MICROALGAE CULTIVATION MODULE

• US 20130059369A1
• Filed: 01/17/2012
• Published: 03/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: National Chiao Tung University (Government of The Republic of China)
• Original Assignee: National Chiao Tung University (Government of The Republic of China)
• Inventors: Lin, Chih-Sheng, Chiu, Sheng-Yi, Kao, Chien-Ya
• Application Number:
  US13/351,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20130059369A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/292.1
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/02 Photobioreactors culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12
• 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 29/26 Conditioning fluids entering or exiting the reaction vessel
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/34 of gas
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 43/04 Bioreactors or fermenters combined with combustion devices or plants, e.g. for carbon dioxide removal C12M43/06 takes precedence; recovery of carbon dioxide C12F3/02

Abstract

A microalgae cultivation module for carbon reduction and biomass production is provided, which includes a first photobioreactor set, a second photobioreactor set, a gas switching device and a control unit. The gas switching device is communicated to the first and the second photobioreactor sets. The control unit is coupled to and controls the gas switching device, thereby aerating a waste gas into the first photobioreactor set and aerating air into the second photobioreactor set for a first predetermined time, then aerating the waste gas into the second photobioreactor set and aerating the air into the first photobioreactor set for a second predetermined time. The first and the second photobioreactor sets include a microalgae species.

Claims

1. A microalgae cultivation module, comprising:

a first photobioreactor set;

a second photobioreactor set;

a gas switching device communicating to the first photobioreactor set and the second photobioreactor set; and

a control unit coupled to and controlling the gas switching device so as to aerate a waste gas into the first photobioreactor set and aerate air into the second photobioreactor set for a first predetermined time, and aerate the waste gas into the second photobioreactor set and aerate the air into the first photobioreactor set for a second predetermined time,

wherein the first photobioreactor set and the second photobioreactor set comprise a microalgae species.

2. The microalgae cultivation module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gas switching device comprises a gas switcher communicating to the first photobioreactor set and the second photobioreactor set.

3. The microalgae cultivation module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gas switching device comprises:

a first gas switcher communicating to the first photobioreactor set; and

a second gas switcher communicating to the second photobioreactor set.

4. The microalgae cultivation module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first photobioreactor set and the second photobioreactor set respectively comprise at least one photobioreactor.

5. The microalgae cultivation module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first photobioreactor set and the second photobioreactor set respectively comprise a photobioreactor array constituted by a plurality of photobioreactors connected in parallel.

6. The microalgae cultivation module as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an air supply device directly or indirectly communicating to the first photobioreactor set and the second photobioreactor set.

7. The microalgae cultivation module as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a waste gas supply device communicating to the gas switching device.

8. The microalgae cultivation module as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a desulfurization device configured to remove a sulfur containing gas in the waste gas before the waste gas is supplied to the first photobioreactor set and the second photobioreactor set.

9. The microalgae cultivation module as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a sensor system configured to detect a content of at least one gaseous component in the first photobioreactor set and the second photobioreactor set.

10. The microalgae cultivation module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit controls a switching method of the gas switching device in a continuous time series generated by alternating the first predetermined time and the second predetermined time.