Optimizing control for large scale dynamic systems; general issues and case study results: Transmission operations optimizer for Toronto water system

The aim of this paper is to provide a concise yet still a broad view on the most important differences between both objectives and design of regulatory control on one side and optimizing control of large supply and/or distribution systems. For this purpose the main objectives and characteristics of both types of control are first briefly presented. The main differences are exposed and discussed, followed by the description of problems related to introducing and, eventually, to implementing optimizing control systems. The second part of the paper is devoted to short presentation of a major optimizing controller for very large municipal water supply system, namely Toronto Water System (TWS). The Transmission Operations Optimizer (TOO) has been recently being tested and gradually implemented at Toronto Water Control Center and found to provide for meaningful electrical energy savings and much improved system operations.