CANAL AUTOMATION – TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND EXPAND IRRIGATION AREA COVERAGE by Prof. Nayan Sharma, WRD&M, IIT Roorkee and Honorary Professor, University of Nottingham, UK

1. INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY ROORKEE
CANAL AUTOMATIONCANAL AUTOMATION TO IMPROVETO IMPROVECANAL AUTOMATION CANAL AUTOMATION –– TO IMPROVE TO IMPROVE
EFFICIENCY AND EXPAND IRRIGATION EFFICIENCY AND EXPAND IRRIGATION
AREA COVERAGE AREA COVERAGE
by
Prof. Nayan Sharma, WRD&M, IIT Roorkee
by
and
Honorary Professor, University of Nottingham, UKy f y f g

2. MODERNIZATION OF IRRIGATION SYSTEMMODERNIZATION OF IRRIGATION SYSTEM
IsIs aa combinationcombination ofof technical,technical, managerial,managerial, andand
organizationalorganizational upgradingupgrading ofof irrigationirrigation
‐‐ toto improveimprove resourceresource utilizationutilization andand waterwater deliverydelivery
serviceservice toto farmsfarms..
‐‐ ToTo ImproveImprove irrigationirrigation waterwater managementmanagement forfor increasingincreasing
productivityproductivity andand minimizingminimizing adverseadverse effectseffects suchsuch asas
salinizationsalinizationsalinizationsalinization..
‐‐ toto facilitatefacilitate canalcanal operationoperation..
toto increaseincrease thethe operatingoperating fle ibilitfle ibilit ofof canalscanals‐‐ toto increaseincrease thethe operatingoperating flexibilityflexibility ofof canalscanals..
‐‐ toto monitormonitor canalcanal operationoperation inin realreal‐‐timetime..
tt tt f tf t ff thth f ilitif iliti
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‐‐ toto ensureensure greatergreater safetysafety ofof thethe facilitiesfacilities..

3. History of Canal AutomationHistory of Canal Automation
•• EarlyEarly canalcanal automationautomation (pre(pre‐‐19501950's)'s) waswas characterizedcharacterized byby
thethe useuse ofof hydraulichydraulic gatesgates..
•• DanaideanDanaidean gatesgates havehave beenbeen usedused inin CaliforniaCalifornia sincesince thethe
19301930's's
•• FlapFlap gatesgates werewere investigatedinvestigated inin TheThe NetherlandsNetherlands byby•• FlapFlap gatesgates werewere investigatedinvestigated inin TheThe NetherlandsNetherlands byby
VlugterVlugter ((19401940))..
•• InIn thethe latelate 19801980ss andand earlyearly 19901990s,s, thethe emphasisemphasis shiftedshifted totoInIn thethe latelate 19801980ss andand earlyearly 19901990s,s, thethe emphasisemphasis shiftedshifted toto
physicalphysical technicaltechnical interventionsinterventions suchsuch asas improvedimproved waterwater
levellevel andand flowflow controlcontrol..
•• InIn thethe earlyearly 20002000ss thethe emphasisemphasis shiftedshifted backback almostalmost
completelycompletely toto thethe creationcreation ofof waterwater useruser associationsassociations..
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4. Can Can India afford India afford notnot to modernize to modernize irrigation?irrigation?
 TheThe increasedincreased yieldsyields ofof graingrain sincesince 19601960,, areare largelylargely
attributedattributed toto newnew varietiesvarieties (the(the “green“green revolution”)revolution”) andand
expandedexpanded irrigatedirrigated acreageacreageexpandedexpanded irrigatedirrigated acreageacreage..
 ThereThere areare nono spectacularspectacular newnew highhigh--yieldyield graingrain varietiesvarieties
expectedexpected inin thethe nearnear futurefuture..
 ItIt isis nownow recognizedrecognized thatthat furtherfurther expandingexpanding irrigatedirrigated
acreageacreage generallygenerally isis notnot feasible,feasible, asas manymany waterwater
suppliessupplies areare alreadyalready overover allocatedallocatedsuppliessupplies areare alreadyalready overover allocatedallocated..
 India’sIndia’s populationpopulation continuescontinues toto increase,increase,
 IrrigatedIrrigated agricultureagriculture isis expectedexpected toto produceproduce mostmost ofof thethe IrrigatedIrrigated agricultureagriculture isis expectedexpected toto produceproduce mostmost ofof thethe
additionaladditional foodfood neededneeded toto feedfeed thethe increasingincreasing
populationpopulation..
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5. CanalCanal automationautomation methodsmethods
 DownstreamDownstream controlcontrol methodmethod –– D/SD/S demanddemand
i t di t d i ili il ii ii llorientedoriented primarilyprimarily inin mainmain canalcanal
 DynamicDynamic regulationregulation methodmethod –– BasedBased onon cropcrop
waterwater requirementrequirement rightright upup toto irrigatedirrigated fieldfield::
exampleexample ProvenceProvence dede CanalCanal inin FranceFranceexampleexample –– ProvenceProvence dede CanalCanal inin FranceFrance
 ControlledControlled volumevolume conceptconcept approachapproach –– LevelLevel
toptop canalcanal gategate controlledcontrolled suchsuch asas CaliforniaCalifornia
AqueductAqueduct inin USAUSA
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AqueductAqueduct inin USAUSA..

6. How Does Canal Automation Work?How Does Canal Automation Work?
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7. Canal Operations are improved if operation Canal Operations are improved if operation
of structure is simple.of structure is simple.pp
•• Things that simplify operations:Things that simplify operations:Things that simplify operations:Things that simplify operations:
–– Good flow measurementGood flow measurement
–– FreeFree‐‐flow structuresflow structures
–– longlong‐‐crested weirscrested weirs
•• Things that complicate operationsThings that complicate operations
–– Lack of flow measurementLack of flow measurement
–– Uncertain structure hydraulics & operationsUncertain structure hydraulics & operations
–– Intermediate, nonIntermediate, non‐‐regulating structuresregulating structures
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8. •• ItIt isis possiblepossible toto determinedetermine wavewave traveltravel timestimes
forfor operationsoperations fromfrom steadysteady statestate backwaterbackwaterforfor operationsoperations fromfrom steadysteady‐‐statestate backwaterbackwater
curvescurves (volume(volume compensation)compensation)
h d lih d li hh bibi i fli fl•• StructureStructure hydraulicshydraulics havehave aa bigbig influenceinfluence onon
howhow waveswaves traveltravel throughthrough canalcanal poolspools..
•• CanalsCanals underunder backwaterbackwater andand weirsweirs provideprovide
fasterfaster (and(and probablyprobably moremore predictable)predictable)
responseresponse timestimes..
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9. TailTail‐‐Ender ProblemEnder Problem
•• TheseThese approachesapproaches contributecontribute toto thethe tailtail‐‐
endedended problem,problem, wherewhere allall thethe mismatchesmismatches
endend upup atat thethe downstreamdownstream endend ofof thethe systemsystem..
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10. Solving the TailSolving the Tail‐‐Ender ProblemEnder Problem
 Good measurement and accounting keep right
amount of water in canals and reduce the
chance for serious mismatches.
– This mean operators should keep track of and be
accountable for mismatches
 Remote manual operation can identify and
correct the problem. (SCADA)
 New methods for automatic downstream
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level control are being developed.

11. Existing canal systems were not designed for Existing canal systems were not designed for
accurate measurement, control and accountingaccurate measurement, control and accounting
•• Canal control is difficult because:Canal control is difficult because:
–– Upstream changes are delayed downstreamUpstream changes are delayed downstream
–– Upstream changes arrive graduallyUpstream changes arrive gradually
–– Pool volumes change with discharge, roughness, and depth at Pool volumes change with discharge, roughness, and depth at
structurestructure
•• Canal operators want steady flows and rigid schedules Canal operators want steady flows and rigid schedules ‐‐
farmers want flexibility and responsivenessfarmers want flexibility and responsivenessfarmers want flexibility and responsivenessfarmers want flexibility and responsiveness
•• Common problems resultCommon problems result
–– Flow rates fluctuateFlow rates fluctuate
–– Flow rates may be too high or lowFlow rates may be too high or low
–– Operations are unresponsive to needsOperations are unresponsive to needs
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Operations are unresponsive to needsOperations are unresponsive to needs
–– Inadequate accounting for water entering and leaving canalInadequate accounting for water entering and leaving canal

12. Supervisory control and data acquisition
(SCADA) Systems ( ) y
• SCADA systems can provide real‐time monitoring, remote
supervisory or automatic control, troubleshooting, and automatic
data reporting and archiving capabilities.
• Uninterrupted communication is the backbone of a SCADAUninterrupted communication is the backbone of a SCADA
implementation.
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Basic SCADA components

13. HardwareHardware requiredrequired ––
V iV i ff tt l ll l ilil i ti t VariousVarious sensorssensors forfor waterwater level,level, soilsoil moisture,moisture,
weatherweather // LysimeterLysimeter
 NeyrtecNeyrtec gatesgates
SoftwareSoftware requiredrequiredSoftwareSoftware requiredrequired ––
 CanalCanal flowflow simulationsimulation
 SoilSoil moisturemoisture simulationsimulation
 ClimatologicalClimatological simulationsimulation
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 ClimatologicalClimatological simulationsimulation

14. Radar Radar Based Water Level RecorderBased Water Level Recorder
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15. NeyrpicNeyrpic Gates / Weir use in Main Canal Automation Gates / Weir use in Main Canal Automation
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16. Typical Typical Benefits of Canal AutomationBenefits of Canal Automation
1.1. SupplySupply--orientedoriented versus demandversus demand--oriented operations;oriented operations;
2.2. ImprovedImproved water deliveries for maximizing cropwater deliveries for maximizing crop
productionproduction;;
3.3. AdoptionAdoption of modern onof modern on--farm irrigation systems;farm irrigation systems;
4.4. ImprovedImproved river (inriver (in--stream)stream) flowsflows and river quality;and river quality;
5.5. ReducedReduced spills and tailspills and tail--end losses;end losses;
6.6. Increased efficiencyIncreased efficiency and accountability;and accountability;
7.7. EliminationElimination of operator “kingdoms”;of operator “kingdoms”;
8.8. ImprovedImproved social harmony;social harmony;
9.9. Increased flowIncreased flow rate capacity; andrate capacity; and
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p y;p y;
10.10.ComplianceCompliance with environmental law and water rights.with environmental law and water rights.

17. Dynamic Regulation on the Canal De Dynamic Regulation on the Canal De Provence Provence
in France in France
 DynamicDynamic regulationregulation isis aa remoteremote management,management, controlcontrol andand
monitoringmonitoring systemsystem
 II i li l dd dd l dl d ll ll ff IsIs entirelyentirely automatedautomated andand ensuresensures permanentpermanent closedclosed--looploop controlcontrol ofof
allall waterwater movementsmovements andand safetysafety devicesdevices
 CommunicationCommunication ofof requirementsrequirements byby users,users, forecasting,forecasting, thethe
h d lih d li tt ff t lt l tt dd f tf thydraulichydraulic aspectsaspects ofof aa controlcontrol systemsystem andand safetysafety..
 SpecificSpecific naturenature ofof thethe CanalCanal dede ProvenceProvence andand itsits controlcontrol methodmethod isis
anan entirelyentirely manman--mademade waterwater conveyanceconveyance andand distributiondistribution systemsystem
 AA branchedbranched networknetwork ofof variousvarious typestypes ofof structure,structure, mainlymainly
functioningfunctioning byby gravitygravity flowflow..
 SystemSystem incorporatesincorporates secondary,secondary, pumppump--operatedoperated conduitsconduits atat itsits
extremitiesextremities.. TheThe systemsystem suppliessupplies waterwater toto 4040,,000000 haha ofof agriculturalagricultural
land,land, 7070 townstowns andand villagesvillages andand aa greatgreat manymany industriesindustries.. ItIt operatesoperates
onon anan 'on'on--request'request' basisbasis..
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18. Flow Control and Transients in the California Flow Control and Transients in the California
AqueductAqueduct
 CaliforniaCalifornia AqueductAqueduct ofof thethe CaliforniaCalifornia StateState WaterWater ProjectProject inin 19671967 toto
thethe presentpresent..
 MethodMethod ofof gategate operationoperation forfor flowflow controlcontrol hashas beenbeen modifiedmodified toto keepkeepMethodMethod ofof gategate operationoperation forfor flowflow controlcontrol hashas beenbeen modifiedmodified toto keepkeep
upup withwith thethe changingchanging operationaloperational demandsdemands.. Initially,Initially, serialserial gategate
operationoperation waswas employedemployed..
 ThenThen asas operatingoperating demandsdemands increasedincreased aa newnew methodmethod calledcalledThenThen asas operatingoperating demandsdemands increasedincreased aa newnew methodmethod calledcalled
simultaneoussimultaneous gategate operation,operation, usingusing thethe controlledcontrolled volumevolume concept,concept,
waswas implementedimplemented..
 FlowFlow changeschanges increasedincreased stillstill anotheranother methodmethod knownknown asas timedtimed gategateFlowFlow changeschanges increasedincreased stillstill anotheranother methodmethod knownknown asas timedtimed gategate
operation,operation, anotheranother variationvariation ofof thethe controlledcontrolled volumevolume concept,concept,
 RecentRecent flowflow changechange teststests indicateindicate thatthat timedtimed gategate operationoperation willwill
controlcontrol thethe fluctuationsfluctuations withinwithin thethe allowableallowable forfor flowflow changeschanges upup totocontrolcontrol thethe fluctuationsfluctuations withinwithin thethe allowableallowable forfor flowflow changeschanges upup toto
andand includingincluding designeddesigned flowflow quantitiesquantities inin thethe rangerange ofof 1313,,100100 cfscfs
((370370 m³/sec)m³/sec)..
 RefinementRefinement toto thethe timedtimed gategate operationoperation cancan furtherfurther reducereduce thethe
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RefinementRefinement toto thethe timedtimed gategate operationoperation cancan furtherfurther reducereduce thethe
magnitudesmagnitudes ofof hydraulichydraulic transientstransients duringduring majormajor flowflow changeschanges..

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21. FractionalFractional‐‐order order Mathematical Model of Mathematical Model of an an
Irrigation Canal Irrigation Canal
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22. Canal Canal Automation Proposed for Automation Proposed for
SardarSardar SarovarSarovar Project Canal System Project Canal System
• The Sardar Sarovar Project canal system is 458 km long
Narmada Main Canal(NMC).
• NMC has design discharge capacity of 1134 cumecs
(cubic meter per second).
W ld B k t t d t t th l• World Bank, experts suggested to operate the canal
conveyance system by Control Volume Concept (CVC).
• CVC in turn calls for simultaneous operation of all theCVC in turn calls for simultaneous operation of all the
control structures, and hence Remote Monitoring and
Control System is inevitable for operation of the canal
conveyance systemconveyance system.
• Irrigation water in the command area of SSP would be
delivered to farmer's group and not to the individual
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g p
famers as per the requirement of water.

23. • Actual demand of water were evaluated to deliver water
at the distant points in the region.
• Normally to distribute water as per variations in• Normally, to distribute water, as per variations in
demand, it takes days and days to reach in command
area. However, in SSP these variations in demands of
water will be known in advance.
• This needs advanced planning and designing of
hardware as well as software of specific requirementhardware as well as software of specific requirement.
• There is overuse of water by initial command blocks
(near the dam), and leaving less supplies to the areas
down the canal.
• Canal Automation will eliminate this discrepancies and
equal benefits of irrigation will be available to entire
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equal benefits of irrigation will be available to entire
command area.

24. • RMCS will ensure that required quantity of water will
reach to farms.
N h i th ld R t M it i d• Nowhere, in the world Remote Monitoring and
Controlled System for open channel network on such a
large scale has been implemented.g p
• Even the project envisaged for SSP Canal conveyance
network (600 km length) is larger than the existing canal
automation projects elsewhere in this worldautomation projects elsewhere in this world.
• Pilot Project for the Canal Automation on Main Control
Center (MCC) at Gandhinagar and Divisional Operation( ) g p
Center (DOC) Vadodara, which will include Narmada
Main Canal (0 to 458 km), Vadodara Branch Canal and
Sakarda Branch Canal Systems
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Sakarda Branch Canal Systems.

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26. Thanks…
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