System Downstream Control for On-Demand Irrigation Canals

A nonlinear programming (NLP) Model has been developed to assist downstream control for optimal control of canal systems, called system downstream control (SDC). The objective of system downstream control is to maintain a reference water depth (or target water depth) at the downstream end of each reach (or pool) and to satisfy users water demands by adjusting the control gate structures and turnout structures based on optimal operational decisions (such as optimal gate openings). The nonlinear programming (NLP) Model was used to make the optimal operational decisions for system downstream control, with consideration of the canals physical and operational constraints. A small canal system was used to test the system downstream control. The numerical results indicated that the performance of system downstream control was excellent.