Abstract
A feedback control law for water distribution networks by piece-wise linearization is proposed and evaluated. In the proposed control law, several linearized control models in accordance with water demand are prepared in order to cope with nonlinearity of water distribution networks. The applicability range of each linearized control model is clarified for its practical use.
First, a problem of controlling water distribution networks is formulated, and based on this formulation a linearized feedback control model is derived. Then, stability condition of the derived model is obtained for a simple water distribution structure and the condition is extended for large scale distribution networks by computer simulation study. It is also shown that adjustment of the coefficients of the performance index can extend the stability range of the linearized model. Finally, a control law composed with multiple linearized models is proposed and it is demonstrated that the proposed law is practically useful for controlling actual water distribution networks by computer simulation.
