Real-time modelling of fluid networks

The PowerPoint presentation is about the need for the real-time modelling of the Airbus A380 fuel system, which is a multi-source, multi-sink, non-linear fluid network. Particularly, the flow in all pumps/valves/pipes/tanks due to pump and head pressures and the mixing of fuel properties (temperature and dielectric properties) need to be modelled, with an iteration period of 250 milliseconds. Available enabling solutions for modelling include: high-level component libraries to automatically generate very large matrix-based algorithms; high-level language (Simulink) for gluing of large numbers of components; auto-generation tools to translate to platform independent source code (RealTimeWorkshop); and fast real time platforms (Pentium/VxWorks) to solve useful time period. The modelling solution however is compromised by the constraints of piecewise linear approximation of non-linear components and the large computational effort of the solver.