Modeling and Analysis of an Aquifer System to Enhance Teaching in Control Systems

Abstract

This paper aims to demonstrate how analysing a practical example, such as an aquifer system, can enhance understanding of the Control Systems course teaching materials. The aquifer system was chosen because it is a multivariable system with multiple inputs and outputs, and thus has numerous variables that can be monitored over time. This makes it suitable for both time and frequency domain analysis using various MATLAB tools. Since the system is nonlinear, it was necessary to linearize it. A Taylor series expansion approach was used for this purpose. The linearized model was represented in both statespace form and as a block diagram. The state-space model was suitable for testing the controllability and observability of the system, while the block diagram model was used to assess stability and analyse the system's behaviour during transient and steady states.