Bioreactor control using a probing feeding strategy and mid-ranging control

The paper presents a fed-batch fermentation technique for bioreactors operating close to their maximum oxygen transfer capacity. The method combines the advantages of the probing feeding strategy and the temperature limited fed-batch technique. When the maximum oxygen transfer capacity of the reactor is reached, the temperature is decreased to lower the oxygen demand. To achieve a good control of the dissolved oxygen a mid-ranging controller manipulating the stirrer speed and the temperature is used. The feeding strategy is analysed and it is also illustrated by simulations and an experiment. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.