Modelling and control of microalgae production in industrial photobioreactors

Abstract

This manuscript presents a general overview of the microalgae production process from a modelling and control perspective. First, the main advantages and the potential of these microorganisms are motivated, describing the dierent type of reactors used for their cultivation. Afterwards, the process dynamics, which is very complex and variable due to diary and annual changes on ambient conditions, is analyzed and the main balance equations to describe the system behaviour are introduced. Then, dierent biological and structural models validated in industrial plants will be presented. Subsequently, the existing control problems in these systems are described, introducing a wide set of control algorithms that have been experimentally evaluated in industrial reactors. Finally, the most relevant aspects discussed along the paper are summarized.

Keywords

• microalgas
• modelado
• control
• fotobioreactores
• biotecnología