Control vector parameterization approach in optimization of alternating aerobic-anoxic systems

Determination of the optimal aeration profile for an activated sludge system in which nitrification and denitrification take place sequentially in a single reactor (alternating aerobic-anoxic) is an attractive optimization problem because of complexities involved in, and high computational times required for solution. The rigorous dynamic modeling and start-up simulation of such a system, together with aeration profile optimization by an evolutionary algorithm (EA), were tackled in a previous study. In this paper an easy-to-implement dynamic optimization technique based on sequential quadratic programming method and control vector parameterization approach is provided. In comparison with EA, the proposed algorithm gives better results in shorter computation times. Copyright (C) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.