A grey-box approach for the optimization of regulation structures used in urban-water conveyance systems

ABSTRACT

This paper presents a holistic approach to address the challenges associated with deploying laboratory-derived hydraulic models in real operational conditions within Urban Water Systems (UWS). The underlying methods and tools are tested and validated using real-world data from the conveyance system serving the city of Athens, Greece. Initially, a novel data repair mechanism is developed, to rectify inconsistencies in time series. Subsequently, algorithmic techniques are applied to identify the most suitable datasets for calibration purposes. Furthermore, a grey-box procedure is developed to adjust key hydraulic modelling parameters, following a modular calibration procedure and aligning them with the specific characteristics of the UWS under study. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for effectively adapting and implementing laboratory-derived hydraulic models in real-world UWS scenarios, enabling better decision-making and management strategies for complex hydro-systems under challenging operational conditions.

KEYWORDS:

• Discharge coefficient
• flow measurement
• flow regulation
• grey-box model
• hydraulic parameters optimization
• sluice gates

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data used in this paper can be accessible after request to the authors.