Optimization of Algae Population Growth Using Markov Chains and

The thesis deals with the task of refining the constructional and operational parameters of a tubular photobioreactor in order to maximise the growth rate of algae contained in the cultivation suspension. It builds on a basic growth model of the Porhydrium sp. alga, and focuses on the optimization of external irradiance, which is one of the key determinants of algae growth. Two distinct methodological approaches are applied: analytic approach, which employs Markov Chains, and simulation approach, which relies on agent-based simulations. In the analytic part, we introduce the construction of state transition matrix for a Markov Chain that accounts for varying irradiance inside the photobioreactor (in contrast to constant-irradiance methods that have been published so far). In the simulation part, we devised an agent-based model of algae population that enables us to analyze the system behaviour while interactively changing the model parameters. In the context of the results from both the analytic and simulation part, we conclude by suggesting the optimal level of external irradiance.