Abstract

Efective control of open channels poses a fundamental challenge in the agro-industry, where the consistent delivery of a minimum flow rate and the assurance of uninterrupted operation are paramount. To tackle this challenge, conventional approaches rely on models grounded in the Saint-Venant partial differential equations or approximations such as Zeigler-Nichols. These models often employ controllers based on PID strategies or their variants. This article introduces a streamlined methodology for designing a robust controller for open channels, employing a coupledtank approach. We utilize a linear representation with time-varying parameters (LPV) to account for uncertainties stemming from the simplified model. The resulting robust controller is synthesized through H∞ norm optimization, ensuring D-stable performance. This approach convincingly demonstrates the controllers capacity to uphold system stability, even when dealing with a model that offers a less precise representation of the underlying physical reality.