Real-time LQ control of Murray-Darling basin networks

River basins are key components of water supply grids. River basin operators must handle a complex set of objectives including runoff storage, flood control, supply for consumptive use, hydroelectric power generation, silting management, and maintenance of river basin ecology. At present, operators rely on a combination of simulation and optimization tools to help make operational decisions. The complexity associated with this approach, however, makes it unsuitable for real-time (daily or hourly) operation. The consequence is that between longer-term optimized operation points, river basins are largely operated in open loop. This leads to operational inefficiencies most notably wasted water and poor ecological outcomes. For a more effective river operation real-time control is preferred. This paper demonstrates that centralized and distributed LQ controllers based on simple low-order models of the river basin network can be used to satisfy this requirement.