Model-based versus model-free control designs for improving microalgae growth in a closed photobioreactor: Some preliminary comparisons

Sihem Tebbani (1, 2) , Mariana Titica (3) , Cédric Join (4, 5, 6) , Michel Fliess (6, 7) , Didier Dumur (2, 1)

1 L2S - Laboratoire des signaux et systèmes
2 E3S - Supélec Sciences des Systèmes
3 GEPEA-BAM - Bioprocédés Appliqués aux Microalgues
4 NON-A - Non-Asymptotic estimation for online systems
5 CRAN - Centre de Recherche en Automatique de Nancy
6 AL.I.E.N. - ALgèbre pour Identification & Estimation Numériques
7 LIX - Laboratoire d'informatique de l'École polytechnique [Palaiseau]

Controlling microalgae cultivation, i.e., a crucial industrial topic today, is a challenging task since the corresponding modeling is complex, highly uncertain and time-varying. A model-free control setting is therefore introduced in order to ensure a high growth of microalgae in a continuous closed photobioreactor. Computer simulations are displayed in order to compare this design to an input-output feedback linearizing control strategy, which is widely used in the academic literature on photobioreactors. They assess the superiority of the model-free standpoint both in terms of performances and implementation simplicity.

Keywords: input-output feedback linearizing controller; intelligent proportional controller; model-free control; microalgae; photobioreactor

Domains: Biotechnology; Biotechnology; Automatic; Chemical and Process Engineering; Automatic Control Engineering; Systems and Control [cs.SY]; Optimization and Control [math.OC]

Sihem Tebbani, Mariana Titica, Cédric Join, Michel Fliess, Didier Dumur. Model-based versus model-free control designs for improving microalgae growth in a closed photobioreactor: Some preliminary comparisons. 24th Mediterranean Conference on Control and Automation, MED 2016, Jun 2016, Athènes, Greece. ⟨10.1109/med.2016.7535870⟩. ⟨hal-01312251v2⟩