Optimal control of substrate concentrations in bioreactors with separated sensors

Many of the sophisticated sensors desirable for monitoring bioreactors cannot be placed in the bioreactor either because they are not steam sterilizable or because they require nonphysiological operating conditions. Such sensors can be used if they are separated from the bioreactor. Separation of the sensor from the bioreactor causes a time lag in data acquisition. This results in several complexities in the development of an appropriate and stable feedback control system based on a separated sensor. This paper analyzes the optimal control of a bioreactor with a separated sensor without a time lag and analyzes the feedback control (but not necessarily the optimal control) with a time lag. Simulation results indicate that this type of analysis could be extended to more general bioreactor operating conditions.