Irrigation canal models for automatic control purposes

volumes during normal canal operation. In order to develop control algorithms for irrigation canals there is a need for simple linear models to be used in the algorithms. The following simple linear models are approximating the canal in order to give a base to develop control algorithms. The PAC-UPC laboratory canal (Prueba de Algoritmos de Control - Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya) is modelled (input and output discharge) using the following three models: Muskingum, Hayami and Integrator Delay Zero (IDZ) and the results are compared to measurements. All three models are able to describe the irrigation canal in an acceptable way. However, only the IDZ model can capture all the important characteristics. These tested models can be applied to represent real canals for control purposes where it is especially important to obtain good models without extensive measurements. Test campaigns are developped now in cooperation with the CHE (Confederación Hidrográfica del Ebro) in order to test control algorithms to be used in irrigation canals under their management.Peer Reviewe

Model-based sensor supervision in 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 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.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author’s final draft

Simplified modeling of a laboratory irrigation canal for control purposes

http://upcommons.upc.edu/e-prints/bitstream/2117/15391/1/SAICA2011_proceedings.pdfPeer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Why is it so hard? And for whom? Obstacles to intra-European mobility

Even though intra-European youth mobility is valued as a boost for personal and professional development, few opt for it. While obstacles preventing young people to become mobile have been discussed broadly, less attention has been paid to the obstacles for the youth who are already on the move. We offer this rare perspective in regard to intra-European mobility. We focus on youth in four types: pupil mobility, vocational (education and training) mobility, higher education student (degree and credit) mobility and employment mobility, in six countries: Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Norway, Romania and Spain. Our analysis, based on qualitative (140 interviews) and quantitative (N=1.682) data, reveals that the perceived obstacles vary between the mobility types, with the greatest divergence between the educational and work-related mobilities. Obstacles such as lack of financial resources and guidance, the perceived incompatibility of institutional regulations within Europe, are shared by all mobile youth

Az adalimumab hatékonysága és biztonságossága hagyományos kezelésre refrakter colitis ulcerosában

INTRODUCTION: Adalimumab was approved for the treatment of ulcerative colitis refractory to conventional therapy several years later than infliximab in Europe. Due to the relatively low remission rate observed in Ultra trials, data on the efficacy of adalimumab in ulcerative colitis are really helpful in the daily practice. AIM: The aim of this study was to prospectively collect data on induction and maintenance adalimumab therapy in patients with ulcerative colitis treated in Hungarian centres. METHOD: This prospective study collected data of all patients with ulcerative colitis treated with adalimumab in 10 Hungarian centres. The primary endpoints of the study were rates of remission, response and primary failure at week 12, and the rate of continuous clinical response, remission and loss of response at weeks 30, and 52. Secondary endpoints were endoscopic outcome at week 52 and comparison of the efficacy of adalimumab between treatment naive and infliximab-experienced patients. RESULTS: 73 patients with active ulcerative colitis were enrolled in the study. 75.3% of the patients exhibited clinical response after the induction at week 12. The probability of maintaining adalimumab treatment was 48.6% at week 52 with a continuous clinical response in 92% of these patients. Mucosal healing was achieved in 48.1% of the patients at week 52. Dose intensification was performed in 17.6% of the patients. Minor side effects developed in 4% of the patients and 5.4% of the patients underwent colectomy during the 1-year treatment period. CONCLUSIONS: These results coming from the real clinical setting demonstrate a favourable efficacy of adalimumab induction and maintenance therapy in patients with ulcerative colitis. Orv. Hetil., 2016, 157(18), 706-711

Paleogeographic evolution of the Southern Pannonian Basin: 40Ar/39Ar age constraints on the Miocene continental series of notthern Croatia

The Pannonian Basin, originating during the Early Miocene, is a large extensional basin incorporated between Alpine, Carpathian and Dinaride fold-thrust belts. Back-arc extensional tectonics triggered deposition of up to 500-m-thick continental fluvio-lacustrine deposits distributed in numerous sub-basins of the Southern Pannonian Basin. Extensive andesitic and dacitic volcanism accompanied the syn-rift deposition and caused a number of pyroclastic intercalations. Here, we analyze two volcanic ash layers located at the base and top of the continental series. The lowermost ash from Mt. Kalnik yielded an 40Ar/39Ar age of 18.07 ± 0.07 Ma. This indicates that the marine-continental transition in the Slovenia-Zagorje Basin, coinciding with the onset of rifting tectonics in the Southern Pannonian Basin, occurs roughly at the Eggenburgian/ Ottnangian boundary of the regional Paratethys time scale. This age proves the synchronicity of initial rifting in the Southern Pannonian Basin with the beginning of sedimentation in the Dinaride Lake System. Beside geodynamic evolution, the two regions also share a biotic evolutionary history: both belong to the same ecoregion, which we designate here as the Illyrian Bioprovince. The youngest volcanic ash level is sampled at the Glina and Karlovac sub-depressions, and both sites yield the same 40Ar/39Ar age of 15.91 ± 0.06 and 16.03 ± 0.06 Ma, respectively. This indicates that lacustrine sedimentation in the Southern Pannonian Basin continued at least until the earliest Badenian. The present results provide not only important bench marks on duration of initial synrift in the Pannonian Basin System, but also deliver substantial backbone data for paleogeographic reconstructions in Central and Southeastern Europe around the Early–Middle Miocene transition

The effect of the choice of the control variables of the water level control of open channels: comparison of control schemes using the ASCE Test canal 2

The effect of the choice of the control action variables on centralized water level controllers for open channels is analyzed. Three models are compared. In the first model the control action variable is the discharge and then the inverse gate equation is used to calculate the gate openings. In the second case the control action variable is the gate opening and that is incorporated to the canal model - supposing that the upstream water levels of each pool are known. In the third case control variables are also the gate openings but the upstream water level of each canal pool is unknown, they are calculated by the models by using the hydraulic relationships between the variables. These three models are discussed and compared through an example of centralized Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) controller using as example the Test canal 2 of the ASCE.Postprint (published version

Modelling of a Navigation Canal with Unknown Inputs: the Cuinchy-Fontinettes Case Study

The management of navigation canals is complex. The most important requirement apart form flood protection and maintenance of ecological flow is to keep the water level within a certain range around the normal navigation level. Due to geographical reasons, some navigation reaches are connected by locks. When these locks overcome big level differences the disturbance created by a lock operation can influence the water level in the reach and the possibility of navigation. There can be known and unknown, controllable and uncontrollable inputs influencing the water level. In order to plan the management and the control of such a system a model is needed. An example for such reach is the Cuinchy – Fontinettes reach in the north of France. The reach is bounded by two locks, and the (desired) operation of the downstream lock causes a disturbance that does not allow keeping the water level in the navigation range. In this work, the model of the system is built, and the estimation and the approximation of the unknown inputs is presented with uncertainties.Horvath Klaudia, Duviella Eric, Rajaoarisoa Lala Herimanjaka, Chuquet Karine. Modelling of a Navigation Canal with Unknown Inputs: the Cuinchy-Fontinettes Case Study. In: SimHydro 2014. New Trends in Simulation. 11-13 June 2014 Ecole Polytech’ Nice (France) 2014

Model predictive control based on an integrator resonance model applied to an open water channel

This paper describes a new simplified model for controller design of open water channels that are relatively short, flat and deep: the integrator resonance model (IR model). The model contains an integrator and the first resonance mode of a long reflecting wave. The paper compares the integrator resonance model to the simplified models: integrator delay, integrator delay zero and filtered integrator delay and to the high-order linearized Saint-Venant equations model. Results of using the integrator resonance model in a model predictive controller applied in closed loop on a high-order non-linear Saint-Venant model of the first pool of the laboratory canal at Technical University of Catalonia, Barcelona are compared to the results of using the other simplified models in MPC. This comparison shows that the IR model has less model mismatch with the high order model regarding the relevant dynamics of these typical channels compared to the other simplified models. It is demonstrated that not considering the resonance behavior in the controller design may result in poor performance of the closed loop behavior. In order to demonstrate the validity of the simulation model used in this study, the controller using the IR model is also tested on the actual open water channel and compared to the results of the high-order non-linear Saint-Venant simulation model. The results of this comparison show a close resemblance between simulation model and real world system. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

The effect of the choice of the control variables of the water level control of open channels: comparison of control schemes using the ASCE Test canal 2

The effect of the choice of the control action variables on centralized water level controllers for open channels is analyzed. Three models are compared. In the first model the control action variable is the discharge and then the inverse gate equation is used to calculate the gate openings. In the second case the control action variable is the gate opening and that is incorporated to the canal model - supposing that the upstream water levels of each pool are known. In the third case control variables are also the gate openings but the upstream water level of each canal pool is unknown, they are calculated by the models by using the hydraulic relationships between the variables. These three models are discussed and compared through an example of centralized Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) controller using as example the Test canal 2 of the ASCE