Wall-Mounted Algae Bioreactor with Scraping Belt
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing photo-bioreactors for algae cultivation are costly, complex, and difficult to maintain, particularly when designed for biofuel production, as they often require internal light sources and inefficient temperature control, and lack integration with building systems for shared resources like air conditioning.
Innovation Solution
A photo-bioreactor with a transparent, modular design featuring a rotatable belt with protrusions for scraping algae from the container walls and a screw for harvesting, integrated with a building's air conditioning system to utilize natural light and shared resources, and equipped with feed and discharge tubes for gases and liquids, allowing easy assembly and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If internal light sources are used in photo-bioreactors, then algae cultivation efficiency is improved, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The photo-bioreactor utilizes natural sunlight as the light source instead of requiring internal artificial lighting systems. The transparent container design allows sunlight to penetrate and provide the necessary illumination for algae photosynthesis, eliminating the need for complex internal light sources while maintaining cultivation efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent container serves multiple functions: it provides structural containment for the algae culture, acts as a light-transmissive window for natural sunlight, and enables integration with building facades for dual purposes of algae cultivation and architectural design
2Temperature
If complex temperature control systems are implemented, then temperature regulation is improved, but system cost and maintenance difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The photo-bioreactor integrates with the building's existing air conditioning system through shared ventilation and cooling infrastructure. The building's HVAC system provides passive temperature regulation for the algae culture, eliminating the need for dedicated active temperature control equipment within the bioreactor itself
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the building's existing environmental control infrastructure to regulate temperature, allowing the photo-bioreactor to benefit from the building's overall thermal management without requiring its own complex control systems
3Area of stationary object
If vertical wall-mounted design is used, then space utilization is improved, but integration complexity with building systems increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical wall-mounted photo-bioreactor serves dual functions as both an algae cultivation system and a building facade element. The transparent container integrates with the building's architectural structure, allowing the wall to simultaneously provide structural support, environmental control through HVAC integration, and light transmission for photosynthesis
Solution Approach 2:
The photo-bioreactor is designed as a modular vertical unit that can be segmented into manageable sections for easy installation and maintenance on building walls, with standardized connection points for integrating with building systems
4Productivity
If scraping mechanisms are added to remove algae from walls, then algae harvestability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical scraping mechanisms with a simple gravity-based system. The vertical orientation of the container allows algae to naturally settle and accumulate at the bottom, where they can be easily harvested through simple drainage or pumping operations, eliminating the need for mechanical scraping devices
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of actively scraping algae off the walls, the system inverts the approach by allowing algae to naturally deposit and accumulate at the bottom through gravity, then removing them from that location, thereby simplifying the harvesting mechanism
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 solution enables cost-effective, efficient algae cultivation by eliminating the need for internal light sources, simplifying maintenance, and allowing integration with building systems for resource sharing, while maintaining high algae quality and reducing contamination risks.
Implementation Method 1
Photo-bioreactor for growing algae... providing suitable amounts of light... to the algae culture
Implementation Method 2
the stirring and removal means comprises a rotatable belt having protusions extending outwardly... the size of the protrusions allows removal of the algae formed on inner walls of the container
Implementation Method 3
a screw to be lowered into a concave deformation... Stirring and removal means in the prior art comprises at least one paddle
Implementation Method 4
integration with building systems for resource sharing, preferably share the air conditioning system with the building
Implementation Method 5
at least one feed gas tube... containing algae culture
Implementation Method 6
at least one feed liquid tube... providing suitable amounts of light, nutrients, temperature, chemical composition
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to a photo-bioreactor for growing algae comprising: at least one transparent container having an at least partly round perimeter and containing algae culture, optional means for mounting the container on a vertical surface, preferably of a glass walled building, at least one feed gas tube, at least one gas removal hole, at least one feed liquid tube, at least one liquid discharge tube, preferably provided on the perimeter of the container, and rotatable stirring and removal means (8) inside the container; as well as building having such a photo-bioreactor mounted thereon.