FUZZY-LOGIC CONTROL OF AN UNSTABLE BIOREACTOR

A rule based fuzzy controller (FLC) is developed for stabilization of an unstable continuous stirred tank bioreactor (CSTBR) from various st art-up conditions. The output variable is the reactor substrate concen tration and the manipulated variable is the dilution rate. The perform ance of the FLC is evaluated by simulating a mathematical model of an unstable CSTBR. FLC is robust to perturbations in the specific growth rate, specific consumption rate and also to a disturbance in the feed substrate concentration. The performance of the FLC is superior to tha t of a conventional proportional controller.