A Study on a Kalman Filter using an Optimized Finite Element Model of Pipeline Dynamics

The purpose of this study is to estimate fl uid transients in a pipe using measured pressure values of three points. In this study, method of estimating fl uid transients by combining a steady-state Kalman fi lter and an optimized fi nite element model of pipeline dynamics is proposed. In this method, fl uid transients can be estimated without accurate setting of initial conditions. Moreover, not only the fl ow rate but also the pressure in a pipe can be estimated by the Kalman fi lter. In this paper, fl uid transients in a pipe were estimated off -line by using experimental values in order to show basic performance of the Kalman fi lter. In this off -line estimation, estimation results show good agreement with experimental results. Moreover, it was confi rmed that the error between the estimation value and the measured value was decreased by the Kalman fi lter when the initial value was not set accurately. In addition, covariances of sensor noise and system noise, which are parameters of the Kalman fi lter, were investigated. For comparison, an off -line remote measurement method for unsteady fl ow and the method of characteristics were applied to the same data. Estimation results of the Kalman fi lter show good agreement with the result of the method of characteristics and the remote measurement method for unsteady fl ow.