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Example Application:
Gravity Drained Water Tank
 
APMonitor Model
 
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Description
  
A gravity drained water tank has a level that is controlled by a valve on the inlet stream.  The tank is open to the atmosphere and continuously drains through a short outlet pipe.
 
 
This example shows the excellent predictive capabilities of a simple model derived from fundamental principles.

Measurements
 
The inlet valve position is controlled from 0% to 100% open. 
 
The tank level is also continously measured by a pressure sensor at the bottom of the tank.  This pressure is correlated to volume of the water in the tank.

Fundamental Model
 
A simple differential equation, derived from a material balance, describes how the level of the water will change as the inlet valve is adjusted.
 

 
The flow into the tank is proportional to the %open of the inlet valve.  The flow out of the tank is proportional to the square root of the height in the tank or volume with a constant cross-sectional area.

Control Interface
 

 
Step Test for Model Identification 
 

 
Actual Experimental Results
 
Test 1

  

Test 2