SCADA system with predictive controller applied to irrigation canals

Abstract

This paper applies a model predictive controller (MPC) to an automatic water canal with sensors and actuators controlled by a network (programmable logic controller), and supervised by a SCADA system (supervisory control and a data acquisition). This canal is composed by a set of distributed sub-systems that control the water level in each canal pool, constrained by discharge gates (control variables) and water off-takes (disturbances). All local controllers are available through an industrial network managed by the SCADA system, where the centralized predictive controller runs. In the paper, a complete new platform connecting the SCADA supervisory system and the MATLAB software (named SCADA-MATLAB platform) is built, in order to provide the usual SCADA systems with the ability to handle complex control algorithms. The developed MPC-model presents a novelty in the control of irrigation canals as it allows the use of industrial PLCs to implement high complex controllers, through the new developed SCADA-MATLAB platform. Experimental results demonstrate the reliability and effectiveness of the propped strategy in real-life situations, including gate malfunctioning and extreme water off-take conditions.