An apparatus for harvesting algae from an open body of water includes a boat having a pair of spaced apart parallel flotation members and a deck disposed on and connected to the members. The spaced apart members define an area therebetween forming a process channel. A separating mechanism disposed on the boat separates the process channel into a plurality of process channel sections arranged in series. The process channel sections are disposed intermediate the flotation members. Each of the process channel sections include a deflector plate, a scum beach, a scum trough, and diffused air piping. The diffused air piping is in fluid communication with a dissolved air flotation system.

The cultivation, by optimized growth and harvesting of algae derived bio-mass may provide useful feedstock for various products and processes. The present invention provides an apparatus that allows for the optimized growth and harvesting of algae within a photo-bioreactor. The photo-bioreactor may include a channel and a propulsion unit for circulating an algae mixture through a channel while exposing the algae mixture to light to support photosynthesis and growth of the algae. A method is also provided for the optimizing the growth and harvesting of algae utilizing a number of different input streams. Further, a system including a programmable control assembly is provided for the growth and harvesting of algae.

A transfer device includes at least one pump unit provided for a defined gas transfer between a first, closed-off space of an installation, in particular a photobioreactor installation, and a second space which is separate from the first space. The at least one pump unit is embodied as a selective oxygen pump.

A culturing device (1) includes a carrier unit having a carrier (2) to which a culture subject adheres, a supply unit (3) that supplies a culture solution to the carrier (2), and a reservoir unit (5) in which the culture solution flowing out from the carrier (2) is stored. The carrier (2) includes a base (21) and a plurality of protrusions (23) which are formed on the surface of the base (21) and of which a relative position of each tip (233) with respect to the base (21) can be changed. The carrier unit includes a swinging mechanism (27) that swing the the carrier (2) and changes the relative positions of the protrusions (23).

A method for monitoring species of algae for stress comprises growing a test set of algae of a given species, applying a stress of a predetermined kind to some of the algae, and irradiating the algae at a predetermined first set of wavelengths. The algae are then monitored at a predetermined second set of wavelengths to detect fluorescence and/or absorbance carried out on the first set of wavelengths by the stressed algae. The detected fluorescence and/or absorbance is compared for each irradiation wavelength between the stressed algae and unstressed algae to find signs indicating the applied stress. There is then a stage of searching through combinations of respective irradiation wavelengths and detected wavelengths to find a minimal set of irradiating and detected wavelengths that detects the stress. The smallest size set is then used in irradiating further sets of algae of the tested species to detect the given stress.

Some embodiments include a microalgae culturing system including a bioreactor adapted to propagate microalgae in a culture solution using in combination at least one of natural and artificial light, and at least one nutrient including at least a carbon source, where the microalgae are freely suspended in and form part of the culture solution. A microalgae feed source is coupled to the bioreactor and a first controller between a water conditioning assembly and the bioreactor. The water conditioning assembly is coupled as an input of supply water to the bioreactor, and configured to condition the supply water to a specified purity that enables substantially unhindered growth of the microalgae in the culture solution to a specified concentration, and the first controller is configured to control supply of the microalgae feed source to the bioreactor.

A monitoring system for a bioreactor is disclosed. The monitoring system includes a cuvette arranged to receive a fluid from a bioreactor, wherein the fluid includes a portion of a biomass. The system further includes a light source arranged to project light, at wavelengths absorbable by the biomass, into the cuvette. A sensor is arranged to detect portions of the light that are not absorbed by the biomass. The system further includes a controller coupled to receive an indication of an amount of light detected by the sensor. The indication of the amount of detected light is usable to determine an amount of biomass in the cuvette.

Disclosed is a method for the culture of photosynthetic organisms selected from among microalgae, cyanobacteria and macroalgae using a continuous or discontinuous CO2 source.

An apparatus and method for the optimization of growth processes of photosynthetic organisms by means of the use of an optical system of artificial lighting are provided. An apparatus for culture of photosynthetic microorganisms includes at least one first panel containing the photosynthetic microorganisms and at least one device for artificial lighting of the photosynthetic microorganisms. The at least one device for artificial lighting is an optical device and comprises an optical guide, a plurality of LEDs, and a regulation and control panel of the at least one device for artificial lighting. The regulation and control panel-is configured to vary both a spectrum, between 200 and 900 nm in order to optimize quality of light emitted, and light intensity, between 1% and 100% in order to obtain emission uniformity, through the optical guide.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide systems and methods for supplying an algae cultivation fluid with nutrients (e.g., carbon dioxide and nitrogen) directly from the atmosphere. Supplying nutrients directly from the atmosphere reduces operational costs and environmental impacts, as well as provides greater flexibility in locating algae farms.