Pyramid Photo-bioreactor for Algae Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in large-scale algal biomass production for renewable energy lies in frequent contamination, energy balance, and inefficient CO2 utilization, particularly due to the need for cooling systems and biofilm accumulation in photo-bioreactor systems.
Innovation Solution
A closed photo-bioreactor system with a pyramid geometry and unique air sparger placement enhances photon absorption, turbulence, and CO2 utilization, incorporating a filtration system and harvest apparatus to prevent contamination and reduce energy expenses by eliminating the need for a cooling system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional photo-bioreactor system is used for large-scale algal production, then the system can grow photosynthetic organisms, but frequent contamination events occur and energy balance becomes negative due to cooling system requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The bioreactor is divided into multiple independent growth chambers separated by partitions, allowing isolation of cultures to prevent cross-contamination while maintaining individual control over each chamber's environmental parameters
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary sterilization and maintenance of axenic culture conditions before contamination can occur, using controlled environmental management and filtration systems to prevent contaminant introduction in the first place
2Temperature
If a cooling system is added to maintain optimum temperature range (25°C-39°C), then micro-organism survival is ensured, but energy balance becomes negative due to high energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the photosynthetic organisms themselves to regulate temperature through their metabolic activity and photosynthesis process, which generates heat that maintains temperature within the optimal range, eliminating the need for external cooling systems
Solution Approach 2:
The heat that would normally require cooling is converted into a beneficial effect by allowing temperature to rise within the optimal range through photosynthetic activity, turning what would be a harmful excess heat into a useful temperature maintenance mechanism
3Productivity
If CO2 is supplied to support autotrophic growth, then photosynthetic organism production increases, but CO2 utilization efficiency drops below 90% leading to expensive waste
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors and control mechanisms that monitor CO2 levels and photosynthetic activity in real-time, adjusting CO2 supply rates based on actual uptake demand to maintain utilization efficiency above 90% while maximizing biomass production
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts CO2 concentration, flow rate, and delivery timing based on photosynthetic phase, light intensity, and biomass density to optimize utilization efficiency, changing parameters to match the organisms' instantaneous metabolic needs
4Volume of stationary object
If the growth chamber volume is increased to maximize production per acre, then total biomass output increases, but photon absorption efficiency decreases due to light penetration limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from horizontal expansion to vertical expansion by stacking multiple growth chambers vertically, allowing increased total volume and production capacity while maintaining shallow chamber depths that ensure adequate light penetration and photon absorption efficiency in each chamber
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 configuration allows for efficient large-scale production of algal biomass with reduced operating costs and increased productivity, achieving up to 42,000 liters of bio-diesel and 84,000 kilograms of carbohydrates and proteins per acre annually, while minimizing resource waste and contamination risks.
Implementation Method 1
The growth chamber, of pyramid geometry in this example embodiment, allows for optimum photon absorption by the community of microbes residing within the chamber
Implementation Method 2
The unique geometry of the reactor in combination with the placement of the air sparger system sub-assembly provides greater turbulence in the photo-bioreactor
Implementation Method 3
The growth chamber... encapsulates a volume of water, microbial culture, and necessary nutrient to produce biomass via photosynthesis
Implementation Method 4
Suction created by the harvest pump is transferred through the manifold found along the length of the apparatus
Data Source
AI summary
The apparatus herein relates to the large-scale production of photosynthetic microorganisms, especially algae. More particularly it relates to control of large size aqueous photosynthetic bioreactor systems to obtain such products from many microbial strains, which have heretofore only been cultured in laboratory environments in small containers.