Gabriela Cembrano

Optimal control of urban drainage systems. A case study

This paper deals with the use of optimal control techniques in urban drainage systems containing gates and detention tanks as well as a telemetry/telecontrol system. Optimal control is used to provide control strategies which contribute to reducing the events of flooding and polluting discharges to the environment. The case of the Barcelona system is presented.

Optimal control of a water distribution network in a supervisory control system

This paper deals with the use of optimal control techniques in water distribution networks. An optimal control tool, developed in the context of a European research project is described and the application to the city of Sintra (Portugal) is presented. ( 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Application of predictive control strategies to the management of complex networks in the urban water cycle [Applications of Control]

The management of the urban water cycle (UWC) is a subject of increasing interest because of its social, economic, and environmental impact. The most important issues include the sustainable use of limited resources and the reliability of service to consumers with adequate quality and pressure levels, as well as the urban drainage management to prevent flooding and polluting discharges to the environment.

Predictive optimal control of sewer networks using CORAL tool: application to Riera Blanca catchment in Barcelona

This paper deals with the global control of the Riera Blanca catchment in the Barcelona sewer network using a predictive optimal control approach. This catchment has been modelled using a conceptual modelling approach based on decomposing the catchments in subcatchments and representing them as virtual tanks. This conceptual modelling approach allows real-time model calibration and control of the sewer network. The global control problem of the Riera Blanca catchment is solved using a optimal/predictive control algorithm. To implement the predictive optimal control of the Riera Blanca catchment, a software tool named CORAL is used. The on-line control is simulated by interfacing CORAL with a high fidelity simulator of sewer networks (MOUSE). CORAL interchanges readings from the limnimeters and gate commands with MOUSE as if it was connected with the real SCADA system. Finally, the global control results obtained using the predictive optimal control are presented and compared against the results obtained using current local control system. The results obtained using the global control are very satisfactory compared to those obtained using the local control.

Leak Localization in Water Networks: A Model-Based Methodology Using Pressure Sensors Applied to a Real Network in Barcelona [Applications of Control]

The efficient distribution of water is a subject of major concern for water utilities and authorities [1]. While some leaks in water distribution networks (WDNs) are unavoidable, one of the main challenges in improving the efficiency of drinking water networks is to minimize leaks. Leaks can cause significant economic losses in fluid transportation and extra costs for the final consumer due to the waste of energy and chemicals in water treatment plants. Leaks may also damage infrastructure and cause third-party damage and health risks. In many WDNs, losses due to leakage are estimated to account up to 30% of the total amount of extracted water [2]; a very important issue in a world struggling to satisfy water demands of a growing population.

Nonlinear system identification using additive dynamic neural networks-two on-line approaches

This paper proposes a class of additive dynamic connectionist (ADC) models for identification of unknown dynamic systems. These models work in continuous time and are linear in their parameters. Also, for this kind of model two on-line learning or parameter adaptation algorithms are developed: one based on gradient techniques and sensitivity analysis of the model output trajectories versus the model parameters and the other based on variational calculus, that lead to an off-line solution and an invariant imbedding technique that converts the off-line solution to an on-line one. These learning methods are developed using matrix calculus techniques in order to implement them in an automatic manner with the help of a symbolic manipulation package. The good behavior of the class of identification models and the two learning methods is tested on two simulated plants and a data set from a real plant and compared, in this case, with a feedforward static (FFS) identifier.

Dynamic control of a robot arm using CMAC neural networks

Abstract Neural identification and control techniques are well-suited to the problem of controlling robot dynamics. This paper describes the use of CMAC networks for the adaptive dynamic control of an orange-harvesting robot. Among the various neural-network paradigms available, the CMAC model was chosen in this case because of its fast convergence and on-line adaptation capability. The solution of this dynamic control problem with CMAC is an encouraging demonstration of “experience-based”, as opposed to model-based, control techniques and is a good example of the use of on-line learning in adaptive neural control.

Minimization of sewage network overflow

We are interested in the optimal control of sewage networks. It is of high public interest to minimize the overflow of sewage onto the streets and to the natural environment that may occur during periods of heavy rain. The assumption of linear flow in a discrete time setting has proven to be adequate for the practical control of larger systems. However, the possibility of overflow introduces a nonlinear and nondifferentiable element to the formulation, by means of a maximum of linear terms. This particular challenge can be addressed by smoothing methods that result in a nonlinear program (NLP) or by logical constraints that result in a mixed integer linear program (MILP). We discuss both approaches and present a novel tailored branch-and-bound algorithm that outperforms competing methods from the literature for a set of realistic rain scenarios.

Hybrid modeling and receding horizon control of sewer networks

In this work, a control-oriented sewer network model is presented based on a hybrid linear modeling framework. The model equations are described independently for each network element, thus allowing the model to be applied to a broad class of networks. A parameter calibration procedure using data obtained from simulation software that solves the physically based model equations is described and validation results are given for a case study. Using the control model equations, an optimal control problem to minimize flooding and pollution is formulated to be solved by means of mixed-integer linear or quadratic programming. A receding horizon control strategy based on this optimal control problem is applied to the case study using the simulation software as a virtual reality. Results of this closed-loop simulation tests show the effectiveness of the proposed approach in fulfilling the control objectives while complying with physical and operational constraints.

CORAL off-line: an object-oriented tool for optimal control of sewer networks

This paper describes a tool to aid in the analysis and design of combined sewer networks. Complex drainage systems include actuators, like flow-diversion gates and detention tanks, which should be optimally controlled in order to minimize flooding and combined sewer overflow (CSO). Through these optimisations volume to waste water treatment plants (WWTP) is maximised. CORAL is a tool able to model a combined sewer network, simulate rain events, calculate actuators optimal policies, reproduce past rain events and calculate different balances for all model elements.