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Periodic optimization of continuous microbial growth processes
Author(s) -
Abulesz EM,
Lyberatos G.
Publication year - 1987
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.260290904
Subject(s) - chemostat , bioreactor , steady state (chemistry) , dilution , biomass (ecology) , continuous production , control theory (sociology) , biological system , fermentation , growth rate , productivity , production (economics) , work (physics) , biochemical engineering , process engineering , mathematics , pulp and paper industry , environmental science , computer science , chemistry , thermodynamics , engineering , biology , environmental engineering , ecology , physics , biochemistry , artificial intelligence , bacteria , macroeconomics , genetics , geometry , control (management) , organic chemistry , economics
Steady‐state operation of continuous bioreactors is not necessarily the optimum type of operation. The method of π‐criterion is used in this work to determine whether periodic variation of the dilution rate can enhance the performance of continuous fermentation processes. It is found that the presence of time delay in the dynamic response of the chemostat renders a periodic operation of bioreactors, used for biomass production, superior to any steady‐state operation. Also, employing Williams' structured model it is shown that cycling improves the average protein productivity.