Algae photobioreactor
First Claim
1. A dual component closed system photobioreactor for cultivation of photosynthetic organisms in liquid culture comprising:
- a transparent hollow hemi-ellipsoid gasless domed growth chamber having a rigid base for containing the liquid culture for cultivating the photosynthetic organisms;
the growth chamber includes a rigid internal disk positioned therein defining an upper volume above the disk and a lower volume below the disk and a flow annulus between an outer edge of the disk and an internal surface of the growth chamber, the disk includes a central opening extending therethrough;
the growth chamber further includes two ports that permit liquid culture flow into and out of the growth chamber;
a separate trayed column connected to the growth chamber supporting spaced trays attached to and extending from an inside surface of the trayed column for aerating and separating the liquid culture;
the trayed column is a transparent hollow cylindrical or polyhedron shell having a detachable lid forming an internal volume in which the trays are located and a reservoir is positioned at a bottom of the volume below the trays;
the trayed column further includes four ports that permit flow of liquid culture and introduced gas into and out of the trayed column;
means for agitating the liquid culture in the growth chamber between the lower volume and the upper volume through any disk; and
means for circulation of liquid culture between the growth chamber and the trayed column.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A closed transparent photobioreactor having a dome and a staged column wherein the dome is used as a growth chamber to provide a large culture volume to land area used and a flow pattern inside the dome allows for the uniform distribution of light energy, thereby negating growth rate inhibiting ‘dark zones’. A pump delivers culture from the bottom of the column to a lower portion of the dome and drives circulation between the two components and an increase in mass in the dome results in a spillover from the top of the dome into the column. Once in the column, algaculture will be aerated at each stage before returning to the dome. The staged column also provides for semi-continuous harvest of algae through the application of froth flotation and various other separation processes.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A dual component closed system photobioreactor for cultivation of photosynthetic organisms in liquid culture comprising:
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a transparent hollow hemi-ellipsoid gasless domed growth chamber having a rigid base for containing the liquid culture for cultivating the photosynthetic organisms; the growth chamber includes a rigid internal disk positioned therein defining an upper volume above the disk and a lower volume below the disk and a flow annulus between an outer edge of the disk and an internal surface of the growth chamber, the disk includes a central opening extending therethrough; the growth chamber further includes two ports that permit liquid culture flow into and out of the growth chamber; a separate trayed column connected to the growth chamber supporting spaced trays attached to and extending from an inside surface of the trayed column for aerating and separating the liquid culture; the trayed column is a transparent hollow cylindrical or polyhedron shell having a detachable lid forming an internal volume in which the trays are located and a reservoir is positioned at a bottom of the volume below the trays; the trayed column further includes four ports that permit flow of liquid culture and introduced gas into and out of the trayed column; means for agitating the liquid culture in the growth chamber between the lower volume and the upper volume through any disk; and means for circulation of liquid culture between the growth chamber and the trayed column. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification