Decentralized fault-tolerant control of inland navigation networks: a challenge

Inland waterways are large-scale networks used principally for navigation. Even if the transport planning is an important issue, the water resource management is a crucial point. Indeed, navigation is not possible when there is too little or too much water inside the waterways. Hence, the water resource management of waterways has to be particularly efficient in a context of climate change and increase of water demand. This management has to be done by considering different time and space scales and still requires the development of new methodologies and tools in the topics of the Control and Informatics communities. This work addresses the problem of waterways management in terms of modeling, control, diagnosis and fault-tolerant control by focusing in the inland waterways of the north of France. A review of proposed tools and the ongoing research topics are provided in this paper.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Gain-scheduling multivariable LPV control of an irrigation canal system

The purpose of this paper is to present a multivariable linear parameter varying (LPV) controller with a gain scheduling Smith Predictor (SP) scheme applicable to open-flow canal systems. This LPV controller based on SP is designed taking into account the uncertainty in the estimation of delay and the variation of plant parameters according to the operating point. This new methodology can be applied to a class of delay systems that can be represented by a set of models that can be factorized into a rational multivariable model in series with left/right diagonal (multiple) delays, such as, the case of irrigation canals. A multiple pool canal system is used to test and validate the proposed control approach.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Model-based sensor supervision inland navigation networks: Cuinchy-Fontinettes case study

In recent years, inland navigation networks benefit from the innovation of the instrumentation and SCADA systems. These data acquisition and control systems lead to the improvement of the manage- ment of these networks. Moreover, they allow the implementation of more accurate automatic control to guarantee the navigation requirements. However, sensors and actuators are subject to faults due to the strong effects of the environment, aging, etc. Thus, before implementing automatic control strate- gies that rely on the fault-free mode, it is necessary to design a fault diagnosis scheme. This fault diagnosis scheme has to detect and isolate possible faults in the system to guarantee fault-free data and the efficiency of the automatic control algorithms. Moreover, the proposed supervision scheme could predict future incipient faults that are necessary to perform predictive maintenance of the equipment. In this paper, a general architecture of sensor fault detection and isolation using model-based approaches will be proposed for inland navigation networks. The proposed approach will be particularized for the Cuinchy-Fontinettes reach located in the north of France. The preliminary results show the effectiveness of the proposed fault diagnosis methodologies using a realistic simulator and fault scenarios.In recent years, inland navigation networks bene¿t from the innovation of the instrumentation and SCADA systems. These data acquisition and control systems lead to the improvement of the management of these networks. Moreover, they allow the implementation of more accurate automatic control to guarantee the navigation requirements. However, sensors and actuators are subject to faults due to the strong effects of the environment, aging, etc. Thus, before implementing automatic control strategies that rely on the fault-free mode, it is necessary to design a fault diagnosis scheme. This fault diagnosis scheme has to detect and isolate possible faults in the system to guarantee fault-free data and the efficiency of the automatic control algorithms. Moreover, the proposed supervision scheme could predict future incipient faults that are necessary to perform predictive maintenance of the equipment. In this paper, a general architecture of sensor fault detection and isolation using model-based approaches will be proposed for inland navigation networks. The proposed approach will be particularized for the Cuinchy-Fontinettes reach located in the north of France. The preliminary results show the effectiveness of the proposed fault diagnosis methodologies using a realistic simulator and fault scenarios.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Gain-scheduled Smith predictor PID-based LPV controller for open-flow canal control

In this paper, a gain-scheduled Smith Predictor PID controller is proposed for the control of an open-flow canal system that allows for dealing with large variation in operating conditions. A linear parameter varying (LPV) control-oriented model for open-flow canal systems based on a second-order delay Hayami model is proposed. Exploiting the second-order structure of this model, an LPV PID controller is designed using H∞ and linear matrix inequalities pole placement. The controller structure includes a Smith Predictor, real time estimated parameters from measurements (including the known part of the delay) that schedule the controller and predictor and unstructured dynamic uncertainty, which covers the unknown portion of the delay. Finally, the proposed controller is validated in a case study based on a single real reach canal: the Lunax Gallery at Gascogne (France).This work has been funded by contract ref. HYFA DPI2008-01996 and WATMAN DPI2009-13744 of Spanish Ministry of Education.Peer Reviewe

Canal Identification for Fractional Linear Control Purposes

In this paper an LPV rational order control model of an irrigation canal is experimentally obtained by using the described LPV fractional identification procedure. Global LPV model is obtained from polynomial interpolation of local model parameters. Validation results demonstrate that rational order models are more accurate than integer order models. Therefore rational order models of an irrigation canal have an important role to play in management and efficient use of water resources.Postprint (published version

Human-in-the-Loop Model Predictive Control of an Irrigation Canal

Until now, advanced model-based control techniques have been predominantly employed to control problems that are relatively straightforward to model. Many systems with complex dynamics or containing sophisticated sensing and actuation elements can be controlled if the corresponding mathematical models are available, even if there is uncertainty in this information. Consequently, the application of model-based control strategies has flourished in numerous areas, including industrial applications [1]-[3].Junta de Andalucía P11-TEP-812

A two-layer control architecture for operational management and hydroelectricity production maximization in inland waterways using model predictive control

This work presents the design of a combined control and state estimation approach to simultaneously maintain optimal water levels and maximize hydroelectricity generation in inland waterways using gates and ON/OFF pumps. The latter objective can be achieved by installing turbines within canal locks, which harness the energy generated during lock filling and draining operations. Hence, the two objectives are antagonistic in nature, as energy generation maximization results from optimizing the number of lock operations, which in turn causes unbalanced upstream and downstream water levels. To overcome this problem, a two-layer control architecture is proposed. The upper layer receives external information regarding the current tidal period, and determines control actions that maintain optimal navigation conditions and maximize energy production using model predictive control (MPC) and moving horizon estimation (MHE). This information is provided to the lower layer, in which a scheduling problem is solved to determine the activation instants of the pumps that minimize the error with respect to the optimal pumping references. The strategy is applied to a realistic case study, using a section of the inland waterways in northern France, which allows to showcase its efficacy.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Flatness-based control of open-channel flow in an irrigation canal using SCADA

Open channels are used to distribute water to large irrigated areas. In these systems, ensuring timely water delivery is essential to reduce operational water losses. This article derives a method for open-loop control of open channel flow, based on the Hayami model, a parabolic partial differential equation resulting from a simplification of the Saint-Venant equations. The open-loop control is represented as infinite series using differential flatness. Experimental results show the effectiveness of the approach by applying the open-loop controller to a real irrigation canal located in South of France

Sliding window assessment for sensor fault model-based diagnosis in inland waterways

The Cuinchy-Fontinettes reach belongs to the inland waterways in the north of France. It is equipped with limnimeters that measure water level data for the management of the water resources. These data can be corrupted by constant or intermittent faults. Hence, it is necessary to detect and localize these faults in order to guarantee efficient management actions. The proposed fault diagnosis method is based on the analysis of the parameters of a grey-box model. These parameters are obtained from available real data by using a sliding window, whose size is determined based on the level of excitation of input signals. Then, several scenarios involving constant and intermittent faults are proposed to discuss the performance of the proposed FDI approach as well as the effect of the sliding window size on the resultsPeer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Model-based sensor supervision in inland navigation networks: Cuinchy-Fontinettes case study

Trabajo presentado a la 6th International Conference on Maritime Transport (MT'14) celebrada en Barcelona del 25 al 27 de junio de 2014.In recent years, inland navigation networks benefit from the innovation of the instrumentation and SCADA systems. These data acquisition and control systems lead to the improvement of the management of these networks. Moreover, they allow the implementation of more accurate automatic control to guarantee the navigation requirements. However, sensors and actuators are subject to faults due to the strong effects of the environment, aging, etc. Thus, before implementing automatic control strategies that rely on the fault-free mode it is necessary to design a fault diagnosis scheme. This fault diagnosis scheme has to detect and isolate possible faults in the system to guarantee fault-free data and the efficiency of the automatic control algorithms. Moreover, the proposed supervision scheme could predict future incipient faults that are necessary to perform predictive maintenance of the equipment. In this paper, a general architecture of sensor fault detection and isolation using model-based approaches will be proposed for inland navigation networks. It will be particularized for the Cuinchy-Fontinettes reach located in the north of France in order to show the effectiveness of the proposed fault diagnosis scheme. The preliminary results show the effectiveness of the proposed fault diagnosis methodologies using a realistic simulator and fault scenarios.This work has been partially funded by grants CICYT SHERECS DPI-2011-26243 of Spanish Ministry of Education and by GEPET’Eau project which is granted by the French ministery MEDDE-GICC, the French institution ORNERC and the DGITM.Peer Reviewe