Modelling and properties of a nonlinear autonomous switching system in fed-batch culture of glycerol

A nonlinear autonomous switching system is proposed to describe the coupled fed-batch fermentation with the pH as the feedback parameter. We prove the non-Zeno behaviors of the switching system and some basic properties of its solution, including the existence, uniqueness, boundedness and regularity. Numerical simulation is also carried out, which reveals that the proposed system can describe the factual fermentation process properly.

► We establish a nonlinear autonomous switching system to describe the coupled fed-batch fermentation process with pH feedback.
► The non-Zeno behavior of the switching system is proved.
► Existence, uniqueness, boundedness and regularity of its solution are discussed in the piecewise classical sense.
► Numerical simulation is carried out based on the real experiments.