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

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.

Application of Innovative Technologies for Active Control and Energy Efficiency in Water Supply Systems

“…MPC is a control strategy that explicitly uses a simplified process model of the real system to obtain control actions by minimizing an objective function. The control strategy was applied in [25] to the largest open canal water transfer project in China, the Middle Route Project (MRP) for South-to-North Water Transfer (Figure 19). Thirteen pools were considered in the model, for a total length of the canal of 227.3 km.…”

“…Therefore, from the perspective of shortening the calculation time of the control system, it is important to set up some reservoirs to divide the MRP into several separate canal systems. The control strategy was applied in [25] to the largest open canal water transfer project in China, the Middle Route Project (MRP) for South-to-North Water Transfer (Figure 19). Thirteen pools were considered in the model, for a total length of the canal of 227.3 km.…”

“…Definition of dependencies and patterns in the big data analysis to be considered in a proactive multilevel historian application for water networks [ Application of automatic control to irrigation canals for improving the efficiency of water delivery [24,25] Based on these contributions, this editorial will be organized in three macro-sections. Section 2.1 will consider the papers on big data analysis.…”

Recent Developments in the Application of Water Resource Dispatching Systems in China

“…By 2015, the total amount of diverted water in China reached 100 billion m 3 (including projects built, being built, and planned), and water diversion distances had exceeded 16,000 km. Nearly a quarter of diverted water schemes involve distances over 350 km, and water diversion projects cover more than 17 provinces, including 60 cities [25].…”

Experimental study of land subsidence in response to groundwater withdrawal and recharge in Changping District of Beijing

“…Until 2005, the depression area with cumulative settlement greater than 350 mm amounted to 97 km 2 , and the settlement continued to increase linearly in the period of 2005 to 2011 [38]. In recent years, the South-to-North Water Transfer Project has obviously changed the structure of the water supply in Beijing [39]. The plan of limiting groundwater exploitation was advanced by relevant authorities, and most pumping wells in the emergency groundwater resource regions were sealed to control land subsidence [40].…”