A system for growing and harvesting algae biomass includes a photo-bioreactor suitable for algae growth in water and a filter unit in fluid communication with the photo-bioreactor. An algae slurry, when at least partially contained within the photo-bioreactor, generates hydrostatic fluid pressure that exclusively drives the algae slurry to the filter unit and discharges a permeate.

A photobioreactor includes one or more annular chambers concentrically positioned about a central axis, and an algae slurry contained within the one or more annular chambers.

A system and method for converting food waste and other biologically-derived waste materials into nutrients for an algal growth system using worms to produce such nutrients is described. In one embodiment, a method for converting food waste into nutrients for an algal growth system using worms includes providing food waste to a container including a plurality of worms. The method also includes collecting castings from the food waste processed by the plurality of worms. The method further includes providing a wash to the container. The wash causes the castings to move to a bottom portion of the container adjacent to a moveable screen. The method includes actuating the moveable screen so that the castings pass through a plurality of holes in the moveable screen. The method also includes providing the passed castings to an algal growth system.

A method for producing biomass from a microalgae includes culturing the microalgae in an effluent diluted in seawater. A method for bioremediating an effluent includes culturing a microalgae in the effluent diluted in seawater. The microalgae is at least one of a strain of the genus Nodularia, a strain of the genus Chrysoreinhardia, a strain of the genus Halochlorella, or combinations thereof. At the beginning of culturing, the diluted effluent exhibits concentrations of total nitrogen (N) in the range of 30-150 mg/l and concentrations of total phosphorus (P) in the range of 1-15 mg/l. The N/P quotient is in the range of 5-40.

An interconnected photosynthesis matrix and bio-energy production system. More specifically, a self-sustaining bio-system that uses the bio-energy production system, which comprises a selection process, an extraction process, and a transfer process, to create an energy enhanced organism and then uses the energy from the energy enhanced organisms for human use and/or for the second portion of the system, the photosynthesis matrix, where photosynthesis takes place. The energy is extracted from the energy enhanced organism by creating an energy rich homogenate, and then the energy is transferred to the grid, to an energy storage device, or to the photosynthesis matrix. The photosynthesis matrix consumes carbon dioxide and reduces carbon dioxide concentration while producing glucose, which it then provides to the bio-energy production system. The two systems work together in a feedback loop to allow continuous chemical reactions.

An algae cultivation system may include: a plurality of panels within a cultivation container, positioned along a first axis perpendicular to the gravitational force, wherein a cultivation volume is created between each pair of panels, and wherein the cultivation volumes are fluidly coupled so as to allow horizontal flow therebetween along the first axis; at least one first sparger, to distribute a first fluid into the container at a first operating flow rate; at least one second sparger, to distribute a second fluid into the container at a second operating flow rate; and at least one controller, to control the first operating flow rate and the second operating flow rate. The first operating flow rate may be adapted to allow turbulent mixing the algae in the cultivation container, and the second operating flow rate may be adapted to allow assimilation of materials in a liquid in the cultivation container.

A deepwater photobioreactor system including a vertical stack extending between an ocean surface and an ocean floor. The vertical stack includes an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit where the inlet conduit is arranged to transport at least seawater and the outlet conduit is arranged to transport at least a biomass. The system includes a first photobioreactor in fluid communication with the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit that is connected to the vertical stack via the inlet and outlet conduits at a first position along the vertical stack below the ocean surface. The first bioreactor is arranged to cultivate the biomass. The system also includes a mooring system arranged to anchor the vertical stack to the ocean floor and arranged to receive the biomass via the outlet conduit and output the biomass to a harvest pipeline.

A system for growing algae includes a photobioreactor comprising a tubular structure having inner and outer surfaces, an annular space defined between the inner and outer surfaces, an inlet to allow an algae slurry to enter the annular space, and a mechanism configured to produce radially-directed contractions and expansions in the tubular structure. At least one of the inner and outer surfaces is transparent to at least some wavelengths of light useful for growing algae within the algae slurry.

A culture device by which microalgae can be satisfactorily cultured using a simple structure while suppressing an increase in energy consumption, and a culture method. A main body of this culture device comprises an accommodation part which accommodates contents and to which gas is supplied. The inner wall faces of the accommodation part are joined together to form a joined part which extends along the gas supply direction. A guide part and a circulation part, which are adjacent to each other across the joined part, are each along the extending direction of the joined part and communicated with each other via a guide part inlet and a guide part outlet. A gas supply port enables gas supply toward the guide part.

A method of growing algae in a cultivation container is disclosed. In some the method may include: circulating, via the cultivation container, in a closed loop, a first predetermined amount of gas mixture comprising a first type of gas and at least one second type of gas, the gas mixture may enter the container via one or more entrance spargers and exit via at least one exit pipe, the first type of gas may contain CO.sub.2 at a known first amount; receiving signal indicative of the amount of CO.sub.2 or H.sub.2S, in the gas mixture; when the signal indicates that the amount of CO.sub.2 drops below a first predetermined level or when the signal indicates that the amount of H.sub.2S rises above a first predetermined level, extracting a second predetermined amount of the gas mixture from the cultivation container: and adding an amount of the first type of gas to the gas mixture, equal to the second predetermined amount.