System for Supporting Algae Growth with Adsorbed Carbon Dioxide

• US 20110308149A1
• Filed: 06/16/2010
• Published: 12/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Atomics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: General Atomics, Inc.
• Inventors: Hazlebeck, David A.
• Application Number:
  US12/817,043
• Publication Number:
  US 20110308149A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 47/1.4
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 33/00 Cultivation of seaweed or algae
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/02 Photobioreactors culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/06 Nozzles; Sprayers; Spargers; Diffusers per se B01F23/231, B01J19/26
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 43/06 Photobioreactors combined with devices or plants for gas production different from a bioreactor of fermenter
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 47/02 Separating microorganisms from the culture medium; Concentration of biomass separating microorganisms from their culture media C12N1/02
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 47/06 Hydrolysis; Cell lysis; Extraction of intracellular or cell wall material lysis of microorganisms C12N1/06; extracting or separating nucleic acids from biological samples C12N15/1003
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/80 in fisheries management

Abstract

A system is provided for supporting algae growth with adsorbed carbon dioxide. In the system, a channel such as a raceway is provided and holds bicarbonate solution. As algae grows in the solution, it is converted into carbonate solution. Therefore, the system provides a high surface area liquid gas contact medium for converting the carbonate solution back into bicarbonate solution. Specifically, the carbonate solution from the channel is delivered to the contact medium. At the contact medium, the carbonate solution drips or slowly moves along while air, containing carbon dioxide, moves across the solution. As carbon dioxide is adsorbed by the solution, it converts back into bicarbonate solution. Then, the bicarbonate solution is fed back into the channel to support further algae growth.

Claims

1. A system for supporting algae growth with adsorbed carbon dioxide comprising:

a high surface area liquid-gas contact medium;

a carbonate solution passing through the contact medium to adsorb carbon dioxide and convert into bicarbonate solution;

a channel for holding the bicarbonate solution to support algae growth, wherein the algae converts the bicarbonate solution into carbonate solution; and

a means for delivering the carbonate solution from the channel to the contact medium.

2. A system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a fan to move air across the contact medium.

3. A system as recited in claim 2 wherein the carbon dioxide is recovered from air including effluent from a power plant, and wherein low pressure steam from the power plant is used to drive the fan.

4. A system as recited in claim 3 wherein low pressure steam from the power plant is used to move the bicarbonate solution through the channel.

5. A system as recited in claim 4 further comprising an algae separator for removing algae from the channel.

6. A system as recited in claim 5 further comprising a cell lysis device for freeing oil within the algae.

7. A system as recited in claim 6 further comprising an oil separator for removing the oil from other cell material.

8. A system as recited in claim 7 further comprising a biofuels reactor for creating biofuel from the oil.

9. A system for producing biofuel which comprises:

a channel for growing algae therein;

an algae separator in fluid communication with the channel for removing algae therefrom;

a cell lysis device for freeing oil from within the algae;

an oil separator for isolating the oil from remaining algae matter;

a biofuels reactor for converting the oil into biofuel;

a bicarbonate solution flowing through the channel to support algae growth, wherein the algae converts the bicarbonate solution into carbonate solution; and

a high surface area liquid-gas contact medium for adsorbing carbon dioxide into the carbonate solution for conversion into bicarbonate solution.

10. A system as recited in claim 9 further comprising a fan to move air across the contact medium.

11. A system as recited in claim 10 wherein the carbon dioxide is adsorbed from air including effluent from a power plant, and wherein low pressure steam from the power plant is used to drive the fan.

12. A system as recited in claim 11 wherein low pressure steam from the power plant is used to move the bicarbonate solution through the channel.

13. A method for supporting algae growth with adsorbed carbon dioxide comprising the steps of:

providing a high surface area liquid-gas contact medium;

passing a carbonate solution through the contact medium to adsorb carbon dioxide and convert into bicarbonate solution;

moving the bicarbonate solution through a channel to support algae growth, wherein the algae converts the bicarbonate solution into carbonate solution; and

delivering the carbonate solution from the channel to the contact medium.

14. A method as recited in claim 13 further comprising the step of moving air across the contact medium.

15. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein the carbon dioxide is recovered from air including effluent from a power plant, and wherein low pressure steam from the power plant is used to move air across the contact medium.

16. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein low pressure steam from the power plant is used to move the bicarbonate solution through the channel.

17. A method as recited in claim 16 further comprising the step of removing the algae from the channel with an algae separator.

18. A method as recited in claim 17 further comprising the step of freeing oil within the algae with a cell lysis device.

19. A method as recited in claim 18 further comprising the step of removing the oil from other cell material with an oil separator.

20. A method as recited in claim 19 further comprising the step of creating biofuel from the oil with a biofuels reactor.

21. A system for establishing elevated carbon dioxide levels in an algae growth medium of a bioreactor which comprises:

a first subsystem having a contact medium for receiving a carbonate solution from the bioreactor, wherein the contact medium includes a plurality of panels with each panel having an extended surface to maximize a surface interface between air and the carbonate solution to convert the carbonate solution into a bicarbonate solution; and

a second subsystem for including the bicarbonate solution in the algae growth medium, and for then feeding the algae growth medium to the bioreactor for consumption of carbon dioxide in the bicarbonate solution by algae for growth of the algae and for conversion of the bicarbonate solution to a carbonate solution for return to the first subsystem.