Methods and systems for efficient culturing of algae in open ponds are described.

Systems and methods for cultivating and harvesting algal biomass using cultivation vessels having integrated therewith one or more harvesting systems. Algae cells are cultivated in a cultivation system and concentrated algal biomass is collected using the integrated one or more harvesting systems. The integrated cultivating and harvesting systems reduce costs, energy, and time compared to traditional harvesting methods.

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.

Systems for culturing mixotrophic microorganisms on a large scale in thermally stable open systems are disclosed. Embodiments of the system include features such as lit portions, dark portions, organic carbon delivery systems, gas delivery systems, submersible thrusters for mixing, and turning vanes for guiding fluid flow. Multi-functional embodiments of the turning vane provide guidance for fluid flow and other functions such as heat exchange, nutrient delivery, gas delivery, organic carbon delivery, delivery of light, and parameter measurement by sensors.

A microalgae culture broth producing system includes a device for culture broth sterilization using a micro bubble generator, an air compression and pressure equalization device for the injection of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the atmosphere into the culture broth. The system also includes an air chilling device to maintain suitable culture broth temperature when water temperature is too high, an automatic carbon dioxide supply device to promote photosynthesis, and a sealed vertical photobioreactor to block out pollutants and increase dissolved carbon dioxide and oxygen concentration. The system further includes a high-efficiency harvesting device using hollow fiber membranes, and a hot air drying device using the waste heat generated by air compression.

Scale-up evaluation methods for algal biomass cultivation are provided, and more particularly, simultaneous scale-up evaluation methods for outdoor algal biomass cultivation are provided. The methods control various process variables to isolate the impact of scaling algal biomass cultivation, thereby permitting enhanced scale-up operation design to optimize the quality and quantity of algal biomass.

A system includes a photobioreactor that provides a channel configured to contain an algae slurry, a duct positioned adjacent the channel and configured to convey a gas, and a barrier separating the duct from the channel and providing one or more apertures to allow a portion of the gas to be injected into the algae slurry from the duct.

A system for growing algae includes a pivot arm pivotally coupled to a pivot connection positioned in a pond containing water and algae, and a mixing device coupled to the pivot arm and extending into the pond to mix the water and the algae as the pivot arm rotates.

A system for growing algae in a slurry, includes a pond having an inlet and an outlet and a plurality of contiguous elongate channel segments coupled fluidically in sequence between the inlet and the outlet, and the inlet is located at an elevation higher than outlet to allow gravity to flow the slurry from the inlet to the outlet. The system further includes a separation device fluidically coupled to the outlet to receive and separate algae from the slurry.

The present invention is related to an anaerobic photobioreactor and a method for active biomass cultivation, wastewater treatment, nutrients recovery, energy production and high-value products synthesis. Phototrophic bacteria are cultured in the anaerobic photobioreactor lighted with solar or artificial irradiation where certain light wavelengths are selectively discarded with a light selector installed on the top of the photobioreactor. In this light-based process wastewater treatment and resources recovery, like nutrients and high-value bioproducts (fertilizers, polymers and proteins) present in wastewater are performed simultaneously. Cultured biomass is treated by anaerobic digestion for biofuel production, including optative hydrolytic pre-treatment, and/or valuable bioproducts can be obtained in a downstream process.