I
completed
my
Bachelor’s
degree
in
Chemical
Engineering
in
2015
from
China
University
of
Petroleum
(Beijing).
I
am
currently
doing
my
MASc
studies
at
the
University
of
Waterloo
in
the
area
of
the
process
system
engineering.
The
aim
of
my
research
is
to
develop
and
optimize
model-based
approaches
for
on-line
and
off-line
economic
optimization
of
batch
reactors
in
the
presence
of
model
error
(uncertainty).
Polynomial
Chaos
Expansions
(PCE)
is
proved
to
be
a
computationally
efficient
alternative
to
Monte
Carlo
simulations
for
propagating
uncertainty
in
dynamic
systems.
However,
new
efficient
uncertainty
quantification
tools
are
emerging.
Thus,
my
research
will
also
involve
the
testing
and
identification
of
computationally
efficient
tools
to
propagate
the
error
in
the
model
parameters
and
use
those
tools
for
off-line
and
on-line
optimization.
The
role
of
feedback,
as
applied
in
the
on-line
formulation,
is
proved
to
be
instrumental
for
reducing
conservatism
in
the
optimization
of
chemical
systems.
Outcomes
from
this
study
will
be
used
to
design
new
robust
controllers
that
maximize
productivity
in
batch,
fed-batch
or
perfusion
operation
of
bioreactors
in
the
presence
of
uncertainty.
Thesis:
Robust
Nonlinear
Model
Predictive
Control
of
Biosystems
described
by
Dynamic
Metabolic
Flux
Models
