Internal Light Source Photobioreactor for Scalable Prokaryote Culture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for culturing prokaryotic photosynthetic organisms face challenges in achieving high efficiency and scalability, with open-system methods lacking environmental control and closed-system methods being complex and difficult to scale up.
Innovation Solution
A culture device with specific conditions for photon flux density and light source configuration, including a container with a light source inside, satisfying (A × B)/(C × D) ≥ 10 × 10³ [µmol·m⁻³·s⁻¹) and B/D ≥ 1.3 × 10⁻¹ [m⁻¹], where A is photon flux density, B is light source surface area, C is culture liquid optical density, and D is culture liquid volume, to enhance culture efficiency and scalability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If open-system culture method is used, then structure is simple and cost is low, but environmental control capability is poor and culture efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the key parameter of light delivery by moving the light source from external to internal placement within the container. This parameter change enables simultaneous achievement of simple structure (like open-system) and high culture efficiency (like closed-system) by directly illuminating the culture medium from within, eliminating the need for complex external lighting arrangements while maintaining high photosynthetic activity.
2Productivity
If closed-system culture method is used, then environmental control capability is high and culture efficiency is high, but structure is complicated and scale-up is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the light source from the external environment and places it directly inside the container. This extraction simplifies the overall system structure by eliminating the need for complex external lighting systems, mirrors, and optical pathways required in traditional closed-system photobioreactors, while maintaining the high culture efficiency benefit of controlled environmental conditions.
3Device complexity
If light source is placed outside the container, then structure is simple, but light energy distribution is insufficient and culture efficiency is limited
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing the light source outside the container as in conventional designs, the patent inverts this arrangement by placing the light source inside the container. This inversion fundamentally improves light energy distribution efficiency by enabling direct illumination of the culture medium from within, ensuring uniform light penetration and maximizing photosynthetic efficiency throughout the entire culture volume.
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
The device achieves high efficiency and easy scalability in culturing prokaryotic photosynthetic organisms by optimizing light energy distribution, suppressing photoinhibition, and allowing for larger culture volumes.
Implementation Method 1
a light source disposed inside the container, wherein conditions (A × B)/(C × D) ≥ 10 × 10³
Implementation Method 2
culturing of prokaryotic photosynthetic organisms such as cyanobacteria
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A culture device 1a includes a container 10 and a light source 20. The container 10 is configured to accommodate a culture liquid LC containing prokaryotic photosynthetic organisms. The light source 20 is disposed inside the container 10. In the culture device 1a, conditions (A × B)/(C × D) ≥ 10 × 103 [µmol·m-3·s-1] and B/D ≥ 1.3 × 10-1 [m-1] are satisfied. A is a photon flux density [µmol·m-2·s-1] of the light source 20. B is a surface area [m2] of the light source 20. C is an optical density [-] of the culture liquid LC accommodated in the container 10. D is a volume [m3] of the culture liquid LC accommodated in the container 10.