Automatic Control Design for Optimal Strategy in Fed-batch Culture with Coupled Feed of Glycerol and Alkali

In this paper, we study the production of 1,3-propanediol in fed-batch culture with coupled feed of glycerol and alkali. On the basis of the numerical solution to an optimal control problem subjected to a multi-stage nonlinear dynamical system, we propose a realizable optimal feeding strategy. Correspondingly, an automatic control system is designed for the fermenter, which involves the designs of control circuit, software flow control and computer monitored control system. This contribution successfully achieves a goal of combining a mathematically theoretical analysis with an automatic control design in the laboratory.