CLOSED SYSTEM, SHALLOW CHANNEL PHOTOBIOREACTOR
First Claim
1. A photobioreactor for producing biomass material using a flow of liquid growth media, the apparatus comprising:
- a channel including,a bottom portion;
a first sidewall portion connected to the bottom portion; and
a second sidewall portion connected to the bottom portion opposite the first sidewall portion,wherein a length of the channel is at least twice as long as a width of the channel, wherein the length of the channel is measured along the bottom portion of the channel and parallel to the first and second sidewall portions of the channel, and the width is measured as a shortest distance between and perpendicular to the first and second sidewall portions of the channel;
a transparent cover adapted to provide a seal with the first sidewall and second sidewall opposite the bottom portion along a substantial length of the channel;
a liquid growth media input at a first end of the channel;
a biomass and liquid media output for harvesting biomass material at a second end of the channel; and
a gas backflow barrier positioned adjacent the transparent cover and between the first and second sidewall portions, the gas backflow barrier adapted to limit gas from passing from an interior portion of the channel through the liquid growth media input when the liquid growth media is flowing.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present subject matter provides examples of a photobioreactor for producing biomass material using a continuous flow of liquid growth media, the apparatus comprising a channel including a bottom portion, a first sidewall portion connected to the bottom portion, and a second sidewall portion connected to the bottom portion opposite the first sidewall portion, wherein a length of the channel is at least twice as long as a width of the channel; the length of the channel is measured along the bottom portion of the channel and parallel to the first and second sidewall portions of the channel, and the width is measured as a shortest distance between and perpendicular to the first and second sidewall portions of the channel, a transparent cover adapted to provide a seal with the first sidewall and second sidewall opposite the bottom portion along a substantial length of the channel, a liquid growth media input at a first end of the channel, a biomass and liquid media output for harvesting biomass material at a second end of the channel, and a gas backflow barrier positioned adjacent the transparent cover and between the first and second sidewall portions, the gas backflow barrier adapted to limit gas from passing from an interior portion of the channel through the liquid growth media input when the liquid growth media is flowing.
30 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A photobioreactor for producing biomass material using a flow of liquid growth media, the apparatus comprising:
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a channel including, a bottom portion; a first sidewall portion connected to the bottom portion; and a second sidewall portion connected to the bottom portion opposite the first sidewall portion, wherein a length of the channel is at least twice as long as a width of the channel, wherein the length of the channel is measured along the bottom portion of the channel and parallel to the first and second sidewall portions of the channel, and the width is measured as a shortest distance between and perpendicular to the first and second sidewall portions of the channel; a transparent cover adapted to provide a seal with the first sidewall and second sidewall opposite the bottom portion along a substantial length of the channel; a liquid growth media input at a first end of the channel; a biomass and liquid media output for harvesting biomass material at a second end of the channel; and a gas backflow barrier positioned adjacent the transparent cover and between the first and second sidewall portions, the gas backflow barrier adapted to limit gas from passing from an interior portion of the channel through the liquid growth media input when the liquid growth media is flowing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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12. A photobioreactor for producing biomass material using a continuous flow of liquid growth media, the apparatus comprising:
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a channel including, a bottom portion; a first sidewall portion connected to the bottom portion; and a second sidewall portion connected to the bottom portion opposite the first sidewall portion, wherein a length of the channel is at least twice as long as a width of the channel;
the length of the channel is measured along the bottom portion of the channel and parallel to the first and second sidewall portions of the channel, and the width is measured as a distance between and perpendicular to the first and second sidewall portions of the channel;a transparent cover adapted to provide a seal with the first sidewall portion and second sidewall portion opposite the bottom portion along a substantial length of the channel; a liquid growth media input at a first end of the channel; a biomass and liquid media output for harvesting biomass material at a second end of the channel; one or more gas release ports adapted to eliminate a continuous gas film from forming between the cover and the liquid growth media; and one or more gas discharge tubes adapted to discharge CO2 rich gas into the liquid growth media.
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Specification