Backward-facing step

• US 8,748,160 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2009
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aurora Algae, Incorporated (Reliance Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Aurora Alage Incorporated
• Inventors: Parsheh, Mehran, Rice, David, Radaelli, Guido
• Primary Examiner(s): Ware, Debbie K
• Application Number:
  US12/631,567
• Publication Number:
  US 20110136212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,649 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 23/18 Open ponds; Greenhouse type or underground installations
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 27/02 Stirrer or mobile mixing elements
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/14 Pressurized fluid
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/00 Means for regulation, monitoring, measurement or control, e.g. flow regulation controlling or regulating chemical, physical or physicochemical processes B01J19/0006; heating or cooling apparatus for laboratory use B01L7/00; electro optical investigation of individual particles, flow cytometers G01N15/14; automatic analysis G01N35/00; controlling or regulating in general G06N
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/26 of pH
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/34 of gas
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/36 of biomass, e.g. colony counters or by turbidity measurements electrooptical investigation of individual particles G01N15/14, flow cytometers G01N15/1404

Abstract

Systems, methods and media for carbonation of fluid in an algae cultivation pond via the use of backward-facing steps are disclosed. In a first aspect, a method for initiating carbonation of a fluid flow in an algae cultivation pond is disclosed. Fluid flow is initiated over a backward-facing step in the algae cultivation pond. A backflow region is generated in the fluid flow downstream of the backward-facing step. Carbon dioxide is provided to the backflow region.

Claims

1. A method for initiating carbonation of a fluid flow in an algae cultivation pond, the method comprising:

initiating fluid flow over a backward-facing step in the algae cultivation pond;

generating a backflow region in the fluid flow downstream of the backward-facing step; and

providing carbon dioxide to the backflow region.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the backflow region corresponds to a closed flow loop.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the backflow region interfaces a dividing streamline.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the backflow region is bounded by a reattachment region of a boundary layer associated with the backflow region.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein providing carbon dioxide to the backflow region includes providing carbon dioxide in the reattachment region.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the carbon dioxide is provided to the backflow region at a rate ranging from approximately 2.2 to approximately 2.9 standard cubic feet per hour per meter of a channel width associated with the backflow region.