CONTROL OF FLOW NETWORKS

A method for control of a flow network in order to improve the performance of the flow network comprises: (a) applying predetermined excitations at multiple control points (10, 12, 14, 16) within the flow network, wherein the multiple control points (10, 12, 14, 16) are at different branches of the flow network; (b) receiving measurements of changes in one or more flow parameter(s) in one or more flow path(s) in which flows of more than one of the different branches have been combined; (c) carrying out an analysis of the flow parameter measurements to identify variations induced by the applied excitations; (d) determining an adjustment to be made at one or more of the control point(s) in order to improve the performance of the flow network, for example by building and solving an optimisation model; (e) making the determined adjustment to the control point(s) of the flow network or making an alternative adjustment decided upon by the flow network operator; and (f) repeating steps (a) to (e) one or more times to thereby iteratively improve the performance of the flow network. The most illustrative drawing: Fig: 12