393 results about "Algae growth" patented technology

A portable system and method for producing biofuel from algae are disclosed. In the portable system, a chemostat and a plug flow reactor formed from plastic bladders are interconnected. Further, an algae separator is in fluid communication with the plug flow reactor for removing algae cells. Also, the system includes a device for processing biofuel from the algae cells. Importantly, the system includes a temperature controller to maintain desired temperatures in the chemostat and plug flow reactor for algae growth and intracellular algae production. In order to further support algae cell growth, the system includes a device for capturing carbon dioxide and delivering the carbon dioxide to the chemostat.

Apparatus and methods for cultivating photosynthetic organisms, such as algae, in a bioreactor may include a bioreactor having a primary tank. Light and carbon dioxide are provided in the tank sufficient to promote algae growth. The algae is agitated inside the tank to increase the amount of algae receiving sufficient light exposure inside the tank. Agitation may be provided by a closed loop circulation system or a mixer having a plurality of rotating blades. The gas source may be positioned and oriented with respect to the light source to keep the light source free of adhered material.

The present disclosure describes use of filamentous algae to form insulating construction materials which provide thermal and noise insulation. Algae from the order Zygnematales, the Cladophorales, or the Ulotrichales can be dried and formed for use as insulating material. Algae mass can be combined into several layers, using a binder to attach the layers to each other. A composite material of algae mass and an additive can be used and form the body of insulation panels having honeycomb-shaped chambers, which are sealed by a foil that is laminated onto the body.

Various plants for cultivating algae for use in construction material are disclosed. Plants utilizing gravity harvest comprise cultivation ponds located at a slope, wherein the ponds can be opened to allow algae and water to flow downhill through a collector grill. Plants utilizing net harvest, overflow harvest or rake harvest are described. Carbon dioxide injection concepts utilizing direct and indirect injection of carbon dioxide into algae cultivation ponds are disclosed. An algae harvesting machine is disclosed. Control concepts for controlling the growth of algae in an algae cultivation plant are described.

An apparatus for carrying out algae intensive-cultivation while conducting an environmental control most suitable for growth of algae in an artificial environment including dissolved gas, light, temperature, nutrient source and sanitary atmosphere; and a method of intensive cultivation therewith. There is provided an apparatus comprising water tank (1) for cultivating unialgae as seedling; gas dissolution diffusion units (3-a, 3-b) for achieving dissolution of a gas in a culture water of the water tank; light irradiation units (10, 11) for irradiating the water tank with light whose wavelength and illuminance are controlled; temperature control unit (20) for controlling the temperature of the culture water of the water tank so as to fall within a given range; nutrient salts adding unit (17) for adding to the water tank a nutrient liquid containing an essential nutrient source vital to the growth of algae; purification unit (12) for carrying out bacterial eradication and filtration of the culture water of the water tank; and meters for control of the above units.

A system for the production and harvesting of algae including one or more of the following components: A turbulator for dissolving carbon dioxide in water to form an algae growth media, a photobioreactor having a serpentine flow path for the algae growth media through spaced apart high and low baffles with an associated light source, a dewatering device for the algae slurry harvested from the photobioreactor, a turbulator for breaking up the cells in the algae sludge coming off the dewatering device, a cooker for cooking the broken up algae cells under pressure and a settling tank for separating the cooked cells into oil, spent media and biomass fractions.

A system for processing oil from algae is disclosed. Specifically, the system recycles byproducts of the process for use as nutrients during algae growth and oil production. The system includes a conduit for growing algae and an algae separator that removes the algae from the conduit. Also, the system includes a device for lysing the algae and an oil separator to remove the oil from the lysed matter. Further, the system includes a biofuel reactor that receives oil from the oil separator and synthesizes biofuel and glycerin. Moreover, the algae separator, oil separator and biofuel reactor all recycle byproducts back to the conduit to support further algae growth.

The invention discloses a chlorophyll calculating method based on remote-sensing images and a water ecological model. The method comprises the steps of 1, based on remote-sensing image data, data preprocessing like radiometric calibration, atmospheric correction and image cropping and fusing is conducted; 2, a remote-sensing water quality inversion model is constructed, and respective inversion ofindexes like water temperature and chlorophyll concentration is achieved; 3, various index concentrations and future weather change which are obtained through inversion of the remote-sensing images are regarded as input conditions of the water ecological model, and the chlorophyll concentration dynamic change process of a water area environment is simulated within a future duration caused by change like nutritive substance conversion and algae growth and death under a future weather change condition. The chlorophyll calculating method is applicable to water environment monitoring and predicting, and has popularity and high calculation precision, chlorophyll concentration prediction and simulation of a large area of a drainage basin are achieved in real time under the condition of the limited monitoring site, and an integrated chlorophyll concentration predicting system integrating the remote-sensing images and the water ecological model can be formed.

The invention disclosed herein relates to an ultra high intensity micro algal bioreactor designed to minimize the area foot print while completely controlling and optimizing the conditions for growing one or more specific strains of micro algae at maximum efficiency and minimum cost. The innovative bioreactor is in the form of an algae growing assembly that comprises a plurality of growing trays vertically stacked together and retained within a transparent housing. Each growing tray is configured to flowingly transport nutrient enriched water to the growing tray positioned immediately beneath it. Each growing tray is composed of a stiff transparent plastic sheet having a pliable transparent gas permeable membrane affixed thereon. A carbon dioxide gas infusion system is fluidicly connected to each of the plurality of growing trays such that carbon dioxide gas is able to (1) inflate respective carbon dioxide gas chambers, and (2) diffuse into the nutrient enriched water.

The invention provides a composite active bacterial preparation which is used for aquatic products and has the water improving and fertilizing functions and a preparation method thereof by applying a modern bioengineering technology mainly for the problem that in existing aquaculture, the water quality of a pond is poor. The composite microecological preparation is prepared by mixing bacillus subtilis, bacillus megatherium, bacillus amyloliquefaciens, bacillus licheniformis, enterococcus faecium, lactobacillus brevis, lactobacillus plantarum, lactococcus lactis and saccharomyces cerevisiae through liquid-submerged fermentation. In the liquid preparation, microorganisms are in a dormant state and are stable and easy to preserve, after the preparation is put into water, the dormant strains can quickly resuscitate, harmful substances such as nitrite nitrogen and ammonia nitrogen in the water are quickly decomposed, good algae growth is facilitated, harmful algae reproduction is inhibited, and therefore the purpose of improving the water quality of the culture water is achieved.

The invention provides methods that enhance the production of biomass from algae that grow autotrophically, heterotrophically, or photoheterotrophically, through the use of plant growth regulators (such as growth hormones, indole acidic acid, etc.) and hormone mimics (phenoxyacetic compounds, etc.). The plant growth regulators or mimics thereof may further increase the proportion of the desired value-added products, such as biodiesel or starch, in the algae culture or the harvested biomass.

A method of increasing yield of cultivated algae, which entails the step of cultivating one or more species of algae in the presence of one or more species of PPFM bacteria, for at least a portion of the algae cultivation.

A method and apparatus of algal oil production including the steps of: control growing to provide intensive growth to supply starting means for algae farming; Farming algae from using primarily sunlight Processing algae from the farmed algae preferably using a wet extraction process: and wherein at least one of the steps includes use of a bag able to be interconnected to gas or liquid flows of at least one of water, CO₂, oxygen or air.

The invention discloses a combined artificial fish reef. The combined artificial fish reef comprises a halfpace-shaped reef body, middle-layer floating reef bodies and an upper-layer floating reef body. The halfpace-shaped reef body comprises a base, a halfpace reef fixed to the base, and an adhering substance. The adhering substance is arranged on the side face of the halfpace reef, and bottom anchor rings are embedded into the positions, close to the four corners of the bottom of the halfpace reef, of the base. The middle-layer floating reef bodies comprise floating rope frames, floating balls fixed to the four corners of the floating rope frames, and seedling ropes. The seedling ropes are arranged in the floating rope frames, and the four corners of the floating rope frames are connected with the corresponding bottom anchor rings through floating rope frame fixing ropes. The upper-layer floating reef body comprises a floating pipe frame and a top web curtain. The top web curtain is arranged in the floating pipe frame, and the four corners of the floating pipe frame are connected with the corresponding bottom anchor rings through top frame fixing ropes. The stereoscopic hierarchical structure can create a full-water-layer algae growth environment and provide places for life and inhabiting of fishes on different water layers; the halfpace reef can form upward flow, bottom nutritional substances are conveyed to the middle layer and the upper layer, and bait is provided for fishes on the middle layer and the upper layer.

Methods for producing hydrocarbons, including oil, by processing algae and/or other micro-organisms in an aquatic environment. Flexible bags (e.g., plastic) with CO₂/O₂ exchange membranes, suspended at a controllable depth in a first liquid (e.g., seawater), receive a second liquid (e.g., liquid effluent from a “dead zone”) containing seeds for algae growth. The algae are cultivated and harvested in the bags, after most of the second liquid is removed by forward osmosis through liquid exchange membranes. The algae are removed and processed, and the bags are cleaned and reused.

The invention discloses a cyanobacterial bloom predicting method based on a non-linear kinetic time-series model, which belongs to the water environment predicting field. The method comprises the following steps: using the blue algae growth rate as a time-varying parameter; creating a non-linear kinetic time-series model for the cyanobacteria growth with double nutrient salt cycling; using the combination of the numerical algorithm and the intelligent evolutionary algorithm, optimizing the constant parameters in the non-linear kinetic time-series model for the cyanobacteria growth; through setting the multivariate time-series model to realize the prediction of the time-varying parameter and the cyanobacteria biomass and through using the bifurcation theory and the central manifold theory to make a nonlinear kinetic analysis of the cyanobacteria growth time-varying system, obtaining the outbreak conditions for a cyanobacteria bloom so as to make an early warning of the bloom outbreak. The method proposed by the invention not only determines the conditions for a cyanobacteria bloom outbreak, but also improves the bloom prediction accuracy, providing an effective reference for an environmental protection department and governance decisions for water environment treatment.

The invention discloses a water-pumping aeration device for improving water quality of a deepwater type water reservoir. The water-pumping aeration device comprises a mushroom-shaped flow guide outlet part, a sliding adjustment part, a non-sliding part, a main aeration device, and an anchoring pier sinking to the water bottom, which are sequentially connected from top down, wherein the mushroom-shaped flow guide outlet part is provided with a flow guide device and a flow guide hole, the sliding adjustment part at the middle part takes the measures of shock adsorption and fastening for resisting impact, the main aeration device at the lower part is additionally provided with a flow guide plate, an anchoring chain at the bottom part is sheathed with a tension spring, so that the device is prevented from being damaged or disassembled by the high-strength impact of water flow effectively, and a plurality of sections of sheathing structures which are connected in a reinforcing manner can be suitable for the automatic adjustment of the device under the condition that water level changes substantially. According to the water-pumping aeration device, the mixed oxygenation can be conductedon an upper-layer water body and a lower-layer water body of the deepwater type water reservoirs/lakes, the environment of the water body is improved, the endogenesis pollution and the algae growth can be inhibited, and the in-situ improvement of the water quality of the deepwater lakes and the deepwater reservoirs is realized, and simultaneously, the water-pumping aeration device gives consideration to the conditions of integration with other devices.

The invention discloses a suspended algae growing device and aims to provide the suspended algae growing device. According to the suspended algae growing device, the suspension depth of an algal reef can be controlled and the algal reel is enabled to multiply on the middle layer, an upper-middle layer and the lower-middle layer of a water area; in addition, algae attached to the algal reef are damaged caused by vertical violent floating of the suspended algal reef due to heavier sea wave fluctuation can be effectively avoided. The suspended algae growing device comprises a buoyancy device and an algal reef support body suspended below the buoyancy device through a connecting rope; the algal reef support body comprises a downward-recessed hemispheric support frame and a plurality of algae attaching base blocks arranged on the downward-recessed hemispheric support frame; a rope passing through hole is formed in each algae attaching base block; besides, a mounting rope is arranged in each rope passing through hole in each algae attaching base block; each algae attaching base block is fixed on the downward-recessed hemispheric support frame through each mounting rope.

An applied electrical field effects the harvesting of algae from a growth medium through increased interface potential between solvent and solute and the use of micron-sized bubbles of hydrogen and oxygen gas. The process and method makes use of strategically placed bipolar electrode plates that generate hydrogen and oxygen gas. Micro bubbles of the gas flocculate the biomass out of solution concurrently clarifying the water for re-use in an algae growth system. The flocked algae can then be processed for use in applications which require a chemical-free and dewatered product such as required for bio-fuels, pharmaceuticals or food.

A swimming pool cover which retards algae growth. Two films are sealed together so as to create air pockets which allow the pool cover to float on the surface of the water. One or both of the films contains a material which prevents the passage of light in those wavelengths which are necessary for algae growth, especially 350-500 nm and 600-700 nm. The material may either be a dye which has a color associated with that wavelength or may be a transparent material which removes those wavelengths of light. The remaining wavelengths of light are allowed to pass through the cover in order to heat the water but not cause algae growth. Additionally, the cover can be made by mixing light absorbing material into the plastic before making the film for the pool cover or may be made by applying a layer of light absorbing material to the film.

The invention provides a device for researching bio-availability of dissoluble organic nitrogen in water body. A main body of a filter device is a container, a hollow fiber microfiltration membrane assembly is filled inside the container, a micropore aeration disc is installed below the membrane assembly, a bottom of a reactor is conical, and a spoil disposal port is arranged at the bottom of the reactor. Another end of the hollow fiber microfiltration membrane assembly is connected with a second water collecting tank. A main body of a dissoluble organic nitrogen extraction device is a cross flow filtration device, a water inlet of the dissoluble organic nitrogen extraction device is connected with the second water collecting tank, a concentrated solution outlet of the cross flow filtration device is connected with the second water collecting tank, and a penetrating fluid outlet is connected with a third water collecting tank. A main body of an algae growth system is a reaction tank, a water inlet of the reaction tank is connected with the second water collecting tank, a temperature sensor and a heating rod are arranged in the reaction tank, and a light source capable of adjusting luminance and a light sensor are installed on the top of the reaction tank. A circulating pump is installed outside of the reaction tank to pump water at the bottom of the reaction tank to a water surface. The invention further discloses a method for researching the bio-availability of the dissoluble organic nitrogen in the water body by using the device.

The invention provides a biological bacterial fertilizer for preventing and treating moss in a water body and a preparation method thereof. The biological bacterial fertilizer is prepared from sodium humate, amino acid raw powder, Bacillus subtilis and sodium silicate. The sodium humate dissolved in water can turn water into light black or black and perform the function of shielding sunlight, so that the moss or mud cake on the tank bottom dies due to loss of lighting; the free amino acids and silicic acid can quickly promote the growth of the beneficial algae, thereby quickly cultivating the algae and enriching the water; and the Bacillus subtilis in the biological bacterial fertilizer can generate multiple enzymatic systems to decompose and utilize organic matters in the moss, mud cake, residual bait and manure in the culture water body, provides nutrients for algae growth, forms favorable diatom water color and lowers the transparency of the water body. The biological bacterial fertilizer has multiple biological water enrichment functions of killing the moss, decomposing the organic matters and quickly cultivating the beneficial algae. The biological bacterial fertilizer has the advantages of no environmental pollution, no public nuisance, low cost, wide application range and the like, is biodegradable and is simple to operate.