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Indirect measurement of water content in an aseptic solid substrate cultivation pilot‐scale bioreactor
Author(s) -
Peña y Lillo M.,
PérezCorrea R.,
Agosin E.,
Latrille E.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.1024
Subject(s) - bioreactor , environmental science , process engineering , scale up , substrate (aquarium) , water content , inlet , biological system , scale (ratio) , estimator , pulp and paper industry , computer science , mathematics , engineering , mechanical engineering , ecology , biology , botany , statistics , geotechnical engineering , physics , classical mechanics , quantum mechanics
A lack of models and sensors for describing and monitoring large‐scale solid substrate cultivation (SSC) bioreactors has hampered industrial development and application of this type of process. This study presents an indirect dynamic measurement model for a 200‐kg‐capacity fixed‐bed SSC bioreactor under periodic agitation. Growth of the filamentous fungus Gibberella fujikuroi on wheat bran was used as a case study. Real data were preprocessed using previously reported methodology. The model uses CO 2 production rate and inlet air conditions to estimate average bed water content and average bed temperature. The model adequately reproduces the evolution of the average bed water content and can therefore be used as an on‐line estimator in pilot‐scale SSC bioreactors. To obtain a reasonable fit of the bed temperature, however, inlet air humidity measurements will have to be adjusted with a data reconciliation algorithm. Good estimation of temperature is important for the future design of improved water content estimation using state observers. The model also provides insight into understanding the complex behavior of the dynamic system, which could prove useful when establishing advanced model‐based operational and control strategies. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 76: 44–51, 2001.