The Translation of Scale in Fermentation Processes: The Impact of Computer Process Control

Many of the physical and chemical parameters which influence the behavior of a microorganism are changed as the scale of operation is changed. A description is given of how the most important of these effect process performance. As well as opening up new doors for novel process control techniques, the introduction of computer process control and data acquisition have had a positive impact on all process development activities. Experimental batches in a pilot plant can now be run with greater precision than previously possible and a complete record is available of every event, both planned and unplanned, which occurs during the fermentation cycle.