Algae growth system

• US 9,688,951 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2009
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Algae-Tech Limited
• Original Assignee: Algae-Tech Limited
• Inventors: Krenbrink, David Dean, Hoevers, Hendrik Joseph Karel
• Primary Examiner(s): Prakash, Gautam
• Application Number:
  US13/056,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20120288917A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,888 Days
• 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 23/34 Internal compartments or partitions
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 27/06 with horizontal or inclined stirrer shaft or axis
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 31/10 by light emitting elements located inside the reactor, e.g. LED or OLED
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 33/00 Means for introduction, transport, positioning, extraction, harvesting, peeling or sampling of biological material in or from the apparatus chemical or physical laboratory apparatus in general B01L, devices for taking cell samples A61B10/0045, withdrawing or distributing predetermined quantities of fluid B01L99/00

Abstract

The invention includes a bioreactor system for growing a photosynthetic culture in an aqueous liquid and harvesting the photosynthetic culture. The present invention further relates to a method for growing a photosynthetic culture in an aqueous liquid and harvesting the photosynthetic culture. The present invention further relates to a use of a harvester system arranged to collect at least part of the scooped photosynthetic culture in a photo bioreactor system.

Claims

1. A photo bioreactor system for growing a photosynthetic culture in an aqueous liquid, the photo bioreactor system comprising:

a. a vessel arranged to contain the aqueous liquid; and

b. a lighting system arranged to irradiate the photosynthetic culture below the surface of the aqueous liquid, wherein the lighting system comprises coupled lighting panels that form canal sections in the vessel, the lighting panels being arranged to be at least partially submerged in the aqueous liquid,

wherein each lighting panel comprises transparent sidewalls forming a compartment, the compartment containing a light source for lighting the photosynthetic culture, the lighting panel being free of an air gap between the sidewalls and the light source; and

wherein the photo bioreactor system further comprises a harvester system having a scoop construction comprising a scoop, arranged to scoop at least part of the photosynthetic culture from the aqueous liquid, and a collector system, arranged to collect at least part of the scooped photosynthetic culture, wherein the scoop comprises a sieve, arranged to scoop a predetermined fraction of the photosynthetic culture.

2. The photo bioreactor system according to claim 1, wherein the photo bioreactor system comprises a controlled environment, a closed environment, or a controlled and closed environment.

3. The photo bioreactor system according to claim 1, wherein the lighting system comprises a light source arranged to irradiate the photosynthetic culture below the surface of the aqueous liquid.

4. The photo bioreactor system according to claim 3, wherein the lighting system comprises a reflector arranged to reflect light of the light sources below the surface of the aqueous liquid into the aqueous liquid.

5. The photo bioreactor system according to claim 4, wherein the reflector is rotatable connected with respect to the lighting panel.

6. The photo bioreactor system according to claim 1, wherein the scoop comprises meshes, and wherein the meshes have a mesh size in the range of about 0.5-35 μ

m.

7. The photo bioreactor system according to claim 1, wherein the scoop construction comprises a paddle wheel construction comprising at least one paddle, wherein the paddle comprises the scoop, and wherein the scoop construction is arranged to move the scoop between a position above the surface of the aqueous liquid and a position below the aqueous liquid.

8. The photo bioreactor system according to claim 7, wherein the scoop construction is arranged to rotate the scoop.

9. The photo bioreactor system according to claim 7, wherein the collector system is arranged to receive the scooped photosynthetic culture dropping from the scoop.

10. The photo bioreactor system according to claim 1, wherein the harvester system further comprises a harvester transporter, arranged to allow the scoop construction to scoop at different positions in the aqueous liquid.

11. The photo bioreactor system according to claim 10, wherein the transporter comprises a rail.

12. The photo bioreactor system according to claim 1, wherein the harvesting system comprises a cleaning unit arranged to clean the lighting system.

13. The photo bioreactor system according to claim 1, wherein the collector system further comprises a product transporter, arranged to transport the collected scooped photosynthetic culture to a storage unit.

14. The photo bioreactor system according to claim 1, further comprising a dryer, arranged to dry the collected scooped photosynthetic culture.

15. The photo bioreactor system according to claim 1, wherein the harvester system is further arranged to create turbulence in the aqueous liquid.

16. The photo bioreactor system according to claim 1, further comprising a CO₂-applicator to supply CO₂ to the aqueous liquid.

17. The photo bioreactor system according to claim 1, further comprising a flow enhancement system comprising a flow enhancement body provided with a profile for engaging the aqueous liquid for increasing turbulence in the aqueous liquid.

18. The photo bioreactor system according to claim 17, wherein the flow enhancement system comprises a funnel system comprising an inlet for liquid and an inlet for a nutrient, and an outlet for the liquid and the nutrient.

19. The photo bioreactor system according to claim 17, wherein the flow enhancement system comprising an obstacle, arranged in the vessel.

20. The photo bioreactor system according to claim 19, wherein the obstacle is arranged in line with the outlet of the funnel system.

21. The photo bioreactor system according to claim 1, wherein the photo bioreactor system comprises a greenhouse.

22. The photo bioreactor system according to claim 1, wherein the lighting panel is waterproof, so that an interior cavity is formed in the lighting panel, separated from the aqueous liquid in the bioreactor when the lighting panel is placed into said aqueous liquid.

23. The photo bioreactor system according to claim 22, wherein the interior cavity is free of an air gap between the sidewalls and the light sources.

24. The photo bioreactor system according to claim 22, wherein the interior cavity is free of the aqueous liquid.

25. The photo bioreactor system according to claim 22, wherein the interior cavity houses a liquid.

26. The photo bioreactor system according to claim 25, wherein said liquid housed in the interior cavity is a cooling liquid.

27. The photo bioreactor system according to claim 26, wherein said cooling liquid is circulated in the interior cavity.

28. The photo bioreactor system according to claim 1, wherein said coupled lighting panels are arranged end-to-end to form at least a section of a wall that defines canal sections in the vessel.

29. The photo bioreactor system according to claim 28, wherein the panels are arranged end-to-end with the interface between the panels forming a smooth surface of the wall to avoid impeding the flow of the liquid in the vessel along the length of the wall formed by the panels.

30. The photo bioreactor system according to claim 29, wherein the panels comprise flanges as coupling means to couple the lighting panels together with the interface between the panels forming a smooth surface.

31. The photo bioreactor system according to claim 29, wherein the vessel is a pond and the canal sections are raceways for the flow of the liquid.