Photobioreactor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A photohioreactor that uses sunlight as a light source, comprising:
- a container holding a photoactive biological material; and
an optical waveguide at least partially located within the container;
wherein the optical waveguide is formed at least in part from highly scattering optically transmitting polymer, andwherein the optical waveguide is formed with a light collecting part contacting a light distributing part, the light collecting part having a surface configured to collect the sunlight, wherein the light distributing part is formed as a sheet, wherein the light collecting part and the light distributing part have a fixed size ratio, and wherein the light collection part has a first surface configured to collect sunlight and second surface directly directing the collected sunlight into a side of the sheet that the light collection part contact.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A photobioreactor has an optical waveguide formed at least in part from a highly scattering optically transmitting polymer. The optical waveguide has a light distributing part immersed in a container holding photoactive biological material and a light collecting part outside the container.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A photohioreactor that uses sunlight as a light source, comprising:
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a container holding a photoactive biological material; and an optical waveguide at least partially located within the container; wherein the optical waveguide is formed at least in part from highly scattering optically transmitting polymer, and wherein the optical waveguide is formed with a light collecting part contacting a light distributing part, the light collecting part having a surface configured to collect the sunlight, wherein the light distributing part is formed as a sheet, wherein the light collecting part and the light distributing part have a fixed size ratio, and wherein the light collection part has a first surface configured to collect sunlight and second surface directly directing the collected sunlight into a side of the sheet that the light collection part contact. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A photobioreactor that uses sunlight, comprising:
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a container holding a photoactive biological material, and an optical waveguide at least partially located within the container, wherein the optical waveguide is formed as a sheet that has a light collecting part and a light distributing part, wherein the light distributing part is formed in part of a highly scattering optically transmitting polymer, wherein the light collection part has a surface configured to collect sunlight and to direct the collected sunlight into a side of the sheet that the light collection part contacts, and wherein the optical wave guide has only one light collecting part and one light distributing part, wherein the light collecting part and the light distributing part have a size ratio selected to provide a light dilution factor of about 2 to 6 times. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification