Run-to-Run Control of Membrane Filtration Processes.

The article offers information on a model-based run-to-run process control approach, in which the manipulated variables are optimized after each filtration cycle. It is noted that due to the complex mechanisms involved, membrane filtration processes are mostly operated with fixed values of the manipulated variables, leaving much of the economical potential unexplored. The evaluation of the process control approach involved a case study on submerged membrane filtration in wastewater treatment. A simulation environment employing a validated reference model was used to test the resulting model-based controller. Results with respect to prediction quality and optimization results are discussed.