Enclosed bioreactor system and methods associated therewith
First Claim
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1. A bioreactor, comprising:
- a containment vessel having a wall having inner and outer sides forming an interior having an inner diameter, lower and upper ends, and a medial area therebetween;
a generally vertically oriented flow tube concentrically situated in said interior of said containment vessel, said flow tube forming a longitudinal passage having a bottom, a top, and a medial area therebetween;
said flow tube having laterally formed therethrough, in the vicinity of said medial area of said longitudinal passage, a medial flow aperture;
a sliding gate valve comprising a buoyant, cylindrical body formed to slidingly engage said wall of said flow tube so as to selectively block flow through said medial flow aperture upon said interior of said containment vessel being filled to a predetermined fluid level.
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Abstract
A bioreactor production system for growing commercial volumes of algae or other biomass in a uniquely configured, enclosed, biosecure, photo-type reactor vessel, having internal artificial growth light production as well as exterior solar energy capturing devices or the like designed to facilitate enhanced sunlight exposure for photosynthesis organism production. A unique electromagnetic field generation system is integrated with the bioreactor and its operation to substantially enhance growth rate and overall productivity.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A bioreactor, comprising:
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a containment vessel having a wall having inner and outer sides forming an interior having an inner diameter, lower and upper ends, and a medial area therebetween; a generally vertically oriented flow tube concentrically situated in said interior of said containment vessel, said flow tube forming a longitudinal passage having a bottom, a top, and a medial area therebetween; said flow tube having laterally formed therethrough, in the vicinity of said medial area of said longitudinal passage, a medial flow aperture; a sliding gate valve comprising a buoyant, cylindrical body formed to slidingly engage said wall of said flow tube so as to selectively block flow through said medial flow aperture upon said interior of said containment vessel being filled to a predetermined fluid level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A bioreactor, comprising:
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a containment vessel having a wall having inner and outer sides forming an interior having an inner diameter, lower and upper ends, and a medial area therebetween; a generally vertically oriented flow tube concentrically situated in said interior of said containment vessel, said flow tube forming a longitudinal passage having a bottom, a top, and a medial area therebetween; said flow tube having laterally formed therethrough, in the vicinity of said medial area of said longitudinal passage, a medial flow aperture; a sliding gate valve comprising a buoyant, cylindrical body formed to slidingly engage said wall of said flow tube so as to selectively block flow through said medial flow aperture upon said interior of said containment vessel being filled to a predetermined fluid level; an auxiliary flat panel bioreactor in fluid communication with said containment vessel, said auxiliary flat panel bioreactor having a top side and an underside comprising; first and second panels mounted in a spaced fashion to define an enclosure therebetween, said first panel formed of light permeable material, said enclosure having a length and first and second ends, said first panel defining said top side of said auxiliary flat panel bioreactor, said second panel defining said underside of said auxiliary flat panel bioreactor; wherein said auxiliary flat panel bioreactor is situated exterior to said containment vessel, said enclosure is formed to receive a flow of liquid biomass suspension from said containment vessel, and said auxiliary flat panel bioreactor formed to facilitate the passage of said flow of liquid biomass suspension through said enclosure so as to receive light energy radiating therein. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification