Research problem - Model

Illumination gradients, which decreases in a dramatic way productivity (Gómez-Pérez, Espinosa Oviedo, Montenegro Ruiz, & van Boxtel, 2017).

High operational costs: aeration, culture medium, agitation, mixing and control of variables (Gómez-pérez, Espinosa, Ruiz, & Boxtel, 2015).

Agitation and mixing takes 70% energy consumption (Norsker, Barbosa, Vermuë, & Wijffels, 2011).

Post-Processing of biomass is expensive (Brennan & Owende, 2010).

Main problem: Microalgae culture at industrial levels unfeasible economically.

Some authors have analyzed economic and operational aspects of this kind of process. Some solutions: (Gómez-pérez et al., 2015; Lehr & Posten, 2009; Soman & Shastri, 2015)

Increasing the illuminated surface for the system.

Improving process agitation and air supply.

Understanding in a better way the photosynthetic process in the nature

Modelling and control tools: design, operation and optimization.

Research problem: Economic impact of the application of Economic Model Predictive Control (EMPC) in an unfeasible economically system like photobioreactors (PBRs).

Dynamic model of L/D cycles and PBR.

PBR control strategies.

Illumination

Agitation and mixing.

Photosynthesis.

Mass balances.

Beer-Lambert law.

CFD simulation.

Kinetics models.

Mass conservation principle.

LD cycles frequencies model

Dynamic model for biomass concentration.

PBR is a complex system, multivariable and with constrains for its operation.

Model predictive control – MPC

Economic model predictive control – EMPC

Energetic objective function.

Economy of the whole system: PBR + Control.