Patent Document ID: 20080109100
Application ID: 11927899
Patent Flag: 0

Claim One:
1. A method for managing a batch fermentation process in a biofuel production process, comprising: providing a nonlinear multivariate predictive model of a batch fermentation process of a biofuel production process, wherein the nonlinear multivariate predictive model is usable to optimize end of batch biofuel yield; providing a nonlinear control model for the batch fermentation process, wherein the nonlinear control model comprises a temporal control horizon driven by biofuel concentration during the batch fermentation process; the nonlinear multivariate predictive model receiving an end of batch objective, wherein the end of batch objective specifies a target end of batch biofuel concentration; an optimizer executing the nonlinear multivariate predictive model to determine an optimal batch trajectory over the temporal control horizon in accordance with the end of batch objective, wherein the optimal batch trajectory specifies a biofuel concentration and/or sugar concentration trajectory over the batch fermentation process; providing the optimal batch trajectory to the nonlinear control model as a control objective; receiving process information for the batch fermentation process; executing the nonlinear control model in accordance with the determined optimal batch trajectory using the received process information as input, thereby generating model output comprising target values for a plurality of manipulated variables for the batch fermentation process, wherein the plurality of manipulated variables comprises batch fermentation temperature; controlling the batch fermentation process in accordance with the target values to produce biofuel in accordance with the determined optimal batch trajectory, to substantially optimize the end of batch biofuel yield.