Adaptive linearizing inferential control of a PHB producing process

In this paper, experimental results of the control of the ammonia concentration during the growth phase of a PHB producing process in a fedbatch reactor are presented. The control design is based on the mass balance dynamical equations and does require any knowledge of the process kinetics. It results in an adaptive linearizing controller where the specific growth rate is estimated online. Moreover the value of the controlled variable, the ammonian concentration is given by a software sensor via an asymptotic observer based on the online measurement of the optical density