PHOTOBIOREACTOR

• US 20140256022A1
• Filed: 10/19/2012
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC (KBR Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC (KBR Incorporated)
• Inventors: Henderson, Garry
• Granted Patent: US 9,644,176 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/257.1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/84 Biological processes
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/02 Photobioreactors culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/24 Gas permeable parts
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 31/02 located outside the reactor
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 31/10 by light emitting elements located inside the reactor, e.g. LED or OLED
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/12 Unicellular algae; Culture media therefor as new plants A01H13/00

Abstract

A photobioreactor having an optical waveguide formed at least in part from highly scattering optically transmitting polymer. The optical waveguide has a light distributing part immersed in a container holding photoactive biological material and a light collecting part outside the container.

Claims

1. A photobioreactor comprising:

a container holding a photoactive biological material; and

an optical waveguide at least partially located within the container;

wherein the optical waveguide is formed at least in part from highly scattering optically transmitting polymer.

2. The photobioreactor of claim 1 wherein the waveguide is formed with a light collecting part and a light distributing part.

3. The photobioreactor of claim 2 wherein the light distributing part is formed entirely from the highly scattering optically transmitting particles.

4. The photobioreactor of claim 2 wherein the light distributing part is located wholly within the container.

5. The photobioreactor of claim 2 wherein the light collecting part is located wholly outside the container.

6. The photobioreactor of claim 2 wherein the light collecting part is formed from a low diffusion optical material.

7. The photobioreactor of claim 2 wherein the light collecting part is shaped for maximum sunlight collection.

8. The photobioreactor of claim 2 wherein the light distributing part is shaped for maximum light distribution.

9. The photobioreactor of claim 2 wherein the light distributing part provides a light dilution factor of about 2 to 6 times.

10. The photobioreactor of claim 1 wherein the waveguide includes at least a portion that is a flexible part.

11. The photobioreactor of claim 10 where in the flexible part is formed between a light collecting part and a light distributing part.

12. The photobioreactor of claim 1 further comprising supplemental light sources that direct light into the waveguide.

13. The photobioreactor of claim 12 wherein the supplemental light sources are light emitting diodes.

14. The photobioreactor of claim 1 wherein the waveguide is doped with wavelength shifting dopant.

15. The photobioreactor of claim 1 wherein the container is a cell having at least one wall that is gas permeable and liquid impermeable.

16. A photobioreactor comprising:

at least one container holding photoactive biological material; and

an optical waveguide at least partially located within the at least one container;

wherein the optical waveguide is formed with two or more light distributing parts of highly scattering optically transmitting polymer immersed in the at least one container, and light collecting parts joining the light distributing parts.

17. A method of operating a photobioreactor including the steps of:

forming a waveguide having a light collecting part and a light distributing part, the light collecting part being formed from a low diffusion optical material and the light distributing part being formed from highly scattering optically transmitting polymer;

locating at least a portion of the light distributing part in a container;

filling the container with photoactive biological material;

collecting sunlight through the light collecting part; and

transmitting the collected sunlight to the light distributing part.

18. The method of claim 17 further including the step of the light collecting part tracking the sun to optimise sunlight collection.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the photoactive biological material is selected from material for the photobioreactor to operate in autotrophic mode, heterotrophic mode or mixotrophic mode.

20. A method of treating flue gas including the step of locating a photobioreactor in a flue gas stream, the photobioreactor comprising a container holding a photoactive biological material;

and an optical waveguide at least partially located within the container;

wherein the optical waveguide is formed at least in part from highly scattering optically transmitting polymer.