Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI: 10.1002/oca.905 Optimal time switching control for multi-reaction batch process

This paper presents an approach for solving minimal time problems for biological batch models with switching controls. Multi-reaction processes operated in a sequence of operating modes are considered, where the control variable is the switch between different operating modes. In order to determine the optimal switching instants that minimize the final time to reach the target, a reachability analysis and a study of dynamical properties are first investigated. This leads to a reduced model and the characterization of reachable switching sequences. Optimization tools are then used to determine the optima