In one embodiment, an algae cultivation system includes a basin that contains a liquid and a photobioreactor at least partially immersed in the liquid of the basin, the photobioreactor comprising a closed container including multiple panels that together define an interior space in which algae can be cultivated, at least one of the panels being transparent, the photobioreactor further comprising an inflatable float associated with the container that can be filled with a gas to change one or both of the position and orientation of the container within the liquid.

Provided are systems and methods for spatially and temporally controlling light with an illumination device comprising a light source operably connected to a circuit board, one or more light guide plates, one or more optical masks, a controller, and a computer readable medium, comprising instructions that, when executed by the controller, cause the controller to: illuminate a cell or a substrate with light from the light source, and spatially and temporally control illumination of light to the cell or the substrate with one or more illumination parameters, wherein the one or more light guide plates provides uniform illumination of the light. Also provided herein are methods of screening using the system and/or device of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure relates to bioreactor tiles including fluidic channels and optical waveguides. One example system includes a substrate having a first channel, a second channel, and a third channel defined therein. The three channels are separated from one another by partial wall structures. The system also includes an optical waveguide configured to receive illumination light at a first end of the optical waveguide; propagate the illumination light toward a second end of the optical waveguide; allow at least a portion of the illumination light to escape the optical waveguide from a first surface of the optical waveguide as the illumination light propagates toward the second end of the optical waveguide; and provide the portion of the illumination light that escapes the optical waveguide from the first surface to the second channel or the third channel.

Some embodiments are directed to a system for the efficient cultivation of algae using both cultivation media and growth media. The system can include: discrete biomass receptacles, each receptables being configured to contain the cultivation medium and the algae; a supplier configured to supply the cultivation media to each of the receptacles, the supplier being configured to provide the growth media to each of the multiple receptacles, the supplier defining an orifice through which at least one of the cultivation media and the growth medium is provided to each of the receptables; sensors, one sensor being disposed at each of the multiple receptacles to sense conditions therein; and a controller that is in communication with each of the sensors, the controller being configured to control an amount of growth media supplied to each receptacle based on sensed conditions so as to enhance algae growth within each of the receptacles.

The invention relates to a bioprocess container (10) having an optical measuring device (100) for non-invasive spectroscopic measurement comprising: a container housing (12), a port housing (102), which is connected to the container housing (12) and is sealed off with respect to the interior (18) of the container housing (12); at least one radiation-emitting element (124), which is designed to transmit electromagnetic radiation through the at least one fluid contained in the container housing (12); at least one radiation-receiving element (126), which is designed to at least partly receive the radiation which was transmitted by the radiation-emitting element (124); and at least one measuring insert (122), which holds and supports the at least one radiation-emitting element (124) and/or the at least one radiation-receiving element (126).

Provided is a culture-medium-monitoring apparatus including: an optical measurement unit that includes an illumination light source and a collecting lens that radiate an illumination light onto a culturing liquid, a retroreflective member that has an array in which micro-reflective elements are arrayed, that is disposed so as to sandwich the vessel between the retroreflective member, and the illuminating light source and the collecting lens, and that reflects the illumination light passed through the culturing liquid in the vessel, and a light detector that detects an intensity of the illumination light passed through the culturing liquid in the vessel after being reflected by the retroreflective member; and a control portion that causes the intensity of the illumination light to be repeatedly detected at a prescribed timing, and that determines a state of the culturing liquid on the basis of a change over time in the intensity of the illumination light.

Embodiments include a reaction vessel having a first reaction chamber filled with a first material; a first light absorbing region adhered to an interior-facing surface of the first reaction chamber; a second reaction chamber filled with a second material; a second light absorbing region adhered to an interior-facing surface of the second reaction chamber; a temperature sensor disposed within the second reaction chamber; and one or more energy sources configured to direct light at the first light absorbing region and the second light absorbing region. A processor may be employed to determine a first temperature of the first material from a second temperature of the second material measured by the temperature sensor. Methods of manufacturing such a reaction vessel are also disclosed.

This apparatus (30) for the production of microalgae comprises a vessel (1) intended to receive a culture medium of the microalgae, and a lighting device (6) intended to be positioned in the vessel inside the culture medium. The lighting device (6) is configured to emit light at least in a range of wavelengths useful for the photosynthesis of the microalgae. The apparatus comprises a control system (15) for automatically controlling a power supply of the lighting device (6) so as to adjust the output light intensity of the lighting device (6) according to the concentration of microalgae in the vessel (1).

A deep water drawing step of drawing deep water that exists in a deep region of the sea to a surface region of the sea with an upwelling pipe (1); and a phytoplankton culturing step of culturing the phytoplankton in the upwelling pipe (1) are included to produce, as a basic producer of a food chain, a living marine resource, such as fishes and shellfishes, with phytoplankton produced in the phytoplankton culturing step.

A system for growing and reproducing microorganisms that includes a basin system that includes a number of basins, where each basin has a vertical meandering system which is formed by partitions and which can be illuminated, each basin is filled with a nutrient suspension, at least one outer wall of each basin is double-walled such that a cavity is formed, a temperature control medium for controlling the temperature of the nutrient suspension can flow through the cavity.