Apparatus for biomass production
First Claim
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1. A bioreactor for biomass production comprising:
- (i) a substantially transparent chamber, the chamber being at least suitable for containing biomass in a liquid phase, and having a base portion, an upper portion and a number of side walls between the base portion and the upper portion, the side walls being configured so as to generally diverge from the base portion towards the wider upper portion; and
(ii) a circulating means for circulating the contents of the chamber, wherein the circulating means creates a motive force within the liquid phase sufficient to ensure continual mixing of substantially all of the biomass and at least cyclical exposure of biomass to a light source.
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Abstract
A bioreactor for biomass production having (i) a substantially transparent chamber, the chamber being suitable for containing biomass in a liquid phase, and having a base portion, an upper portion and a number of sidewalls between the base portion and the upper portion, the sidewalls being configured so as to diverge from the base portion towards the upper portion; and (ii) a circulating means for circulating the contents of the chamber to create a motive force in the liquid phase to ensure continual mixing of all of the biomass and a semi-continuous exposure of the biomass to a light source.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A bioreactor for biomass production comprising:
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(i) a substantially transparent chamber, the chamber being at least suitable for containing biomass in a liquid phase, and having a base portion, an upper portion and a number of side walls between the base portion and the upper portion, the side walls being configured so as to generally diverge from the base portion towards the wider upper portion; and (ii) a circulating means for circulating the contents of the chamber, wherein the circulating means creates a motive force within the liquid phase sufficient to ensure continual mixing of substantially all of the biomass and at least cyclical exposure of biomass to a light source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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6. A bioreactor for biomass production comprising:
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(i) a substantially transparent chamber, the chamber being at least suitable for containing biomass in a liquid phase, and having a narrow base portion, an upper portion capable of being sealed by a cover means and a number of side walls diverging from the base portion to the wider upper portion; and (ii) a circulation means for circulating the contents of the chamber, wherein the circulating means creates a motive force sufficient to ensure continual mixing of the liquid phase and exposure of biomass to the light wherein the circulating means is located at or near the lower most portion of the base portion and comprises a conduit extending through the length of the bioreactor, the conduit being perforated and connected to a gas source wherein the perforations in the conduit are disposed towards the underside of the conduit, such that in operation the downward passage of gas out of the conduit and into the liquid phase (a) prevents particulate material in the chamber from settling below the conduit, (b) causes circulation of the liquid phase; and
(c) allows gas diffusion into the liquid phase.
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Specification