PHOTOBIOREACTOR AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING POLLUTED AIR

• US 20100261260A1
• Filed: 02/01/2008
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Phyco2, LLC
• Original Assignee: Emission Science, LLC
• Inventors: Morgan, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,476,067 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/257.300
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/802 Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/007 by irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/84 Biological processes
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/02 Photobioreactors culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters

Abstract

A photobioreactor (100) for use in treating polluted air and producing biomass may comprise, at least in part, a generally vertical tube or fluidic pathway (102), a generally vertical helical tube or fluidic pathway (104) having a light source (106) partially positioned within the helical fluidic pathway (104), a head cap assembly (108), and a base assembly (110). In one illustrative example, the light source (106) may be a light emitting diode (LED) or a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs). By one approach, a gas diffusion apparatus (112) is located at the base assembly (110) adjacent the generally vertical fluidic pathway (102).

Claims

1. A photobioreactor comprising:

a generally vertical fluidic pathway;

a generally vertical helically shaped fluidic pathway adjacent to the generally vertical fluidic pathway;

a head cap assembly fluidly connecting a first end of the generally vertical fluidic pathway with a first end of the generally vertical helically shaped fluidic pathway; and

a base assembly fluidly connecting a second end of the generally vertical fluidic pathway with a second end of the generally vertical helically shaped fluidic pathway;

such that a biologically active material is able to move fluidly, without substantial impediment, back and forth between the generally vertical fluidic pathway and the generally vertical helically shaped fluidic pathway.

2. The photobioreactor of claim 1 further comprising a light source at least partially positioned inside at least a portion of the generally vertical helically shaped fluidic pathway.

3. The photobioreactor of claim 2 wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode.

4. The photobioreactor of claim 3 wherein the light emitting diode comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes.

5. The photobioreactor of claim 4 wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes comprises light emitting diodes emitting between about 400 nm and about 700 nm.

6. The photobioreactor of claim 2 wherein the light source is at least substantially coextensive with an entire length of the generally vertical helically shaped pathway.

7. The air lift photobioreactor of claim 1 further comprising a gas diffusion apparatus located at the second end of the generally vertical fluidic pathway.

8. The photobioreactor of claim 7 wherein the gas diffusion apparatus comprises a sparger configured to inject gas bubbles at the base assembly.

9. The photobioreactor of claim 8 wherein the injected gas bubbles create a fluid movement within the fluidic pathway that moves upward through the generally vertical fluidic pathway and downward through the generally vertical helically shaped fluidic pathway.

10. The photobioreactor of claim 9 wherein the downward fluid movement through the generally vertical helically shaped fluidic pathway creates a Dean vortex flow.

11. The photobioreactor of claim 1 wherein the generally vertical fluidic pathway comprises a larger diameter pathway than a diameter of the generally vertical helically shaped fluidic pathway.

12. The photobioreactor of claim 1 wherein the generally vertical helically shaped pathway has a helix angle between about 15°

to about 30°

.

13. The photobioreactor of claim 12 wherein the helix angle is approximately 16°

.

14. A photobioreactor comprising:

a fluidly interconnected circuit having a generally straight portion with a primary axis oriented substantially vertically and a generally helical portion with a primary axis oriented substantially vertically;

a head cap assembly and a base assembly fluidly connecting the generally straight portion and the generally helical portion; and

a light source comprising a light emitting diode that is disposed proximal to the generally helical portion to provide a photosynthetic light source to biological material that flows through the generally helical portion.

15. The photobioreactor of claim 14 wherein the light emitting diode comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes emitting having wavelengths between approximately 445 nm and 680 nm.

16. A method of producing biomass comprising:

providing a photobioreactor that comprises;

a pair of generally vertical fluidic pathways, one of the fluidic pathways being generally helical;

a head cap assembly fluidly connects the pair of generally vertical fluidic pathways at a first end; and

a base assembly fluidly connects the pair of generally vertical fluidic pathways at a second end, forming a fluidly interconnected circuit having a fluid path that has at least one straight portion and at least one helical portion;

disposing at least one photosynthetic organism in a fluid medium in the photobioreactor;

providing a carbon dioxide-containing gas to the fluid medium in the photobioreactor containing the at least one photosynthetic organism;

providing radiation with a wavelength in the range of about 400 nm to about 700 nm;

generating turbidity in the fluid medium to generate contact between the carbon dioxide-containing gas fluid medium with the at least one photosynthetic organism.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the photosynthetic organism comprises alga.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the biomass comprises alga.

19. A system for processing polluted air by sequestering harmful emissions comprising:

a first tube having at least a substantially straight and substantially vertical portion;

a second tube having at least one substantially helical portion, the second tube being fluidly connected to the first tube;

a head cap assembly at an upper end of the first and second tubes;

a base assembly at a lower end of the first and second tubes;

wherein the first and second tubes, the head cap assembly, and the base assembly form a fluidly interconnected circuit;

a light source at least partially positioned inside the at least one helical portion of the second tube, the light source emitting wavelengths between about 400 nm to about 700 nm; and

at least one photosynthetic organism in a fluid medium in the fluid circuit.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising a sparger configured to emit gas bubbles with the carbon dioxide into the fluid medium.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the sparger is positioned at the lower end of the pair of generally vertical tubes.

22. A method of carbon sequestration comprising:

providing a fluid medium having at least one photosynthetic organism, the fluid medium flowing within a photobioreactor that comprises a pair of columns, wherein one of the columns has a helical portion and wherein the pair of columns fluidly connect through a base connector and a top connector;

injecting a carbon dioxide-containing gas at the base connector;

providing a light source emitting wavelengths between about 400 nm and about 700 nm, at least a portion of the light source being positioned inside at least a portion of the column having a helical portion.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the at least one photosynthetic organism comprises at least Chlorella Pyrenoidosa Alga.