On-line adaptive control of a fed-batch fermentation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The feasibility of applying an adaptive control technique to a fermentation process is investigated. The nonlinear, time-variant parameters of a fermentation process were estimated on-line as a series of linearized describing matrices. The matrices were used to update a suboptimal feedback law which controlled the process in real time over the linear region. Experiments were performed on a small-scale fully instrumented fermenter with the online, real-time adaptive control package. Results are presented for both single- and multivariable control, and indicate successful control of yeast cell growth.