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BUILDING A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE®

FUZZY LOGIC FOR THE MASSES


ANDREW SHAW, TIM HOLMES, EDMUND KOBYLINSKI: BLACK & VEATCH

Classification
BACKGROUND TYPICAL / POTENTIAL APPLICATION
The ideas behind fuzzy logic were first conceived and developed Fuzzy logic control is particularly applicable to systems where there are a large number
Result
High Low Medium High
in the 1960s by Wilkinson (1963), and Zadeh (1965), but became of unknowns and the system cannot be fully described mathematically, such as in waste-
Low Medium Classification
popular for a wider range of applications with the advent of more water treatment systems.
1 1.00
1 Result

(level of classification)
degree of membership
powerful and less expensive computing power in the 1980s and 1. Aeration control based on flow, temperature and dissolved oxygen.

degree of membership
1990s. Fuzzy logic is now used in a wide range of applications 2. Aeration control based on online measurement of nutrients.
0.75 Medium

from anti-lock braking systems (ABS) in cars to artificial intelli- 3. Sludge wastage and sludge age control based on temperature and solids inventory.
gence in video games and numerous applications in domestic elec- 4. Return-activated sludge-flow control based on sludge blanket and nutrient levels.
trical appliances and consumer electronics. It has been identified 5. Load balancing to optimize treatment, reduce energy costs or mitigate upsets.
0.0 0.20 High

that fuzzy logic can be applied to wastewater treatment and some 6. Chemical dosing based on flow and nutrient concentration.
0 0.0 0.02 Low
0
range
work also has been done by researchers (Fita, 2005; Olsson, 2005).
range

A specific application of example number 2, currently under investigation, is to use concen-


2 temperature 15 20 temperature 150

In recent years, programmable logic controller (PLC) manufactur- tration-based feedback control using online ammonia measurements in different parts of an
Crisp Value Crisp

ers, such as Rockwell, have implemented new user-friendly PLC activated sludge system. The control system simply monitors the ammonia concentration
Figure 1: Traditional Set Classification Figure 2: Fuzzy Set Classification
technologies that enable programmers to make easy use of fuzzy and adjusts the setpoint for the airflow in order to drive the ammonia toward the desired set-
(Courtesy, Rockwell Automation) (Courtesy, Rockwell Automation)

logic to implement time honored but rarely utilized historical con- point. The control steps are: (1) Calculate error (concentration – setpoint); (2) If error is
trol approaches and human decision making. Programming that FUZZY FUNDAMENTALS this value is in the medium category but more towards the high end of this positive reduce the air flow; (3) If error is negative increase air flow.
would normally take hours or days to code can be done in a frac- Traditional logic classifies a condition based on a variable being in a set category, as it is already encroaching into the high category. In addition to these basic control rules, the dissolved oxygen concentration must also be
tion of the time. This advent could revolutionize the use of control range. This is illustrated in Figure 1 where a “crisp” value is defined if a given One of the most powerful facets of fuzzy logic is the relative ease with which maintained in an acceptable range for BOD removal and filament control. If the control sys-
in a wide range of industrial and utility applications as fuzzy logic temperature is classified as being low, medium or high. With fuzzy classifica- expert knowledge can be translated into a control system without the need to tem repeatedly increases the air flow but the ammonia concentration does not decrease, this
is introduced to the masses. tion, illustrated in Figure 2, the edges of the classifications overlap to allow a understand complex control theory or proportional-integral-derivative (PID) may indicate that the plant is overloaded with ammonia (from in-plant recycle streams or
transition between classifications, so a given value is classified by its degree control loop tuning. The control logic can be described with simple “if/then” influent load) and a warning should be given. Other factors that can affect ammonia removal
of membership to a particular category. In the example shown, the indicated logic statements such, “If the value is high, then carry out a certain action.” are the nitrite-to-nitrate ratio and solids retention time (SRT). If the nitrite to nitrate ratio is
IF crisp value has 0.75 membership in the medium category and only 0.20 and It then can be simply converted into a function to carry out this logic. This is too high, then increase the air flow. If the SRT is too low, the effluent ammonia concentra-
0.02 in the high and low temperature categories, respectively. In lay terms, illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. tion will increase and increasing air flow won’t work until the SRT is increased by reducing
solids wasting to increase the SRT. This application is ideally suited to fuzzy logic control.
Temperature is High/Medium
Low Medium High
0.85 Compressor is running Medium Fuzzy System
AND IMPLICATIONS OF USER-FRIENDLY FUZZY LOGIC
Fuzzy logic allows a control system to make smarter decisions and enables it to move one
Medium
or
step closer to artificial intelligence or at least make the control system more “human” with
0.4 Compressor is running High Rule-Based View Nonlinear Function View
its ability to make heuristic decisions. Fuzzy logic opens up the potential for control that is
High
Rule 1
THEN

©Copyright, Black & Veatch Corporation, 2009. All rights reserved. The Black & Veatch name and logo are registered trademarks of Black & Veatch Holding Company. Other service marks and trademarks may be registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies.
more responsive, more flexible and easier to modify in the future.
0.8 Low Medium High
Temperature MIN IF (temperature IS low) AND
low high (pressure IS low) THEN

• New user-friendly programming interfaces and PLCs incorporating fuzzy logic should
(throttle IS open)
temperature temperature 0

save considerable programming time in the initial development of a control system.


Humidity is High/Very High Rule 2
DOF IF (temperature IS low) AND 20
open

• When future conditions change, such as new effluent requirements or the addition of
closed open
(pressure IS acceptable) 40
Very Low Low Medium High Very High 0.4
MIN THEN (throttle IS

new online measurements for optimization and the if/then relationships in the fuzzy
throttle 60

Compressor partially_open)
0.8
logic controller need to be changed, it may be possible for plant staff to do this instead of
Center of medium
80
High
Gravity Speed IF (temperature IS low) AND 100 200

having to issue a contract for an integrator to reprogram the system.


100
90 180
0.5 (~Pressure) pressure
(pressure IS high) THEN pressure 80
70 160

• As effluent limits are reduced, more variables in the wastewater treatment plant are inter-
60
Very High (throttle IS 50 140
40
nearly_closed) temperature 30 pressure

connected and a smarter control scheme is needed.


20 120
… 10
0 100

• Fuzzy logic can more easily accommodate this through additional if/then statements
Humidity
without completely reprogramming the system.
Figure 4: Rules Are Used to Develop Non-Linear Functions
Figure 3: Simple Example Applying Fuzzy Rules to an Air Conditioner (Courtesy, Rockwell) (Example case of a throttle valve control based on temperature and pressure, courtesy Rockwell)

THIS POSTER WAS PRESENTED AT WEFTEC 2009


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