Method and apparatus for CO 2 sequestration

• US 8,372,632 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2007
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Malcolm Glen Kertz
• Original Assignee: Malcolm Glen Kertz
• Inventors: Kertz, Malcolm Glen
• Primary Examiner(s): Bowers, Nathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): EDWARDS, LYDIA E
• Application Number:
  US11/762,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20070289206A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,071 Days
• Field of Search: 435/286.6, 435/286.7, 435/292.1, 435/296.1, 435/304.1, 435/257.1, 47/14, 47/17
• US Class Current: 435/292.1
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 15/00 Devices or methods for influencing weather conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/84 Biological processes
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/02 Photobioreactors culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/14 Bags
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/18 Open ponds; Greenhouse type or underground installations
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/50 Means for positioning or orientating the apparatus C12M41/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/58 Reaction vessels connected in series or in parallel combinations of bioreactors with other apparatus, C12M43/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 27/20 Baffles; Ribs; Ribbons; Auger vanes
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 33/18 Rollers
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 33/22 Settling tanks; Sedimentation by gravity settling tanks per se B01D21/02
• 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 43/04 Bioreactors or fermenters combined with combustion devices or plants, e.g. for carbon dioxide removal C12M43/06 takes precedence; recovery of carbon dioxide C12F3/02
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/12 Unicellular algae; Culture media therefor as new plants A01H13/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 of CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/59 Biological synthesis; Biological purification
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/20 Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions in agriculture, e.g. CO2

Abstract

A method and apparatus for sequestering CO₂ using algae comprises a plurality of vertically suspended bioreactors, each bioreactor being translucent and including a flow channel formed by a plurality of baffles. A culture tank contains a suspension of water and at least one algae and includes a plurality of gas jets for introducing a CO₂-containing gas into the suspension. The culture tank is in fluid communication with an inlet in each channel for flowing the suspension through the channel in the presence of light. A pump pumps the suspension into the channel inlet.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sequestering CO₂ comprising one or more bioreactors configured as a series of vertically descending, horizontal baffles,

wherein the bioreactor has a generally rectangular shape hanging vertically, having a height measured vertically and a width measured horizontally;

wherein the horizontal baffles form an enclosed, continuous, serpentine channel from the inlet to the outlet of the bioreactor, each channel having a cross-sectional width measured perpendicular to the bioreactor height and width, the cross-sectional width being significantly less than the bioreactor height and width such that the bioreactors have a generally planar configuration; and

wherein the serpentine channel has a translucent wall, configured to flow a suspension containing algae in the presence of natural or artificial natural light, the serpentine channel translucent wall being made from a flexible polymeric material.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a remote culture tank in fluid communication with one or more bioreactors containing a suspension of water and at least one algae, wherein said culture tank comprises a plurality of gas jets bubbling a CO₂-containing gas into said suspension.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the bioreactor inlet is located at the top of the one or more bioreactors, each inlet being in fluid communication with the channels and culture tank;

and

wherein the bioreactor outlet is in fluid communication with at least one other bioreactor or the remote culture tank.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further including a pump for pumping the suspension to the inlet of the channels of one or more bioreactors from the remote culture tank.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the one or more bioreactor serpentine channels are formed by the plurality of baffles disposed substantially horizontally in the vertically downward flow of the algae suspension between the inlet and the outlet.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said plurality of baffles are arranged at an angle.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said plurality of baffles are arranged at an upward angle.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said plurality of baffles are arranged at different angles.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more bioreactors translucent, serpentine channels that form a flow path alternating horizontally across each bioreactor baffle from top to bottom of each bioreactor.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the polymeric material is from the group comprising polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyester, polyacrylic acid, or combinations thereof.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the one or more bioreactors includes a gas inlet for the bubbling of a CO₂-containing gas.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the channel has a plurality of vertical baffles.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the algae comprise Chlorella, red algae, brown algae, Spirulina, or combinations thereof.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the channel is no more than about 3 inches wide.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the one or more bioreactors are arranged in a matrix configuration.

16. The apparatus of claim 2, where the bottom of the channels of the one or more bioreactors includes an outlet that returns said suspension to the culture tank.

17. The apparatus of claim 2, further including an algae harvester in fluid communication with the culture tank, wherein the algae harvester comprises a filter to remove algae from the continuous flow of a suspension containing algae.

18. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a water recycler in fluid communication with the culture tank.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each bioreactor is disposed between at least two members, said at least two members are movably disposed horizontally on either face of each bioreactor.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flexible polymeric material flexes to expand the cross-sectional width of the channels to compensate for different flow rates.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 the inlet and outlet of the one or more bioreactors communicates with a culture tank to form a closed system.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the culture tank is configured to culture algae prior to introduction to the bioreactor.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the culture tank includes feed inlets for nutrients.

24. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein algae continuously circulates through the bioreactors and culture tank and upon the algae reaching a predetermined concentration passes to a harvester without stopping the flow of algae through the bioreactors.