On differential algebraic decision methods for the estimation of anaerobic digestion models

Abstract

Monitoring and control of anaerobic digestion of organic wastes by microorganisms are parts of actual world efforts to preserve environment. The anaerobic digestion is a biochemical process in which microorganisms (or bacteria) biodegrade organic matters into biogas (methane and carbon dioxide). Given the complexity of biochemical processes going on in such a bioreactor, control models are almost exclusively written in terms of mass balances of various species of interest. Such models are highly nonlinear and may contain many parameters which need to be identified. But the most challenging part of this estimation work concerns the online estimation of a key variable named the specific growth rates of microorganisms. It is invoked in most mass balance models. There is no devices to measure it so as techniques of estimation are very welcome in this field. The communication presents how differential algebraic decision methods can help find partial answers to the problem of online estimation of biomass specific growth rates based upon easily available measurements. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.