Biomass production apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- an upstanding substantially cylindrical support structure;
a substantially transparent tube supported by the support structure and wound helically on the outside thereof so that, in use, the exterior of the wound tube is exposed to natural light, said tube containing at least living plant matter;
a header tank at the top of the support structure, the upper end of the transparent tube being connected to the header tank;
a pipe extending from the header tank to the bottom of the support structure, said pipe being connected to the lower end of the transparent tube;
means for causing a synthesis mixture to flow under turbulent conditions through the tube, the header tank and the pipe; and
means for withdrawing a biomass synthesis product from at least one of the header tank and the wound tube.
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Abstract
The production of biomass, such as algae, is carried out in a substantially transparent tube wound on an upstanding core structure. The exterior surface of the tube is exposed to natural light and the tube and/or the core is adapted to encourage light penetration into the tube in the region of contact between the tube and the core structure.
86 Citations
8 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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an upstanding substantially cylindrical support structure; a substantially transparent tube supported by the support structure and wound helically on the outside thereof so that, in use, the exterior of the wound tube is exposed to natural light, said tube containing at least living plant matter; a header tank at the top of the support structure, the upper end of the transparent tube being connected to the header tank; a pipe extending from the header tank to the bottom of the support structure, said pipe being connected to the lower end of the transparent tube; means for causing a synthesis mixture to flow under turbulent conditions through the tube, the header tank and the pipe; and means for withdrawing a biomass synthesis product from at least one of the header tank and the wound tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus comprising:
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an upstanding substantially cylindrical support structure; a header tank at the top of the support structure; a substantially transparent tube supported by the support structure and wound helically on the outside thereof so that, in use, the exterior of the wound tube is exposed to natural light, said tube being arranged in a plurality of separate sections, each having an inlet end and an outlet end and arranged one above the other on the support structure, and said tube containing at least living plant matter; a pump having an inlet port and an outlet port; the inlet ends of the sections of the tube being connected together and to the outlet port of the pump, the outlet ends of the sections of the tube being connected together and to the header tank; a pipe extending from the header to the inlet port of the pump, the pump being operated to cause a synthesis mixture to flow through the sections of wound tube in parallel under turbulent conditions; and means for withdrawing a biomass synthesis product from the header tank.
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Specification