Disclosed is an internally illuminated bioreactor, and related algae production methods, that employ integrated in-water grow light assemblies configured to manage the heat generated by lighting elements, such as light emitting diodes (“LEDs”) on the in-water grow lights. The bioreactor includes an outer shell and one or more in-water grow light fixtures positioned within the outer shell that are positioned around the perimeter of a hollow, internal tube. The lighting elements and internal tube are themselves contained within a preferably clear, exterior tube of the light fixture that allows light generated by the lighting elements to pass through to the algae culture inside of the growth chamber. A heat management system is provided for cooling the light fixture using forced directed through the hollow, internal tube from the top to the bottom of the tube, out from outlets at the bottom of the internal tube, and upward in the fixture through buoyancy of the warmed air, and thus without additional mechanical air handling devices. As the air moves upward between the lighting elements and the exterior tube, it draws additional heat away from the lighting elements. The warmed air is ultimately exhausted from the top of the lighting fixture. Each lighting fixture preferably also includes a cleaning system that enables the automated cleaning of the outer surface of the exterior tube of the lighting fixture, thus preventing newly formed algae from collecting on the lighting fixture and ensuring a continuous flow of light from the fixture into the algae culture throughout algae production.

The present invention provides for a method and transport system for conditioning micro algae grown in a commercial farm and transporting to a final destination while maintaining conditions that allow the microalgae to remain alive and healthy during transit.

The invention relates to a device (10) for producing microalgae, comprising a basin (12) containing an aqueous medium and a movable support (14) capable of receiving a cell culture made up of algae cells, which movable support is immersed at least partially in the aqueous medium and has at least a first portion and a second portion, characterised in that the movable support is arranged in the basin such that the first portion is exposed directly to a main light source (18) and forms an exposure section (24), and the second portion is not exposed directly to the main light source (18) and forms an inhibition section (26), the device (10) further comprising a secondary light source (28) designed to emit actinic light in the direction of the inhibition section (26) so as to inhibit the pigment synthesis of at least some of the algae cells. The invention also concerns a method for producing microalagae.

A bioreactor system for cultivating microalgae is described. The bioreactor system includes a bioreactor. The bioreactor includes one or more holes. One or more light sources are implanted into each of the one or more holes. A culture media comprising a carbon source is located inside of the bioreactor. A microalgae comprising a photoreceptor sensitive to a region of a visible spectrum is located in the culture media. Each of the one or more light sources produce an irradiance of light including the region of the visible spectrum in a sufficient intensity to transduce the photoreceptor of the microalgae.

Disclosed is a process and system for generating hydrogen from carbon dioxide. The process and system for generating a hydrogen gas stream from a carbon dioxide gas stream comprises converting a first waste carbon dioxide gas stream to an organic feedstock using an algal source in a photosynthesis step. The organic feedstock is then converted using an organism to the hydrogen gas stream and gaseous by-products in a biodecomposition step. The generated hydrogen gas may then be collected.

The present invention relates to the cultivation of microalgae for the production of biofuels. In this scenario, the present invention provides a vertical flow agitation system for microalgae culture tanks comprising: a source of energy generation (1); an energy storage device (2); a control system (3); an electric motor (4); at least one end of travel sensor (5); an agitation plate (6); a torque transmission system (7); and at least two lateral drive elements (8).

The gas dissolution device includes a dissolution vessel storing a part of culture solution in a culture vessel, a gas supply pipe connected to a carbon dioxide cylinder and supplying carbon dioxide through an end inserted into the dissolution vessel, a gas discharger provided at the gas supply pipe and turning the carbon dioxide into microbubbles, and a mass flow controller controlling a flowrate of the carbon dioxide flowing in the gas supply pipe. Here, a water depth from the gas discharger to a liquid level of the culture solution in the dissolution vessel is set deeper than a water depth of the culture solution in the culture vessel.

An optofluidic photoreactor including an optical waveguide having an input, characterized by an evanescent optical field confined along an outer surface of the optical waveguide produced by radiation propagating in the optical waveguide, means for inputting light to the input of the optical waveguide, and a photoactive material disposed substantially only within the evanescent field. A method for optically activating a photoactive material in an optofluidic photoreactor to convert carbon dioxide and water into other molecules that may be useful as a fuel or a chemical feedstock.

A process for production of biofuels from algae can include cultivating an oil-producing algae by promoting sequential photoautotrophic and heterotrophic growth. The method can further include producing oil by heterotrophic growth of algae wherein the heterotrophic algae growth is achieved by introducing a sugar feed to the oil-producing algae. An algal oil can be extracted from the oil-producing algae, and can be converted to form biodiesel.

Disclosed is an internally illuminated bioreactor, and related algae production methods, that employ integrated in-water grow light assemblies configured to manage the heat generated by lighting elements, such as light emitting diodes (“LEDs”) on the in-water grow lights. The bioreactor includes an outer shell and one or more in-water grow light fixtures positioned within the outer shell that are positioned around the perimeter of a hollow, internal tube. The lighting elements and internal tube are themselves contained within a preferably clear, exterior tube of the light fixture that allows light generated by the lighting elements to pass through to the algae culture inside of the growth chamber. A heat management system is provided for cooling the light fixture using forced directed through the hollow, internal tube from the top to the bottom of the tube, out from outlets at the bottom of the internal tube, and upward in the fixture through buoyancy of the warmed air, and thus without additional mechanical air handling devices. As the air moves upward between the lighting elements and the exterior tube, it draws additional heat away from the lighting elements. The warmed air is ultimately exhausted from the top of the lighting fixture. Each lighting fixture preferably also includes a cleaning system that enables the automated cleaning of the outer surface of the exterior tube of the lighting fixture, thus preventing newly formed algae from collecting on the lighting fixture and ensuring a continuous flow of light from the fixture into the algae culture throughout algae production.