problem for a useful operation decision. For simplicity, the linear model of the coupled tanks system is suggested to give the true operating height of the coupled tanks. In our approach, the adjustable parameter is added into the model used. The aim is to measure the differences between the real plant and the model used repeatedly during the computation procedure. In this way, the optimal solution of the model used can be updated iteratively. On this basis, system optimization and parameter estimation are integrated. At the end of the iteration procedure, the converged solution approximates to the correct optimal solution of the original optimal control problem, in spite of model-reality differences. For illustration, the numerical parameters of a coupled tank system are studied and the applicable of the approach proposed is shown. In conclusion, the efficiency of the approach proposed in achieving the desired water level of the coupled tanks is highly presented.