Testing Platform for Real-Time Controllers Based on Hardware In the Loop Simulation

To increase the biogas production, the anaerobic digestion process requires advanced control tools. However, in order to achieve an advanced control of the anaerobic digestion process, two constraints must be taken into account: the need for available plants for experimentation and the need to reduce costs. In this paper, it is proposed to develop a test platform for the anaerobic digestion process using the Hardware in the Loop Simulations principle. The emulation of the anaerobic digestion process is ensured by a computer that communicates with a data acquisition board, and the process control is ensured by a Programable Logic Controller. Such a platform is effective because it allows testing in extreme situations, which in the case of environmental processes is very difficult. The platform also includes a cloud computing component for advanced data processing.