Photobioreactor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A photobioreactor comprising:
- (a) a tank for containing a liquid photosynthetic culture at a preselected operating level within said tank;
(b) a plurality of baffles each extending from one tank wall to an opposite tank wall, each of said baffles comprising optically transparent and generally planar walls having exterior light emitting surfaces and forming a liquid impervious hollow cavity therebetween;
(c) means for mounting said baffles within said tank such that the hollow cavity in each of said baffles is accessible from outside the tank wall which enables the insertion of a light source in said hollow cavity in each of said baffles without the need for accessing the interior volume of the photobioreactor; and
(d) means for positioning said baffles in said tank spaced apart with said planar walls in generally parallel relation with each other;
wherein said planar walls positioned in generally parallel relation establish available flow paths for the culture and enable the culture to be exposed to a substantially uniform light distribution.
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Abstract
A photobioreactor for the cultivation of photosynthetic microorganisms is disclosed wherein a plurality of baffles are mounted in the photobioreactor tank forming hollow cavities which enable the insertion of light sources through openings in the tank wall. The baffles shield the light sources housed therein from the liquid photosynthetic culture contained in the tank thus facilitating electrical connections with the light sources and the maintenance thereof as well.
95 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A photobioreactor comprising:
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(a) a tank for containing a liquid photosynthetic culture at a preselected operating level within said tank; (b) a plurality of baffles each extending from one tank wall to an opposite tank wall, each of said baffles comprising optically transparent and generally planar walls having exterior light emitting surfaces and forming a liquid impervious hollow cavity therebetween; (c) means for mounting said baffles within said tank such that the hollow cavity in each of said baffles is accessible from outside the tank wall which enables the insertion of a light source in said hollow cavity in each of said baffles without the need for accessing the interior volume of the photobioreactor; and (d) means for positioning said baffles in said tank spaced apart with said planar walls in generally parallel relation with each other; wherein said planar walls positioned in generally parallel relation establish available flow paths for the culture and enable the culture to be exposed to a substantially uniform light distribution. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A photobioreactor comprising:
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(a) a tank for containing a liquid photosynthetic culture; (b) a plurality of light compartments each containing a high intensity light source; (c) a plurality of baffles mounted within said tank extending from one tank wall to an opposite tank wall and positioned in generally parallel relation to each other, each said baffle comprising substantially planar and optically transparent surfaces forming a hollow cavity which is accessible through an opening in the tank wall and enables the insertion of said light compartments into said cavity of each of said baffles without the need for accessing the interior volume of the photobioreactor; and (d) said light compartment comprising means for emitting and distributing light from said high intensity light source substantially uniformly from the exterior surfaces of said planar surfaces; wherein said planar walls are positioned in generally parallel relation to each other to establish available flow paths for the culture and enables the culture to be exposed to a substantially uniform light distribution. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification