Modeling and Simulation of the Biohydrogen Production Processes

Abstract This chapter summarizes the recent advances in the modeling of biohydrogen production processes, i.e., photofermentation and dark fermentation. The different strategies that can be applied for the design, scale-up, or optimization of the corresponding bioreactors are reviewed, with their requirements that may strongly differ. First, black-box models are depicted, which include both empirical equations and various statistical approaches, from the conventional design of experiments methodology to advanced techniques, such as artificial neural networks. For semiempirical modeling, biokinetic models usually coupled with the assumption of ideal reactor are summarized from unstructured to structured approaches. Then, integrated bioreactor models able to account for local heterogeneity are compared: these encompass nonideal and compartmental models, but also three-dimensional modeling based on Computational Fluid Dynamics, as well as population balance models to discriminate cell populations. Finally, the closing discussion summarizes the benefits and challenges related to these simulation strategies, as well as their respective shortcomings.