Application of Expert System to the Operation and Control of Industrial Antibiotic Fermentation Process

The computer has been found to have applications in industrial antibiotic fermentation processes for such tasks as data monitoring and logging, but their advanced usage for plant operation optimization and control is rare. This paper presents a knowledge-engineering approach to operation and control by using the concept of expert systems. We rely heavily on heuristic rules or guideline based on human expertise, process knowledge and historical data analysis. The application to industrial antibiotic fermentation process in this mode would combine on-line data with off-line sample analysis and microscopy. This approach enables one to use computer control and operation even in conditions of insufficent knowledge of process dynamics and various production states, and it is possible to make the operation for “satisfactory optimal” decision during the production.