Electromagnetic bioaccelerator

• US 8,969,074 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2007
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bio-Tree Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bio-Tree Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Stroazzo-Mougin, Bernard A. J., Gomis Catala, Cristian
• Primary Examiner(s): Fox, Allison
• Assistant Examiner(s): FERNANDEZ, SUSAN EMILY
• Application Number:
  US12/519,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20100120095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,636 Days
• Field of Search: 435/292.1
• US Class Current: 435/289.1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2251/95 Specific microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/304 Hydrogen sulfide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/404 Nitrogen oxides other than dinitrogen oxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/504 Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/7022 Aliphatic hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/84 Biological processes
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/02 Photobioreactors culturing algae A01G33/00, A01H4/001, C12N1/12
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/12 for producing fuels or solvents C12M21/04 takes precedence; liquid carbonaceous fuels C10L1/00, solid fuels C10L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/58 Reaction vessels connected in series or in parallel combinations of bioreactors with other apparatus, C12M43/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 27/00 Means for mixing, agitating or circulating fluids in the vessel by introduction of gas C12M29/06, C12M29/14, mixing in general or mixers per se B01F; mixing in apparatus for chemical or physical processes B01J
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 37/00 Means for sterilizing, maintaining sterile conditions or avoiding chemical or biological contamination C12M23/38 takes precedence; filtration in general and filters per se B01D24/00-B01D41/00; autoclaves B01J3/04; treatment of microorganisms with electrical or wave energy C12N13/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 43/00 Combinations of bioreactors or fermenters with other apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/20 of methane
• CPC Class Codes: Y02C 20/40 of CO2
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/59 Biological synthesis; Biological purification

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electromagnetic bioaccelerator for obtaining biomass by simulating environmental marine conditions, comprising at least the following elements: octagonal biomass converters (1), seawater reserve tanks (3), particle filters (4), UV light filters (5), feedback and mixture tanks (6), pressurization feed tanks (8), manometers (9), pressure controllers (10), buffer tanks (11), expansion tanks with a safety valve (12), heat exchangers (13), temperature control thermostats (14), recycled water feedback tanks (15), reinjection pumps (16), centrifuges for separating the biomass from the water (17), desuperheaters (18); control panels (25), recirculation pumps (26), densimeters (27), biomass mechanical extraction systems by means of centrifugation (32) and biomass accumulation tanks (33).

Claims

1. A bioaccelerator comprising:

(a) a biomass converter comprising an enclosed chamber having translucent walls that define a cavity within which to contain a plankton containing liquid culture medium, the chamber having an upper octagonal reservoir, a lower octagonal reservoir and a central part disposed between the upper and lower reservoirs, the central part having a circular cross-section and a cross-sectional area less than the cross sectional areas of each of the upper and lower reservoirs whereby an assembly comprising a plurality of the biomass converters can be disposed in a beehive or module arrangement with upper octagonal reservoirs of adjacent biomass converters in contact and with lower octagonal reservoirs of adjacent biomass converters in contact to form gaps between the biomass converters through which light can pass to achieve continuous and homogenous light diffusion in each of the plurality of biomass converters of the assembly;

(b) an inlet for inflow of culture medium into the chamber;

(c) an inlet for inflow of carbon dioxide gas into the chamber; and

(d) an outlet from which to discharge biomass from the chamber whereby, in use, plankton contained within the chamber can convert carbon dioxide gas into biomass by photosynthesis.

2. The bioaccelerator according to claim 1, further comprising a central light well that extends from an upper end of the biomass converter downwardly into the chamber.

3. The bioaccelerator according to claim 2, further comprising an artificial lamp disposed within the light well.

4. The bioaccelerator according to claim 1, further comprising means for generating an electric field within the culture medium.

5. The bioaccelerator according to claim 4, further comprising means for inducing a magnetic field within the culture medium.

6. The bioaccelerator according to claim 1, further comprising injectors for injecting gas into the chamber to create turbulent flow within the culture medium contained in the chamber.

7. The bioaccelerator according to claim 6, wherein the injectors are helically disposed about the chamber.

8. The bioaccelerator according to claim 1, further comprising one or more valves for discharge of gas produced by the photosynthesis process.

9. The bioaccelerator according to claim 1, further comprising a cleaning system for cleaning internal surfaces of the translucent walls.

10. The bioaccelerator according to claim 9, wherein the cleaning system comprises a member that rotates within the chamber and contacts the walls of the central part to maintain cleanliness.

11. The bioaccelerator according to claim 1, wherein the inlet for inflow of carbon dioxide gas includes an ion sprayer to ionize carbon dioxide gas for discharge into the chamber.

12. An assembly comprising a plurality of the bioaccelerators of claim 1, the plurality of bioaccelerators being disposed with respect to each other in a beehive or module arrangement with upper octagonal reservoirs of adjacent biomass converters in contact and with lower octagonal reservoirs of adjacent converters in contact whereby to provide gaps between respective biomass converters through which light can pass to achieve continuous and homogenous light diffusion in the plurality of bioaccelerators of the assembly.

13. The assembly according to claim 12, wherein the source of liquid culture medium includes a feed and mixing tank within which filtered water can be mixed with nutrients or gases for development of a plankton-containing culture medium.

14. The assembly according to claim 12, further comprising means to reduce the temperature of the carbon dioxide gas prior to delivery to the carbon dioxide inlet.

15. The assembly according to claim 12, further comprising a control system for controlling any one or more of:

conditions of the liquid culture medium within the chamber of each of the plurality of bioaccelerators;

inflow of culture medium into the chamber of each of the plurality of bioaccelerators; and

inflow of carbon dioxide into the chamber of each of the plurality of bioaccelerators.

16. A method for producing biofuels which comprises cultivating phytoplankton or zooplankton in the bioaccelerator as claimed in claim 1.

17. A method for producing pharmaceutical products which comprises cultivating phytoplankton or zooplankton in the bioaccelerator as claimed in claim 1.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the pharmaceutical products are selected from fatty acids and lutein.

19. A method for producing a cosmetic product which comprises cultivating phytoplankton or zooplankton in the bioaccelerator as claimed in claim 1.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the cosmetic product is selected from glycerin, pigments and emulsifying substances.

21. A method for producing an industrial product with a silica content which comprises cultivating phytoplankton or zooplankton in the bioaccelerator as claimed in claim 1.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the industrial product is selected from borosilicates and ferrosilicates.

23. A method for producing fertilizing products, agricultural products, industrial products and livestock products which comprises cultivating phytoplankton or zooplankton in the bioaccelerator as claimed in claim 1.

24. A method for producing a cellulose or hemicellulose which comprises cultivating phytoplankton or zooplankton in the bioaccelerator as claimed in claim 1.

25. A method for producing tannins and astringent compounds which comprises cultivating phytoplankton or zooplankton in the bioaccelerator as claimed in claim 1.

26. A method for fixation of CO₂, CH₄, SH₂, NO₂, NO₃ and other greenhouse effect gases, and any salt derived from the reaction of these gases with a culture medium which comprises cultivating phytoplankton or zooplankton in the culture medium in the bioaccelerator as claimed in claim 1.