Nonlinear Least Squares Techniques for System Identification in Water Quality

J.-G. Beliveau
G. Mattingly


DOI: 10.2190/JCHN-0KRK-4JQN-EDMW

Abstract

In natural surface waters such as rivers and lakes, the supply of dissolved oxygen (DO) and the oxygen demand (BOD) axe measurable quantities which determine the water's quality. Using specific water quality modeling systems and records of these measurable quantities, the important parameters governing the system response can be found. Once these parameters are determined, meaningful sets of controls may be imposed to keep water quality at or above acceptable standards. Many models have been proposed to represent the experimental observations. Most of these are variations of the classical Streeter-Phelps equation for the oxygen-sag relationship in rivers. The model which is considered in the present effort is due to Camp, and considers such effects (and the respective parameters) as sedimentation, (k3); photosynthesis (A); runoff (R); reaeration rate (k2); and the deoxygenation rate (k1). The method of nonlinear least squares combined with eigenvalue perturbations and parametric differentiation is used for parameter estimation for cases with both BOD and DO data and for DO data only. Both numerically generated test cases and actual laboratory experiments are considered in this "inverse" procedure.

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