Light Rod for Accelerating Algae Growth

• US 20110122645A1
• Filed: 11/10/2010
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: BioVantage International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: BioVantage Resources, Inc.
• Inventors: Veres, Michael Edward, Deschenes, David George Peter, Bjorklund, Gary C., Donham, Matthew Edward
• Application Number:
  US12/943,904
• Publication Number:
  US 20110122645A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/553
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 33/00 Cultivation of seaweed or algae
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/045 with electric lighting
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/249 Lighting means with special arrangements for promoting growth A01G7/045
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/02 Photobioreactors culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/04 for producing gas, e.g. biogas digesters for manure with production of biogas A01C3/028, biological treatment of water, waste water or sewage C02F3/00, C02F11/02, preparation of natural gas or syngas C10L3/06, C10L3/10
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/18 Open ponds; Greenhouse type or underground installations
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/58 Reaction vessels connected in series or in parallel combinations of bioreactors with other apparatus, C12M43/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 27/06 with horizontal or inclined stirrer shaft or axis
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 27/24 Draft tube C12M29/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/08 Air lift
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 31/08 by conducting or reflecting elements located inside the reactor or in its structure
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0064 Health, life-saving or fire-fighting equipment
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/40 Lighting for industrial, commercial, recreational or military use
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/30 Semiconductor lasers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/001 the light being emitted along at least a portion of the lateral surface of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0096 the lights guides being of the hollow type
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/80 in fisheries management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/14 Measures for saving energy, e.g. in green houses
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 using solar energy

Abstract

A light pipe for use in aqueous environments comprising an optical rod capable of total internal reflection, and disposed in the optical path of a light source such as a light emitting diode or other source. The optical rod has frosted and unfrosted portions, such that the light is propagated distally along the rod at the unfrosted portions, but a portion of the light is coupled out of the rod into the aqueous environment at each of the frosted portions. The relative sizes of the frosted portions are arranged so that substantially the same light power is coupled out of the rod at each frosted section, thus facilitating rapid and uniform growth of algae in the aqueous environment.

Claims

1. A light pipe for accelerating algae growth comprising

a light source for emitting light, and

a rod, capable of total internal reflection, placed in the optical path of the light emitted from the light source so as to receive substantially all of the emitted light, and having alternating frosted and unfrosted portions, whereby the light is propagated down the rod at the unfrosted sections, and a portion of the light is coupled out of the rod at the frosted sections.

2. The light pipe of claim 1 wherein the rod has an input face, and further comprising a homogenizer with input and output faces, placed in the optical path of the light and the rod, such that the output face of the homogenizer is contained within the input face of the rod.

3. The light pipe of claim 1 wherein the light source is an LED.

4. The light pipe of claim 1 wherein the light source is a laser.

5. The light pipe of claim 1 wherein the rod has a circular cross-section.

6. The light pipe of claim 1 wherein the rod has other than a circular cross-section.

7. A light pipe for use in aqueous environments comprising

a light source for emitting light, and

an optical pipe capable of total internal reflection disposed in the optical path of the emitted light, the optical pipe having N segments of substantially equal length, wherein each segment comprises a frosted portion and an unfrosted portion, and the ratio of the length of the frosted portion to length of the unfrosted portion increases in the distal direction of the rod.