Semi-closed loop alga-diesel fuel photobioreactor using waste water

• US 8,183,032 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2009
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EMR Resources, LLC
• Original Assignee: Innovative American Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Frank, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lilling, Herbert J
• Application Number:
  US12/549,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20100055765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 435/257.1, 435/292.1
• US Class Current: 435/257.1
• 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 31/10 by light emitting elements located inside the reactor, e.g. LED or OLED
• 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: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Abstract

A semi-closed loop diesel photobioreactor system and method are provided for producing diesel fuel from wild algae or from specialized algae that has been biologically modified for high efficiency oil production using waste water as a primary food source. The diesel photobioreactor provides a semi-closed loop system with an opening to acquire waste water below the surface to obtain waste water nutrients and to protect the algae species from contamination. The semi-closed loop diesel photobioreactor includes a container that can be designed in a variety of shapes with a tube design preferred, and containing a liquid culture medium for cultivating photosynthetic organisms. The system can utilize natural light and can also deploy an innovative lighting system integrated into the photobioreactor container. The diesel photobioreactor system also has one or more cleaning devices mounted within the container for cleaning the surface of the photobioreactor container.

Claims

1. A diesel photobioreactor system, comprising:

a semi-closed loop container that draws waste water to supply nutrients and create a culture medium for photosynthetic organisms to a photobioreactor constructed from materials that efficiently allow light into the container for cultivating photosynthetic organisms wherein the container comprises a light tube used to distribute controlled light across the photobioreactor tube.

2. The diesel photobioreactor system of claim 1, wherein the container is constructed as a vertical flow device where the culture medium and algae are inserted in the top of a continuous flow tube and move horizontally to one or more ports that allow the culture medium and algae to flow down to a next level, and this process is repeated until it reaches a bottom tube where the culture medium and algae are pumped back to the top of the vertical flow device or passed to outside of the vertical flow device to a next process.

3. The diesel photobioreactor system of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a photobioreactor tube, and the system further comprising a set of cleaning brushes that are movably located in the container and are moved by water pressure through the container to clean the inner surface of the photobioreactor tube.

4. The diesel photobioreactor system of claim 1, further comprising a cleaning device that is moved through the photobioreactor tube by water propulsion through the tube, cleaning the inner sides of the tube as the cleaning device passes through the tube.

5. The diesel photobioreactor system of claim 4, wherein the cleaning device comprises a cleaning solvent or microbes that are used to clean the inner surface of the photobioreactor tube.

6. The diesel photobioreactor system of claim 1, further comprising a cleaning device that is moved through the photobioreactor tube by magnetic propulsion, wherein a magnet is located in the cleaning device deployed inside the tube, and the cleaning device with the magnet is drawn through the tube by a second magnet passing along the outside of the tube, thereby cleaning the inner side of the tube as the cleaning device passes through the tube.

7. The diesel photobioreactor system of claim 1, further comprising a cleaning device deployed outside of the photobioreactor tube, the cleaning device using clean water and brushing to clean the outer surface of the photobioreactor tube.

8. The diesel photobioreactor system of claim 1, wherein carbon-dioxide is provided in the photobioreactor tube to stimulate algae growth.

9. The diesel photobioreactor system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a closed loop system to protect the selected algae species from being contaminated by other algae species and bacteria and to control optimum waste water temperature, PH, carbon-dioxide concentration, gas composition, and irradiance.

10. The diesel photobioreactor system of claim 1, wherein the system is monitored on a real-time basis for contamination by other algae species and bacteria, waste water temperature, PH, carbon-dioxide concentration, gas composition, and irradiance.

11. The diesel photobioreactor system of claim 1, wherein the system is regulated on a real-time basis for waste water temperature, PH, carbon-dioxide concentration, conductivity, light, gas composition, and irradiance.

12. The diesel photobioreactor system of claim 1, wherein the waste water is subjected to high pressure prior to being introduced to the photobioreactor system.

13. The diesel photobioreactor system of claim 1, further comprising a sulfur light source lamp, optically coupled with the light tube, and used as a light source for the light tube.

14. The diesel photobioreactor system of claim 1, wherein natural sunlight or moonlight is used as a light source for the light tube.

15. The diesel photobioreactor system of claim 1, wherein concentrated sunlight or moonlight is used as a light source for the light tube.

16. The diesel photobioreactor system of claim 1, wherein the light tube is placed in close proximity to the photobioreacture tube.

17. The diesel photobioreactor system of claim 1, wherein the light spectrum is adjusted for optimum algae growth.

18. A method for cultivating photosynthetic organisms that are used to produce diesel fuel, the method comprising:

inserting photosynthetic algae organisms and culture medium in a first photobioreactor tube;

moving the algae and culture medium horizontally through the first photobioreactor tube;

moving the algae and culture medium through a port out of the first photobioreactor tube and flowing through another port into a second photobioreactor tube at a lower level;

moving the algae and culture medium horizontally through the second photobioreactor tube; and

irradiating light into the first and second photobioreactor tubes for cultivating the photosynthetic algae organisms that are used to produce diesel fuel, and where a light tube is used to distribute controlled light across the first and second photobioreactor tubes.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

pumping the algae and culture medium back up to the first photobioreactor tube to repeat a cultivation process for cultivating the photosynthetic algae organisms.