An object of the present invention is to provide: an algae water concentration system that efficiently concentrates algae water in a culture pond into algae water containing algae having a desired size, with a simple structure and at low cost; and a method for operating the same. A cultured algae water concentration system 100 comprises: an algae water supply unit 17 that has an algae water supply container 18 that stores algae water sent from the culture pond therein, and a supply container outlet port 19 through which the algae water is taken out from the algae water supply container; and an algae water concentration unit that has a concentration container 1 for receiving and concentrating the algae water from the algae water supply unit, a filter 3 which divides the concentration container into upper and lower spaces and does not pass algae having a predetermined size or larger therethrough, a vibration device 5 that vibrates the filter in an out-of-plane direction, a concentration container algae water inlet port 7 which takes in the algae water to the concentration container and is arranged below the filter of the concentration container, a concentrated algae water outlet port 9 that is arranged below the filter of the concentration container and takes out algae water therethrough that has been concentrated in the concentration container, and a filtered water discharge port 8 that is arranged above the filter of the concentration container and discharges filtered water having passed through the filter.

Described is a method for the culture of microalgae, comprising: providing a consortium of at least two living species of microalgae; culturing under illumination the consortium in a controllable bioreactor and under non-sterile aqueous culture conditions; and controlling the culture conditions for affecting at least one of the following output: (i) flocculation and/or settling of said consortium of microalgae; and (ii) adhesion of the microalgae to surfaces of the bioreactor; wherein said culture conditions are controlled to promote (i) and/or to minimize (ii), without adversely affecting growth of the consortium of microalgae. It is also possible to control the culture conditions for affecting iii) the protein, carbohydrate, and/or fat content of the said microalgae consortium. A system for carrying out the method is also described.

An open raceway algae cultivation system includes a channel configured to contain an algae cultivation fluid. The channel includes a contraction zone having a width and a depth. A pump is configured to circulate the algae cultivation fluid in the channel. A width of the contraction zone decreases leading into the entrance of the pump and a depth of the contraction zone is greater than a depth of at least a portion of the channel located outside of the contraction zone.

An algae cultivation system includes generating a translating hydraulic jump wave that travels across a gas-liquid interface of an algae cultivation fluid contained in the algae cultivation system. The translating hydraulic jump wave has Froude number greater than 1.

Algae cultivation systems and methods account for weather variations that can affect algae cultivation. In one system, an open raceway algae cultivation system includes a channel having a high section and a low liquid collection section. The channel is sloped to allow substantially all of an algae cultivation fluid in the high section to flow downwardly into the low liquid collection section. A barrier is removably positioned in the high section and a drain is positioned in the high section such that, when substantially all of the algae cultivation fluid has collected in the low liquid collection section, any rainwater that falls in the high section flows into the drain, without the rainwater mixing with the algae cultivation fluid in the low liquid collection section.

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.

A crossflow microfluidic particle concentrator including a main channel having an inlet and an outlet a crossflow outlet operably connectable with pressure means and/or flow control means, a plurality of crossflow channels fluidically connecting the crossflow outlet with the main channel a filtering element including a particle flow channel within the main channel, and a row of crossflow pillars disposed between the filtering element and the plurality of crossflow channels.

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.

The present disclosure relates to algae cultivation including the integration of liners for large-scale open algal biomass to facilitate algae facility commercial scale-up operations. Liners include those having a first portion having a first thickness and a second portion comprising a second thickness, wherein the first thickness and the second thickness are different. Liners also include those having a first portion having a first thickness, a second portion comprising a second thickness, and a third portion comprising a third thickness, wherein the first thickness, the second thickness, and the third thickness are different.

Culture systems and methods of using same. The systems include a housing defining an inner space. The inner space includes a headspace and at least a portion of a reservoir. A surface for immobilizing cells is moveable between the headspace and the reservoir. The systems can be used for coculturing methanotrophs and phototrophs for processing biogas and wastewater, particularly from anaerobic digesters.