Transition from batch to continuous operation in bio-reactors: A model predictive control approach and application

The microbial production of the bio-fuel ethanol, an alternative, renewable fuel with great potential, has acquired significance in recent times due to declining fossil fuels and the global strive to become energy independent. A predictive control approach is used in determining the batch duration that results in stabilizable values of the state variables at the end of the batch run. An application of the method is demonstrated on an ethanol production process. A dynamic model of the bio-reactor for producing ethanol is used. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the AIChE Annual Meeting (Salt Lake City, UT 11/4-9/2007).