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Photobioreactor systems positioned on bodies of water

  • US 7,980,024 B2
  • Filed: 04/25/2008
  • Issued: 07/19/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2007
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An enclosed photobioreactor configured to float on a body of water, the photobioreactor comprising:

  • an elongated, longitudinally-oriented photobioreactor section constructed and arranged to contain a liquid medium comprising phototrophic organisms therein, the photobioreactor section comprising;

    a substantially flexible lower barrier comprising an upper surface in contact with and supporting the liquid medium;

    a cover constructed and arranged to cover the liquid medium within the photobioreactor section and further constructed and arranged to provide a gas headspace under the cover and above the liquid medium, the cover being at least partially transparent to light of a wavelength capable of driving photosynthesis;

    a first floatation element disposed on a first lateral side of the photobioreactor section;

    a second floatation element disposed on a second lateral side of the photobioreactor section;

    the first and second floatation elements being constructed and arranged to support the photobioreactor section for floatation on the body of water; and

    a plurality of tensioners constructed and arranged to apply tension to the lower barrier so as to maintain a substantial portion of the area of the lower barrier in a substantially horizontal configuration when the photobioreactor section is charged with the liquid medium, such that a continuous layer of the liquid medium has a substantially uniform depth which extends from approximately the first floatation element to approximately the second floatation element over at least a portion of the area of the lower barrier.

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