Systems, methods, and media for circulating fluid in an algae cultivation pond

• US 8,769,867 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2009
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aurora Algae, Incorporated (Reliance Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Aurora Algae, Incorporated (Reliance Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Parsheh, Mehran, Smith, Jordan, Strutner, Stephen, Radaelli, Guido
• Primary Examiner(s): Kramer, Devon
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZOLLINGER, NATHAN C
• Application Number:
  US12/485,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20100260618A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,848 Days
• Field of Search: 417/18, 417/53, 47/14, 435/257.1, 104/73, 366/136, 366/137, 366/173.1, 366/173.2, 366/167.1, 119/207, 119/208, 119/209, 119/210, 119/211
• US Class Current: 47/1.4
• CPC Class Codes: F04F 5/54 Installations characterised by use of jet pumps, e.g. combinations of two or more jet pumps of different type

Abstract

Systems, methods and media for generating fluid flow in an algae cultivation pond are disclosed. Circulation of fluid in the algae cultivation pond is initiated via at least one jet. The circulation of fluid generates a velocity of fluid flow of at least ten centimeters per second in the algae cultivation pond. A head is provided to the at least one jet that overcomes a head loss associated with the velocity of fluid flow of at least ten centimeters per second in the algae cultivation pond.

Claims

1. A method for generating turbulent algae cultivation fluid flow in an open-air raceway algae cultivation pond, the method comprising:

initiating a circulation of fluid in the open-air raceway algae cultivation pond via at least one liquid jet, the circulation of fluid generating a velocity of the turbulent algae cultivation fluid flow of at least ten centimeters per second in the open-air raceway algae cultivation pond; and

providing a head to the at least one liquid jet that overcomes a head loss associated with the velocity of the turbulent algae cultivation fluid flow of at least ten centimeters per second in the open-air raceway algae cultivation pond, wherein each liquid jet is connected to at least one submerged nozzle, the nozzle aligned parallel to the turbulent algae cultivation fluid flow, the nozzle increasingly constricting in diameter as it progresses from inflow to outflow, the nozzle positioned at or near a middle of the open-air raceway algae cultivation pond, and the liquid jet from the nozzle contributing to the fluid flow throughout a majority of the open-air raceway algae cultivation pond.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating circulation of fluid in the algae cultivation pond includes generating a velocity of twenty centimeters per second in the algae cultivation pond.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating circulation of fluid in the algae cultivation pond includes providing to the liquid jet less than eight percent of a flow in a cross-section of the algae cultivation pond.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating circulation of fluid in the algae cultivation pond via at least one liquid jet includes generating two or more liquid jets.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the two or more liquid jets form an array of liquid jets.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a depth of the liquid jet from a surface of the algae cultivation pond is approximately in a middle of a flow depth of the algae cultivation pond.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the depth of the liquid jet from the surface of the algae cultivation pond is between twenty and thirty centimeters.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

measuring the velocity of the turbulent algae cultivation fluid flow in the algae cultivation pond; and

adjusting the head generated by the liquid jet.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the nozzle from which the liquid jet is issued includes a laminar boundary layer.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating an entrainment of a flow in the algae cultivation pond into the liquid jet.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein initiating an entrainment of a flow in the algae cultivation pond is via a plurality of vortices.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the head generated by the liquid jet initiates circulation of a turbulent co-flow in the algae cultivation pond.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising maximizing an efficiency of the liquid jet based on a jet flow and the turbulent co-flow in the algae cultivation pond.

14. A system for generating turbulent algae cultivation fluid flow via a jet in an open-air raceway algae cultivation pond, the system comprising:

at least two submerged liquid jets configured to initiate circulation of fluid in an open-air raceway algae cultivation pond, such that a head generated by the at least two liquid jets overcomes a head loss of the open-air raceway algae cultivation pond when a velocity of the turbulent algae cultivation fluid flow in the open-air raceway algae cultivation pond is at least ten centimeters per second, wherein each liquid jet is connected to at least one submerged nozzle, the at least one submerged nozzle aligned parallel to the turbulent algae cultivation fluid flow, the at least one submerged nozzle increasingly constricting in diameter as it progresses from inflow to outflow, the at least one submerged nozzle positioned at or near a middle of the open-air raceway algae cultivation pond, and the liquid jet from the nozzle contributing to the fluid flow throughout a majority of the open-air raceway algae cultivation pond.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least two liquid jets form an array of liquid jets.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein a number of liquid jets forming the array of jets is determined based on one of flow depth of the algae cultivation pond, a desired distance between two liquid jets of the array of liquid jets, a cross section of a nozzle outlet associated with a liquid jet of the array of liquid jets, a velocity of a turbulent flow in the algae cultivation pond, and any combination thereof.

17. A system for generating turbulent algae cultivation fluid flow via a liquid jet in an open-air raceway algae cultivation pond, the system comprising:

a series of nozzles submerged below a surface of an open-air raceway algae cultivation pond, the series of nozzles coupled to a pressurized fluid source;

a processor; and

a computer-readable storage medium having embodied thereon a program executable by the processor to generate turbulent algae cultivation fluid flow in the open-air raceway algae cultivation pond, wherein the computer-readable storage medium is coupled to the processor and the pressurized fluid source, the processor executing instructions on the computer-readable storage medium to;

measure a velocity of turbulent algae cultivation fluid flow in the open-air raceway algae cultivation pond, and

adjust an energy generated by the pressurized fluid source, the series of nozzles increasingly constricting in diameter as each nozzle progresses from inflow to outflow, the series of nozzles positioned at or near a middle of the open-air raceway algae cultivation pond, and the liquid jet from the nozzle contributing to the fluid flow throughout a majority of the open-air raceway algae cultivation pond.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the program executed by the processor further comprises:

initiating a circulation of fluid in the open-air raceway algae cultivation pond via at least one liquid jet, the circulation of fluid generating a velocity of turbulent algae cultivation fluid flow of at least ten centimeters per second in the open-air raceway algae cultivation pond; and

providing a head to the liquid jet that overcomes a head loss associated with the velocity of the turbulent algae cultivation fluid flow of at least ten centimeters per second in the open-air raceway algae cultivation pond.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein a distance between two adjacent nozzles of the series of nozzles is approximately thirty centimeters.