On the controllability of fermentation systems

This thesis concerns the controllability of fermentation processes. Fermentation processes are often described by unstructured process models. A control system can be used to reduce the effect of the uncertainties and disturbances. A process is called controllable if a control system satisfying suit...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Kuhlmann, C.
Published: University College London (University of London) 1998
Subjects:
664
Online Access:http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.501683
Description
Summary:This thesis concerns the controllability of fermentation processes. Fermentation processes are often described by unstructured process models. A control system can be used to reduce the effect of the uncertainties and disturbances. A process is called controllable if a control system satisfying suitably defined control objectives can be found. Controllability measures based on linear process models are identified. The idealised control objective for perfect control allows fast evaluation of the controllability measures. These measures are applied to compare different designs of a continuous fermentation process by identifying the controllability properties of the process design. The operational mode of fed batch fermentations is inherently dynamic. General control system design methods are not readily applicable to such systems. This work presents an approach for the design of robust controllers suitable for these processes. The control objective is to satisfy a set of robustness constraints for a given set of model uncertainties and disturbances. The optimal operation and design problems are combined into a single optimal control problem. The controller design is integrated into the process design problem formulation. In this way the control system and the process are designed simultaneously. Different problem formulations are investigated. The proposed approach is demonstrated on complex fermentation models. The resulting operating strategies are controllable with respect to the aims of control.