Modelling and Simulation of a Water Supply System

Abstract

This diploma thesis deals with the modelling, the simulation and the optimization of a water supply system and a hydroelectric power plant in Bolivia. A number of well proven methods for the modelling of water systems exist, but they all have requirements on the quality and quantity of the available data that were not met in the case in question. The optimization is a further challenge, as the optimization horizon spans from some minutes to years and the optimization goals contradict each other. Using the available data and in consideration of the described limitations a mathematical model for the system, consisting of a water supply system, an irrigation system and a hydroelectric power plant, was designed. For the precipitation a disaggregation model according to Bartlett-Lewis was implemented. The model of the catchment areas basically establishes a relationship between the precipitation and the run-off. The hydraulic components of the system were simplified modelled with lag elements and integrators. The resulting discrete-time linear time-invariant system was subdivided in subsystems and optimized with linear programming methods. The optimal strategy was subsequently simulated and compared to the manual operation.