BIOREFINERY SYSTEM, COMPONENTS THEREFOR, METHODS OF USE, AND PRODUCTS DERIVED THEREFROM

• US 20120208254A1
• Filed: 01/19/2012
• Published: 08/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Algae Aqua-Culture Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Algae Aqua-Culture Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Michael Francis, Rockwell, James Michael Jr.
• Application Number:
  US13/354,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20120208254A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/167
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 11/00 Other organic fertilisers
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 17/40 Treatment of liquids or slurries
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 17/50 Treatments combining two or more different biological or biochemical treatments, e.g. anaerobic and aerobic treatment or vermicomposting and aerobic treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 47/44 with conveyor-screws
• CPC Class Codes: C10B 53/02 of cellulose-containing material production of pyroligneous acid C10C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: C10K 1/04 by cooling to condense non-gaseous materials C10K1/001 takes precedence
• 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 43/02 Bioreactors or fermenters combined with devices for liquid fuel extraction; Biorefineries
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 43/08 Bioreactors or fermenters combined with devices or plants for production of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 45/20 Heating; Cooling heating or cooling apparatus for laboratory uses B01L7/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 5/023 Methane
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/133 Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/145 the feedstock being materials of biological origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 using solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/40 Bio-organic fraction processing; Production of fertilisers from the organic fraction of waste or refuse

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems, components, methods directed to generating energy and output products from biomass in a biorefinery system. The systems, components, and methods can be used alone or in combination as part of an integrated biorefinery system.

Claims

1. A biorefinery system, comprising:

(a) a photobioreactor system;

(b) an anaerobic bioreactor system; and

(c) an enclosure for containing at least a portion of the photobioreactor system and at least a portion of the anaerobic bioreactor system, wherein the enclosure has an environment for growing plant life.

2. The biorefinery system of claim 1, wherein the photobioreactor system is configured to grow an algal colony and produce an algal harvest.

3. The biorefinery system of claim 2, wherein the anaerobic bioreactor system is configured to consume the algal harvest to produce one or more products selected from the group consisting of methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and fertilizer.

4. The biorefinery system of claim 1, wherein a feedstock to the photobioreactor system is an exhaust gas from an external system.

5. The biorefinery system of claim 4, wherein the external system is selected from the group consisting of a biomass pyrolysis system, an energy conversion system, an anaerobic bioreactor, and a flue gas stack.

6. The biorefinery system of claim 1, wherein a feedstock to the photobioreactor system is at least a portion of the fertilizer output from the anaerobic bioreactor system.

7. The biorefinery system of claim 1, wherein plant life irrigation water is received from reclaimed water from a biomass pyrolysis system.

8. The biorefinery system of claim 1, wherein the photobioreactor receives reclaimed water from a biomass pyrolysis system.

9. The biorefinery system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is designed to receive solar energy.

10. The biorefinery system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is designed to receive heat from at least one of an external system, a hydronics system, and geothermal heat.

11. The biorefinery system of claim 1, wherein the system has managed inputs and outputs.

12. The biorefinery system of claim 1, further comprising a control system including a plurality of autonomous agents for controlling a plurality of components in the system, wherein one of the plurality of autonomous agents is a governing agent.

13. The biorefinery system of claim 12, wherein the control system may be reactive, predictive, adaptive, or a combination thereof.

14. The biorefinery system of claim 12, wherein the control system may be adaptive by using a solution process selected from the group consisting of goal-directed behavior models, heuristic algorithms, and fluents.

15. The biorefinery system of claim 14, wherein the solution process is competent to adapt to changes in its environment.

16. The biorefinery system of claim 12, wherein the control system may receive information from another biorefinery system.

17. A method of growing plant life in a greenhouse system, the method including:

(a) forming an enclosure, wherein at least a portion of the enclosure is configured for receiving solar energy;

(b) disposing at least a portion of a photobioreactor system in the enclosure; and

(c) disposing at least a portion of an anaerobic bioreactor system in the enclosure.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising growing an algal colony in the photobioreactor system to produce an algal harvest.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising consuming the algal harvest in the anaerobic bioreactor system to produce one or more products selected from the group consisting of methane, hydrogen, and fertilizer.

20-24. -24. (canceled)

25. A photobioreactor system for growing an algal colony, the system comprising:

(a) a source of exhaust gas;

(b) a raceway system including a plurality of raceways configured to consume the exhaust gas to grow an algal colony; and

(c) a valve system for draining the algal colony from at least one of the raceways, wherein each of the plurality of raceways is positioned to be adjacent the valve system.

26-62. -62. (canceled)