Method and apparatus for cultivation of algae and cyanobacteria

• US 8,551,769 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2011
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zero Discharge Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Zero Discharge Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Falber, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): BOWERS, NATHAN ANDREW
• Application Number:
  US13/194,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20120034679A1
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 435/292.1, 435/294.1, 435/293.1, 435/968, 252/586, 252/587, 252/588
• US Class Current: 435/292.1
• 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 31/08 by conducting or reflecting elements located inside the reactor or in its structure
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/12 Unicellular algae; Culture media therefor as new plants A01H13/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/80 in fisheries management

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of cultivation of algae or cyanobacteria in the presence of a luminous material that converts light of a first wavelength to a second wavelength more suitable for use in photosynthesis by the algae or cyanobacteria, and apparatus for performing the method. In one embodiment the apparatus (50) is of flexible plastic with fluorescent light concentrator or light guide (76) and perforated pipe (56) for bubbling carbon dioxide through the culture. The algae or cyanobacteria may be used to produce biofuels.

Claims

1. A bioreactor comprising a plurality of containment apparatuses, each containment apparatus comprising a first light guide, wherein:

the first light guide is a luminescent light guide comprising a first luminescent material; and

the first light guide guides light to a second luminescent material underneath the first light guide; and

the first light guide luminescent material emits visible light between 540 nm and 600 nm suitable for absorption by the second luminescent material; and

a second light guide is formed between adjacent containment apparatuses.

2. The bioreactor of claim 1, wherein each containment apparatus underneath the first light guide comprises the second luminescent material that absorbs visible light emitted by the first luminescent material.

3. The bioreactor of claim 2, wherein the second luminescent material emits red light.

4. The bioreactor of claim 1, wherein the second light guide is a liquid-filled light guide.

5. The bioreactor of claim 4, wherein the liquid-filled light guide is filled with clear water.

6. The bioreactor of claim 1, wherein the first light guide or the second light guide widens in one axis.

7. The bioreactor of claim 1, wherein the first light guide or the second light guide widens in two axes.

8. The bioreactor of claim 1, wherein the first light guide or the second light guide comprises a non-curving surface for internal reflection.

9. The bioreactor of claim 1, wherein the first light guide or the second light guide comprises a curving surface for internal reflection.

10. The bioreactor of claim 1, wherein the second light guide further comprises a double wall that maintains a boundary for guiding light.

11. The bioreactor of claim 1, wherein the first light guide comprises a light extractor that extracts light from the first luminescent material at angles that would otherwise be trapped by total internal reflection according to the refractive index of the first luminescent material.

12. The bioreactor of claim 11, wherein light is extracted in one direction.

13. The bioreactor of claim 11, wherein light is extracted in more than one direction.

14. The bioreactor of claim 1, wherein the first light guide is adapted to reduce reabsorption of luminescence by the first luminescent material.

15. The bioreactor of claim 14, wherein the first light guide is adapted to reduce reabsorption by means of a substrate lacking a luminescent material and of sufficient refractive index that luminescence is guided by the substrate.

16. The bioreactor of claim 1, wherein each containment apparatus is triangular, with a base positioned away from a light source and a vertex positioned towards the light source.

17. The bioreactor of claim 1, wherein each containment apparatus is tubular and triangular, with a base positioned away from a light source and a vertex positioned towards the light source.

18. The bioreactor of claim 1, further comprising a bio-digester.

19. A method for growing an aquatic plant, an alga or a cyanobacterium comprising growing the aquatic plant, alga or cyanobacterium in the of bioreactor of claim 1.