title: Computer simulation of control strategies for optimal anaerobic digestion.
abstract: Three previously published control strategies for anaerobic digestion were implemented in Simulink/Matlab using Anaerobic Digestion Model No. 1 (ADM1) to model the biological process. The controllers' performance were then simulated and evaluated based on their responses from five different types of process scenarios i.e. start-up and steady state performance as well as disturbances from concentration, pH and ammonia in the inflow. Of the three evaluated control strategies, the extremum-seeking variable gain controller gave the best overall performance. However, a proportional feedback controller based on the pH-level, used as a reference case in the evaluation, proved to give as good results as the extremum-seeking variable gain controller but with a lower wear on the pump. It was therefore concluded that a fast proportional control of the reactor pH is a key element for optimally controlling a low-buffering anaerobic digestion process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Lund University, Getingevägen 60, 221 00 Lund, Sweden. sten.stromberg@biotek.lu.se
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Strömberg
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Possfelt
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D056804:Biofuels; D019149:Bioreactors; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D018505:Waste Management
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D000641:Ammonia