Optimal Design for Automatic Control of On-Demand Canal Systems

Abstract

A methodology is developed for the design of an automatic gate controller for an on-demand canal system. The design is based on the EL-FLO plus RESET control concept developed previously by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Two additional design parameters are included in this study to ensure a smooth upstream gate operation. The basic design parameters are optimized to achieve a stable flow condition in the entire canal system where multiple gates are operated to supply water to meet unexpected turnout demands along the canal. Due to the complexity involved in canal hydraulics, the optimization model is highly nonlinear. Decomposition allied with successive approximations is used for solution. The proposed design methodology, when applied to a section of the Caraibas Project in northeastern Brazil, showed that the proposed methodology is successful in minimizing hydraulic transients in a multipool canal system. A sensitivity analysis of the optimal design is conducted with respect to maximum demand level and the two new design parameters.