Control over networks: A case study of Wastewater Treatment Plants

A control over the network for an activated sludge wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is presented. A predictive PID control algorithm is applied to the dissolved oxygen concentration in the aerated tank and to the nitrate level. To increase the reliability and performance of the networked solution, the effect of dropouts in the transmission was also investigated. The control strategy is evaluated using a networked wastewater control system simulator, which is an extension of the Benchmark Simulation Model No. 1 (BSM1) and a network simulator. The results showed that the approach can be used effectively for control in WWTP, since it achieves satisfactory dissolved oxygen control and dropout compensation.