| dc.description.abstract | Anaerobic digestion is a biological process utilized for the conversion of organic matter into valuable biogas and nutrient-rich digestate. This renewable energy technology holds great potential in addressing multiple environmental challenges, including waste management, greenhouse gas reduction, and energy generation. Optimizing the anaerobic digestion processes is crucial for maximizing biogas production, minimizing energy consumption, and ensuring stable methane output. This thesis focuses on the development and evaluation of control strategies to achieve these objectives. The research employs the AM2 model and incorporates data from the VEAS wastewater treatment plant to assess the effectiveness of different control approaches. Comprehensive test procedures are conducted to evaluate the performance of various control strategies, a cascade control loop consisting of an inner loop, outer loop PID controller and feedforward controllers, collaborate to regulate the methane output of the anaerobic digester. The replacement of the outer loop PID controllers with an MPC controller has also been tested an evaluated. The results indicate that the implemented control strategies effectively regulate the anaerobic digestion process. The MPC controller demonstrates superior tracking of setpoints compared to the PID controllers, although challenges arise due to the impact of the recirculation pump on the methane production output. This research contributes valuable insights for optimizing biogas production and reducing energy consumption in anaerobic digestion processes. It emphasizes the importance of system identification and provides recommendations for future research and refinement of control approaches. By leveraging these findings, future studies can develop advanced control strategies to enhance the performance and efficiency of anaerobic digestion processes, ultimately promoting sustainable and eco-friendly biogas production. | en_US |
