Model predictive control of a biotechnological process

This paper deals with the design of a nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) scheme for the regulation of the acetate concentration in a biomethanation process - wastewater biodegradation with production of methane gas that takes place inside a Continuous Stirred Tank Bioreactor. The NMPC control structure is based on the nonlinear model of the process whose parameters are identified using the distributions method. Minimization of the cost function is realized using the Levenberg-Marquardt numerical optimization method. Some simulation results are given to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed control strategy.