Process control in biogas plants

Efficient monitoring and control of anaerobic digestion processes are necessary in order to enhance biogas plant performance. The task of monitoring and controlling the biological processes is to stabilize and optimize the production of biogas. The principles of Process Analytical Technology (PAT) has been addressed as one of the most promising on-line facilities for monitoring and controlling heterogeneous bioconversion processes. The future trend is to keep procedures as simple as possible, but to have available on-line monitoring systems with early warning strategies for plant operators, which would help to avoid significant process disturbances. All of it aims to move the process efficiently towards its theoretical maximum. Mathematical modelling of AD is another pass way to help control the process and avoid significant instabilities during the fermentation. Such models can improve the understanding of biological processes.