Segmented Photobioreactor Vessels with External Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing photobioreactors for microalgae production are complex and expensive to manufacture, with challenging maintenance and limited flexibility in scaling or modifying the system.
Innovation Solution
A closed photobioreactor design featuring a plurality of upwardly open reactor vessels with removable top walls, allowing for simple assembly and maintenance, and enabling high-quality microalgae production with adjustable lighting conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If complex closed photobioreactor systems with vertically meandering flow and light-scattering particles are used, then microalgae production quality improves, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The photobioreactor is divided into multiple individual reactor vessels (U-shaped channels) that can be independently assembled and disassembled. Each vessel is a separate module that can be manufactured simply and then combined to form the complete system, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining production quality
Solution Approach 2:
The complex light-scattering particle embedding system and hollow partition walls with dispersive liquids are removed. Instead, simple transparent partition walls are used with external lighting means positioned adjacent to the reactor vessels, extracting the complexity from the internal structure and placing it externally where it is easier to implement and maintain
2Illumination intensity
If complex closed photobioreactor systems with hollow partition walls filled with dispersive liquid are used, then light distribution in nutrient suspension improves, but ease of manufacture and maintenance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting function is extracted from the internal hollow partition walls and placed in external lighting means positioned adjacent to the reactor vessels. This eliminates the complex manufacturing requirements of hollow walls with dispersive liquids while maintaining effective light distribution to the nutrient suspension
Solution Approach 2:
External lighting means act as an intermediary between the light source and the nutrient suspension in the reactor vessels. These lighting means can be positioned optimally to provide uniform light distribution without requiring complex internal structural modifications to the reactor vessels
3Productivity
If complex closed photobioreactor systems are used, then microalgae production yield improves, but ease of repair and operational flexibility worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into individual reactor vessels that can be independently accessed, removed, or replaced. The removable top wall provides access to each vessel without requiring disassembly of the entire system, enabling simple maintenance and repair operations while maintaining high productivity through continuous operation of remaining vessels
Solution Approach 2:
The removable top wall design allows the system to dynamically adapt to maintenance needs. Individual reactor vessels can be accessed and maintained without shutting down the entire system, providing operational flexibility that simplifies repair processes while maintaining 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 design achieves high yields of high-quality microalgae with simplified maintenance and scalability, reducing production costs and improving operational flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
at least one lighting means (29) is accommodated in the gap (13), by means of which lighting means light is emittable through the at least one light-transmissive front wall (3) and/or back wall (4) into the respective reactor vessel (2) or into both adjacent reactor vessels (2)
Implementation Method 2
They use carbon dioxide (CO2) and light in a known manner for photosynthesis for the growth and propagation of the microorganisms
Implementation Method 3
vertically meandering flow of the nutrient medium through the reactor vessels
Data Source
AI summary
A photobioreactor is particularly suited for producing micro-organisms such as microalgae. The photobioreactor is a closed reactor with reactor vessels which have an open top that is closed by a top wall of the photobioreactor and in which a nutrient medium can be held. At least some of the reactor vessels are individual vessels. Adjacent reactor vessels form a gap between a front wall and a rear wall, the gap being closed at the top side by an overflow wall region and having a vessel overflow opening between the adjacent reactor vessels. A lighting element is held in the gap. Each of the reactor vessels has a partition which divides the reactor vessel into a front reactor chamber and a rear reactor chamber. At least one partition through-flow opening between the front and rear reactor chambers is formed in the partition close to the bottom wall.