ALGAE REACTOR
First Claim
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1. A lighting system for illuminating algae in an aqueous liquid comprising:
- a light source comprising a plurality of LEDs;
a mounting structure for supporting the LEDs;
a housing for accommodating the light source and the mounting structure, at least a portion of the housing being transparent for light emitted by the light source;
wherein the housing is at least partly filled with a cooling liquid, such that, in use, heat from the LEDs is transferred by the cooling liquid from the LEDs by means of convection.
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Abstract
The invention relates to a lighting system for illuminating algae in an aqueous liquid. The lighting system includes a light source comprising a plurality of LEDs, a mounting structure for supporting the LEDs and a housing for accommodating the light source and the mounting structure. At least a portion of the housing is transparent for light emitted by the light source. The housing is at least partly filled with a cooling liquid, such that, in use, heat from the LEDs is transferred by the cooling liquid from the LEDs by means of convection. The invention further relates to a reactor comprising such lighting system.
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Citations
66 Claims
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1. A lighting system for illuminating algae in an aqueous liquid comprising:
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a light source comprising a plurality of LEDs; a mounting structure for supporting the LEDs; a housing for accommodating the light source and the mounting structure, at least a portion of the housing being transparent for light emitted by the light source; wherein the housing is at least partly filled with a cooling liquid, such that, in use, heat from the LEDs is transferred by the cooling liquid from the LEDs by means of convection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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- 34. The lighting system of the immediately preceding claim, wherein the light source comprises a strip of LEDs, the strip being positioned parallel to a central axis of the tubular structure.
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48. A method for growing algae in an aqueous liquid using photosynthesis, the method comprising:
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providing an aqueous liquid with the algae in it; providing a lighting system at least partially submerged in the aqueous liquid, the lighting system comprising a plurality of LEDs; providing a cooling liquid for cooling the LEDs of the lighting system; and irradiating the algae with light generated by the LEDs, the light being transmitted through the cooling liquid and into the aqueous liquid in a region below the top surface of the aqueous liquid. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A method for transferring light generated by a light emitting diode towards an aqueous liquid containing algae, the method comprising:
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emitting light by the light emitting diode, the light emitting diode having a first refractive index; transferring the light through a liquid medium having a second refractive index; further transferring the light through a solid medium having a third refractive index; and passing the light into the aqueous liquid, the aqueous liquid having a fourth refractive index; wherein the value of the first refractive index is equal to or greater than the value of the second refractive index, the value of the second refractive index is equal to or greater than the value of the third refractive index, and the value of the third refractive index is equal to or greater than the value of the fourth refractive index. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. A reactor for growing algae in an aqueous liquid using photosynthesis, the reactor comprising:
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a tank for accommodating the aqueous liquid with the algae in it; and a lighting system including a light source comprising a plurality of LEDs, a mounting structure for supporting the LEDs, and a housing for accommodating the light source and the mounting structure, at least a portion of the housing being transparent for light emitted by the light source, wherein the lighting system is at least partially submerged in the aqueous liquid; and wherein, in operation, the light transmitted through the transparent portion of the housing is of sufficient intensity to substantially prevent growth of the algae on the surface of the transparent portion of the housing.
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Specification