An Integrated Software and Hardware Architecture for Gravity-driven and Remotely-operated Water Release

Authors

Dogukan OzecikFollow

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Major/Program

Civil Engineering

First Advisor's Name

Arturo Leon

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Hector R. Fuentes

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Third Advisor's Name

Armin Mehrabi

Third Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Keywords

Flood Control, Remote Operation, Siphon, Wetland, Reservoir, Water Release

Date of Defense

4-1-2021

Abstract

The present study proposes an integrated real-time hardware and software architecture for gravity-driven and remotely-operated water release from storage units such as detention ponds, reservoirs, and wetlands using a siphon and conventional drainage pipe system. The hardware involves a communication component, a control function component, and a hydraulics component. The communication component consists of a Virtual Private Network (VPN) router that collects the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) data and sends it to the remote center. The hydraulics hardware consists of an actuated butterfly valve, water level sensor, bilge pump, and air vent. Multiple flow release tests were carried out at the FIU Engineering Center to test the functionality and operational capability of the proposed system. The cost analysis for a 6" diameter siphon and conventional drainage pipe showed that they both are significantly less expensive than the widely used Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system. The proposed low-cost systems can open new avenues for water management. Another proposition of this study is a derivation of an analytical equation for calculating the time-varying flow releases for both types of drainage. The validity of these equations was confirmed using the experimental flow release tests.

Identifier

FIDC010236

Recommended Citation

Ozecik, Dogukan, "An Integrated Software and Hardware Architecture for Gravity-driven and Remotely-operated Water Release" (2021). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 4825.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/4825