Solar biofactory, photobioreactors, passive thermal regulation systems and methods for producing products
First Claim
1. A method for producing fuels or chemicals comprising:
- (a) employing a photobioreactor assembly comprising;
a reactor structure; and
a greenhouse structure configured to provide a greenhouse environment for the reactor structure, the reactor structure and the greenhouse structure spaced relative to each other to provide temperature control of the photobioreactor, wherein the reactor structure comprises a closed reactor and the greenhouse structure comprises at least two side sheets spaced apart with the reactor disposed therebetween;
(b) introducing into the reactor of the photobioreactor assembly at least one phototroph;
(c) culturing the phototroph in the reactor of the photobioreactor assembly whereby the phototroph utilizes light and CO2 to produce the fuels or chemicals.
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Abstract
The invention described herein relates to photobioreactors, methods, assembly and use of such apparatus for culturing light-capturing organisms in a cost-effective manner. Various embodiments provide for a passive thermal regulation system employing selected microorganisms in a photobioreactor apparatus and methods for biological production of various fuel and chemical products from these organisms. Additional embodiments provide a solar biofactory system capable of culturing light capturing organisms to an areal productivity of 3.3 g/m2/hr. Further embodiments are directed to a photobioreactor capable of culturing light capturing organisms to an OD730 of about 14 g/L DCW. Such embodiments incorporate passive thermal regulation and systems.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method for producing fuels or chemicals comprising:
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(a) employing a photobioreactor assembly comprising; a reactor structure; and a greenhouse structure configured to provide a greenhouse environment for the reactor structure, the reactor structure and the greenhouse structure spaced relative to each other to provide temperature control of the photobioreactor, wherein the reactor structure comprises a closed reactor and the greenhouse structure comprises at least two side sheets spaced apart with the reactor disposed therebetween; (b) introducing into the reactor of the photobioreactor assembly at least one phototroph; (c) culturing the phototroph in the reactor of the photobioreactor assembly whereby the phototroph utilizes light and CO2 to produce the fuels or chemicals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification