Floating Photosynthetic Reactor Envelope for Algae Culture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current photosynthetic reactors face challenges in cultivating fragile microalgae due to mechanical stresses and bubble formation, which limits the production of photosynthetic organisms and increases contamination risks, while also being inefficient in using available aquatic surfaces for large-scale production.
Innovation Solution
A photosynthetic reactor with a reaction envelope designed to float on water, featuring two sheaths that delimit a two-phase gas/liquid culture medium flow path, reducing mechanical stresses and bubble formation, and utilizing a horizontal flow regime for enhanced gas-liquid transfer and thermal stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical stirring devices are used to mix the culture, then gas-liquid transfer is enhanced, but mechanical stresses damage fragile microalgae
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes mechanical stirring devices from the system entirely, extracting the harmful mechanical stress element while maintaining gas-liquid transfer through natural convection and surface aeration alone
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical stirring system with a natural convection-based mixing system, substituting mechanical energy input with thermal and buoyancy-driven fluid motion to achieve gas-liquid transfer without mechanical stress
2Reliability
If vertical bubble columns are used for gas injection, then gas-liquid transfer occurs, but small bubbles form and promote contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional vertical bubble column configuration by using horizontal flow channels where gas is injected at one end and travels horizontally through the culture medium, eliminating the formation of small rising bubbles while maintaining effective gas-liquid contact
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from vertical gas injection (one-dimensional upward flow) to horizontal gas flow (one-dimensional lateral flow), changing the spatial dimension of gas-liquid interaction to prevent bubble fragmentation and contamination
3Productivity
If large-scale production is implemented on land, then production volume increases, but available surface area is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from land-based horizontal expansion to water-based floating systems, utilizing the three-dimensional water surface area to achieve large-scale production without competing for limited terrestrial land resources
4Strength
If the reaction envelope is made rigid for structural stability, then mechanical strength increases, but flexibility and adaptability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible membrane materials for the reaction envelope that can dynamically adapt to wave motion and environmental conditions while maintaining sufficient structural integrity through material selection and structural design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a dynamic system where the flexible envelope continuously adapts its shape and position in response to water surface conditions, transforming from a static rigid structure to a dynamic adaptive structure that moves with the environment
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design allows for the efficient cultivation of fragile microalgae by minimizing mechanical stress and bubble formation, increasing production efficiency, and enabling large-scale production on aquatic surfaces, while maintaining the integrity of the culture and reducing contamination risks.
Implementation Method 1
a reaction envelope (1) for a photosynthetic reactor suitable for the culture of photosynthetic microorganisms, in particular algae, said reaction envelope being designed in order, on the one hand, to float on a body of water
Implementation Method 2
two sheaths, respectively outer and inner, made at least partially in a material transparent to light radiation
Implementation Method 3
suitable for the culture of photosynthetic microorganisms, in particular algae
Data Source
Figure 1~2b
Figure 3a~4
Figure 5~6b
AI summary
The invention relates to a reaction casing (1) for a photosynthetic reactor (2), designed on the one hand to float on an expanse of water and, on the other hand, to define a path for a gas / liquid culture medium to flow in two phases between first (11) and second (12) openings of the casing (1). The casing (1) comprises respectively outer (3) and inner (4) claddings, at least partially made of a material that is transparent to visible radiation, the inner cladding (4) extending on the inside of the outer cladding (3) such that said claddings mutually define an inter-cladding space (10) in fluid connection with the first opening of the casing. The outer cladding has an open proximal end (30) and a closed distal end (31), and the inner cladding has an open proximal end (40) in fluid connection with the second opening of the casing and a distal end (41) provided with at least one communication opening (42) between the inside of the outer cladding and the inter-cladding space. The present invention can be used for the cultivation of photosynthetic micro-organisms, in particular algae.