PHOTOBIOREACTOR SYSTEM FOR MASS PRODUCTION OF MICROORGANISMS

• US 20110312062A1
• Filed: 12/13/2010
• Published: 12/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atle B. Nordvik, George Berliner
• Original Assignee: Atle B. Nordvik, George Berliner
• Inventors: Nordvik, Atle B., Berliner, George
• Granted Patent: US 8,765,460 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/257.1
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/02 Photobioreactors culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 25/01 Drops
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 31/10 by light emitting elements located inside the reactor, e.g. LED or OLED
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/12 Unicellular algae; Culture media therefor as new plants A01H13/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/20 Bacteria; Culture media therefor
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 13/00 Treatment of microorganisms or enzymes with electrical or wave energy, e.g. magnetism, sonic waves

Abstract

A photobioreactor system for mass production of microorganisms is disclosed. Water with microorganisms suspended therein is sprayed through a nozzle to create droplets. These droplets have a high surface area to volume ratio enabling efficient light transfer and gas diffusion. The water may also be passed through channels between two transparent plates, wherein superior mixing is achieved along with a high surface to volume ratio. The water is preferably circulated through a dark holding tank Active and passive flashing lights of different wavelengths are used to promote growth of the microorganisms when the water is sprayed and/or passing through the transparent plates.

Claims

1. A system for production of microorganisms comprising:

a light absorbing droplet unit, a holding tank, and a pump,

where the light absorbing droplet unit comprises a chamber, a nozzle, and a lighting apparatus, where the chamber comprises four walls, where the walls are transparent, where the nozzle is oriented to spray within the chamber, where the nozzle is fluidly connected to the holding tank, where the lighting apparatus emits light into the chamber through one or more walls of the chamber,

where the lighting apparatus comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes, where at least one of the plurality of light emitting diodes emits light at different wavelengths than another of the plurality of light emitting diodes,

where the holding tank comprises water, where microorganisms are suspended within the water, where the water comprises diffused carbon dioxide and nutrients, where the water is forced from the holding tank through the nozzle by the pump thereby creating a spray of water within the chamber.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a flat panel unit and a second pump,

where the flat panel unit comprises two flat plates and a plurality of bafflers, where the two flat plates are transparent, where the bafflers are secured between the two flat plates to create channels, where the flat panel unit is fluidly connected to the holding tank, where the second pump forces water from the holding tank through the channels of the flat panel unit and into the holding tank, where the flat panel unit is oriented at an incline.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the light absorbing droplet unit and the flat panel unit are fluidly connected to the holding tank by means of tubing.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the water flows from the nozzle, through the chamber, back into the holding tank.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the water flows through the flat panel unit back into the holding tank.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes comprise a red light emitting diode, a white light emitting diode, and a blue light emitting diode.

7. A system for production of microorganisms comprising:

a light absorbing droplet unit, a holding tank, and a pump,

where the light absorbing droplet unit comprises a chamber, a nozzle, and a lighting apparatus, where the nozzle is oriented to spray within the chamber, where the nozzle is fluidly connected to the holding tank, where the lighting apparatus emits light into the chamber,

where the holding tank comprises water, where microorganisms are suspended within the water, where the water is forced from the holding tank through the nozzle by the pump thereby creating a spray of water within the chamber.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the lighting apparatus comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the lighting apparatus emits light at a plurality of wavelengths.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the light absorbing unit further comprises a source of carbon dioxide.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the source of carbon dioxide is fluidly connected to the chamber thereby allowing carbon dioxide to be injected into the chamber.

12. The system of claim 7, further comprising a source of nutrients, where the nutrients are added to the water.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the water is salt water.

14. A method for production of microorganisms comprising the steps of pumping water through a nozzle, whereby the water is sprayed out of the nozzle into droplets, and

exposing the water to light,

where microorganisms are suspended within the water.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of

diffusing carbon dioxide into the water.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of diffusing carbon dioxide into the water occurs when the water is in droplet form.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the water is exposed to active flashing light.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the water is exposed to passive flashing light.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of

adding nutrients to the water.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of

harvesting the microorganisms.