Continuous Microalgae Culture Module for Macular Pigment Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current microalgae cultivation methods, such as open ponds and closed photobioreactors, face challenges in controlling environmental factors, achieving high cell density, and efficiently producing macular pigment, with a need for a system that can simultaneously produce large amounts of microalgae and bio-functional substances.
Innovation Solution
A continuous microalgae culture module comprising an outdoor culture unit, a high-density culture unit, a pigment inducing unit, and a harvesting unit, where microalgae are grown to high density under controlled light conditions, including red and blue light exposure, to enhance macular pigment production, and a gas supplying and recovery unit to optimize growth and biomass production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If open ponds are used for microalgae cultivation, then the cost is lower, but the cell density is low and contamination is high
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the cultivation process into multiple stages with different reactor types: outdoor ponds for initial growth, photobioreactors for high-density cultivation, and indoor LED reactors for pigment induction. This segmentation allows each stage to be optimized for its specific function, achieving both cost-effectiveness and high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically transitions microalgae between different cultivation environments based on growth stage requirements. Microalgae are moved from outdoor ponds to controlled photobioreactors and finally to indoor LED reactors, adapting the cultivation conditions to maximize both efficiency and pigment production at each phase.
2Productivity
If closed photobioreactors are used for microalgae cultivation, then the cell density is high and contamination is reduced, but the light efficiency and gas exchange efficiency are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the cultivation process into outdoor photobioreactors for high-density growth and indoor LED photobioreactors for pigment induction. This allows outdoor reactors to maximize natural light efficiency while indoor reactors provide controlled spectral quality for specific pigment production, optimizing energy use at each stage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes key parameters between stages: outdoor photobioreactors use natural sunlight with high intensity, while indoor LED reactors use specific wavelengths (blue light) to induce pigment production. This parameter optimization ensures high light efficiency for growth and high pigment induction efficiency for product formation.
3Quantity of substance
If microalgae are cultured for large biomass production, then the quantity of microalgae is high, but the pigment content per unit biomass is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates biomass production and pigment induction into distinct stages. Outdoor photobioreactors focus on maximizing biomass quantity, while indoor LED photobioreactors focus on inducing high pigment concentration in the harvested biomass, achieving both high yield and high purity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary biomass accumulation in outdoor photobioreactors before transferring to indoor LED reactors for pigment induction. This preliminary action ensures sufficient biomass quantity is available before the pigment induction phase, maximizing overall productivity.
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 module effectively produces high-density microalgae biomass and increases macular pigment content, enabling industrial-scale production of microalgae biomass and bio-functional substances, while reducing water and energy consumption and minimizing contamination.
Implementation Method 1
The first light source is capable of emitting red light
Implementation Method 2
The second light source is capable of emitting a blue light
Implementation Method 3
The microalgae produces macular pigment
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a continuous microalgae culture module, including an outdoor culture unit, a high-density culture unit, a pigment induced unit, and a harvesting unit. A method of culturing microalgae containing macular pigment is also provided, including sequentially culturing microalgae with medium in the outdoor culture unit and the high-density culture unit, producing macular pigment in the pigment induced unit through different light irradiation, and collecting the microalgal biomass containing macular pigment in the harvesting unit.