Photoreaction

• US 6,370,815 B1
• Filed: 06/26/2000
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lee Fisher Robinson, Stephen Skill
• Original Assignee: Lee Fisher Robinson, Stephen Skill
• Inventors: Skill, Stephen, Robinson, Lee Fisher
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gellner, Jeffrey L.
• Application Number:
  US09/529,847
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 47/14, 47/59, 47/10.1 R, 435/289.1, 435/298.1
• US Class Current: 47/1.4
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 33/00 Cultivation of seaweed or algae
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/02 Photobioreactors culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/06 Tubular C12M23/08, C12M23/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 27/06 with horizontal or inclined stirrer shaft or axis
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 31/08 by conducting or reflecting elements located inside the reactor or in its structure
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 39/00 Means for cleaning the apparatus or avoiding unwanted deposits of microorganisms apparatus for cleaning laboratory receptacles or instruments B01L13/02; cleaning in general B08B
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/22 in contact with the bioreactor walls
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/80 in fisheries management

Abstract

Photosynthetic organisms are grown in a tube having a gas inlet at one end and a gas outlet at the other. The tube containing a rotor having vanes adapted to wipe the inside surface, the tube being disposed at an angle to the horizontal in a bath containing liquid, the gas inlet being lowermost.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in growing a culture of photosensitive organisms, the apparatus comprising:

a) a bath containing culture liquid;

b) at least one elongate passageway member in the liquid and inclined to the horizontal, the passageway member having an inside surface, a gas inlet and a gas outlet, the gas inlet being longitudinally spaced apart from the gas outlet and disposed below the gas outlet; and

c) a rotary wiping means for wiping said inside surface of the passageway member.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rotary wiping means comprises a rotor disposed within and extending longitudinally with respect to the passageway member, the rotor having vanes for wiping said inside surface and the apparatus having rotary drive means for rotating said rotor.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said vanes are flexible.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the passageway member has a bore which is generally circular in cross-section.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said liquid contains an agent selected from the group consisting of dyes and fluorescent agents.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said bath has light-reflective surfaces for enhancing heating and photosynthesis.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the passageway member is inclined at about 30°

to 40°

to the horizontal.

16. A method of growing cultures of micro-organisms comprising passing a culture liquid through apparatus according to claim 1, and supplying CO₂ gas to the gas inlet.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein said rotary wiping means comprises a rotor which is rotated at about 1 to 60 rpm.

18. A method according to claim 16, including the step of collecting gas from said gas outlet.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the microorgansims are selected from the group consisting of oxygen-generating and hydrogen-generating microorganisms.

8. An apparatus according to clam 1, wherein said bath incorporates heat control means for maintaining the temperature of the liquid substantially constant, said heat control means being selected from the group consisting of means for reducing heat loss at night and means for cooling the liquid during the day.

9. An apparatus for use in the culture of photosensitive organisms, said apparatus comprising:

a) pond means containing water;

b) elongate containers arranged for housing the photosensitive organisms, said elongate containers being disposed at an inclination to the horizontal in the water, the elongate containers having an interior surface arranged for contacting the photosensitive organisms; and

c) rotary wiping means for wiping said interior surface.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, including a cover for converting the water to maintain the temperature thereof.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising means for agitating the water to enhance evaporation.

12. An apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising means for introducing gas into said elongate containers.

13. An apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising means for releasing gas from said elongate containers.

14. An apparatus according to claim 9, said elongate containers having walls which are substantially transparent to visible light.

15. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said elongate containers have opaque walls.