Method for modular design, fabrication and assembly of integrated biocolumn systems with multiple downstream outputs

• US 10,072,240 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2013
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gibbs Energy, LLC, Singapore Technologies Dynamics PTD Limited
• Original Assignee: Gibbs Energy, LLC, Singapore Technologies Dynamics PTD Limited
• Inventors: Maceda, Joseph P
• Primary Examiner(s): Bowers, Nathan A
• Application Number:
  US14/764,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20150376561A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,715 Days
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/04 essentially based on blends of hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2200/0469 Renewables or materials of biological origin
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/26 Composting, fermenting or anaerobic digestion fuel components or materials from which fuels are prepared
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 3/08 Production of synthetic natural gas
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/02 Photobioreactors culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/12 for producing fuels or solvents C12M21/04 takes precedence; liquid carbonaceous fuels C10L1/00, solid fuels C10L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/44 Multiple separable units; Modules
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 31/10 by light emitting elements located inside the reactor, e.g. LED or OLED
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 43/02 Bioreactors or fermenters combined with devices for liquid fuel extraction; Biorefineries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/59 Biological synthesis; Biological purification

Abstract

Present invention relates to a modular system for fabrication of a biocolumn for generating fuel stocks. The biocolumn of independent units called modules and which function as independent units and can be assembled together to fabricate a biocolumn. These modules can be assembled together to form various zones of biocolumn. Fuel stocks can be prepared by inputting a nutrient, a renewable energy source, photon energy and a carbon source into said zones and outputting fuel stock and by products from zones. The zones are interconnected so that byproducts from each zone can be recycled as input or transformed into product.

Claims

1. A system for generating fuel stocks comprising a plurality of assembled zones, fabricated by stacking or laterally arranging, prefabricated modules,

wherein said prefabricated modules form a biocolumn, said biocolumn comprised of an aerobic zone, a microaerophilic zone, an oxidizing zone, a redox microtransition zone, and a reducing zone;

wherein each zone is connected with the preceding and subsequent zones to allow communication, exchange of nutrients, and symbiotic consumption between species from different zones; and

wherein one or more of a nutrient, a renewable energy source, photon energy or a carbon source can be added into a zone and one or more of a fuel stock or by-product can be removed,

wherein one or more by-products from each zone can be recycled back into any of the zones, wherein a biomass by-product of the aerobic zone is recycled into the microaerophilic zone and a biomass by-product of the microaerophilic zone is recycled into the redox microtransition zone or reducing zone,

wherein photon energy is obtained from submerged LEDs and wherein said submerged LEDs are mounted on distributing tubes that provide nutrient input in such a manner as to sweep lenses of the submersed LEDs and prevent growth build up that would block light, wherein said nutrient is selected from a group consisting of a geothermal fluid, an organic waste slurry biomass, a coal, a hydrocarbon and combinations thereof.

2. The system for generating fuel stocks according to claim 1, wherein said renewable energy source is a geothermal energy, a solar thermal energy, a photovoltaic energy, an external waste heat, a heat of internal reactions or combinations thereof.

3. The system for generating fuel stocks according to claim 1 wherein said nutrient is water containing.

4. The system for generating fuel stocks according to claim 1, wherein said carbon source is selected from a group consisting of atmospheric air, a carbon dioxide source, an organic waste, a coal, a hydrocarbons, a geothermal fluid, an internal product of said consortium growth, propagation and reaction, and combinations thereof.

5. The system for generating fuel stocks according to claim 1, wherein said modules are interconnected to function as a complete biocolumn.

6. The system for generating fuel stocks according to claim 1, wherein LEDs operating at one-sixth of the normal intensity of sunlight at just a level at which algae growth plateaus, before additional light intensity is wasted or actually inhibits additional growth, are used.

7. The system for generating fuel stocks according to claim 1, wherein said LEDs are pulsed to allow proximate algae to recover from the acceptance of a photon and be ready to receive another are used.