Photobioreactor, in particular for the production of microorganisms such as microalgae

Abstract

The invention relates to a photobioreactor (1), in particular for the production of microorganisms, wherein the photobioreactor (1) is designed as a closed reactor which has a plurality of upwardly open reactor containers (2) which are closed by a top wall (7) of the photobioreactor (1) and in which a nutrient medium can be accommodated. According to the invention, at least some of the reactor containers (2) are designed as individual containers, whereby adjacent reactor containers (2) form a gap (13) between a front wall (3) and a rear wall (4), which gap is closed at the top by an overflow wall region (12) and has a container overflow opening (16) between the adjacent reactor containers (2). At least one lighting element (29) is received in the gap (13). Furthermore, in each of the reactor containers (2) a partition (6) is provided which divides the reactor container (2) into a front reactor chamber (8) and a rear reactor chamber (9), wherein in the partition (6), in the bottom wall side region, at least one partition-through-flow opening (10) is provided between the front and rear reactor chambers (8, 9). At least one or at least a part of the reactor containers (2) has at least one feeding device (33) by means of which a CO2-containing medium can be introduced into at least one reactor container (2) from outside the reactor container (2), wherein the CO2-containing medium is a CO2-containing gas or a CO2 obtained from a CO2-containing gas. The invention further claims a reactor container and a method.

Claims

1. Photobioreactor for the production of microorganisms, wherein said photobioreactor is designed as a closed reactor comprising: a plurality of upwardly open reactor containers which are closed by a single-part or multi-part, top wall of the photobioreactor and in which a nutrient medium can be accommodated, wherein at least a part of the reactor containers is an individual container which has a U-shaped cross section with a front wall extending in the direction of a vertical axis and a rear wall spaced apart therefrom in a longitudinal direction and likewise extending in the direction of the vertical axis, which rear walls are connected to one another at a bottom by a bottom wall so that the reactor containers of the photobioreactor, are individual containers arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction so that a reactor container at the front adjoins a front wall of a reactor container at the rear forming a gap therebetween; wherein the free end regions of the front and rear walls adjoining one another with the formation of the gap have a common overflow wall region which closes the gap from above with respect to the vertical axis direction and which has at least one container overflow opening between the adjoining reactor containers; that the overflow wall region extends up to and adjoins the at least one top wall, wherein at least one lighting element is positioned in the gap between adjacent reactor containers, by means of which lighting element light can be emitted through the respectively associated front and/or rear wall, which is of light-permeable design at least in regions, into one of the two adjacent reactor containers or into both adjacent reactor containers; wherein a partition is provided in each of the individual reactor containers so that said partition extends from the bottom wall upwardly in the vertical axis direction to adjoin the top wall, so that the partition divides the reactor container in the longitudinal direction, into a front reactor chamber and a rear reactor chamber; wherein the bottom wall side adjoining the region of the partition to the bottom wall, so that at least one partition-through-flow opening is provided between the front and the rear reactor chamber; wherein at least one or at least a part of the reactor container has at least one feeding device by means of which a CO2-containing medium can be introduced from outside the reactor container into at east one reactor container, and wherein the CO2-containing medium is selected from the group consisting of a CO2-containing gas or a CO2 obtained from a CO2-containing gas.

2. Photobioreactor according to claim 1, wherein the photobioreactor is a component of a reactor for gasification of carbon-containing solid fuels, and wherein the CO2-containing gas is a CO2-containing synthesis gas from a reactor for gasification of carbon-containing solid fuels.

3. Photobioreactor according to claim 1, wherein the photobioreactor is part of a biogas plant and wherein the CO2-containing gas is a CO2-containing biogas from a biogas plant.

4. Photobioreactor according to claim 2, wherein a gas scrubber is provided, by means of which the CO2-containing gas can be separated from the gas by the process selected from the group consisting of gas scrubbing and chemical absorption.

5. Photobioreactor according to claim 4, wherein the gas scrubber comprises an absorber column, in which the CO2 present in the gas is absorbed by a solvent, and wherein the gas scrubber further comprises a stripping column in which the CO2 can be separated from the solvent.

6. Photobioreactor according to claim 5, wherein the solvent charged with CO2 is guided into the head of the stripping column and trickles downwardly, and wherein a steam feeding device is provided, by means of which steam can be introduced into the stripping column, whereby the CO2 is released and discharged at the column head, wherein it is optionally provided that the CO2 free solvent can be withdrawn from the stripping column by means of a removal device and returned to the absorber column.

7. Photobioreactor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a pulsing device is provided by means of which the CO2 and the CO2-containing gas can be introduced intermittently or pulsating y into the at least one reactor container in such a way that individual gas bubbles with a size of less than 3 cm can be introduced into the at least one reactor container.

8. Photobioreactor according to one of claim 3, wherein a feeding device is provided, by means of which at least one reactor container can be fed fermentation residue from the biogas plant, from a post-fermenter and a final storage of the biogas plant, controlled by a control device as a function of a predetermined pH value in the nutrient medium.

9. Photobioreactor according to claim 1, wherein, the bottom wall, the partition, the front wall, the rear wall and the overflow wall region of the reactor container, herein the bottom wall is curved in the form of an arc, extending between two opposing side walls in the transverse direction and adjoin the opposing side walls, and wherein the side walls each extend up to and adjoin the top wall.

10. Photobioreactor according to claim 9, wherein the bottom wall of the reactor container is curved in the shape of an arc, the apex of the curvature being located at the lowest point of the reactor container in the direction of the vertical axis, and wherein the opposite side walls extend downwardly in the vertical axis direction at least as far as the apex of the bottom wall and form a bottom contact surface.

11. Photobioreactor according to claim 9, wherein each individual reactor container has two separate opposite side walls.

12. Photobioreactor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reactor container and the top wall are translucent as a whole.

13. Photobioreactor according to claim 1, wherein the front wall and the rear wall and the partition and the overflow wall region and the side walls have a shape selected from the group consisting of rectangular and plate-shaped.

14. Photobioreactor according to claim 1, wherein the overflow wall region formed in one or more parts is integrally for med with the free end region of the front wall and the free end region of the rear wall of the reactor container.

15. Photobioreactor according to claim 14, wherein the overflow wall region is integrally formed with elements selected from the group consisting of the free end portion of the front wall and the free end portion of the rear wall of the reactor container; and wherein elements selected from the group consisting of a free end portion of rear wall, and a free end portion of a front wall of an immediately adjacent reactor container is also connected to the overflow wall region for forming the common overflow wall region.

16. Photobioreactor according to claim 1, wherein the overflow wall region formed in one or more parts is formed by a separate component which can be connected to the front wall and the rear wall of the two adjacent reactor containers.

17. Photobioreactor according to claim 1, wherein the overflow wall region has a peripheral frame with a container overflow opening surrounded by the frame, wherein it is provided that a frame part region which is lower in the vertical axis direction forms a connection region for the free end region of the front wall and the rear wall of the respectively associated reactor containers and that a frame part region which is upper in the vertical axis direction adjoins the top wall.

18. Photobioreactor according to claim 1, wherein the overflow wall region has at least one flow guide element projecting into the container overflow opening and several container overflow openings lying next to one another in the transverse direction.

19. Photobioreactor according to claim 17, wherein for the formation of several container overflow openings at least one connection web running between frame parts, at least one connection web running in the vertical axis direction and between frame parts opposite in the vertical axis direction, is provided as a flow guide element.

20. Photobioreactor according to claim 1, wherein the at least one lighting element is arranged in the gap between the adjacent reactor containers in such a way that regions of different brightness can be formed in the at least one reactor chamber of the adjacent reactor containers which is illuminated by the at least one lighting element, preferably providing regions of different brightness which lie one behind the other in the direction of flow can be formed.

21. Photobioreactor according to claim 1, wherein in the gap between the adjacent reactor containers a plurality of lighting elements are accommodated spaced apart from each other in the direction selected from the group consisting of the vertical axis direction and the transverse direction, wherein a plurality of transversely extending rows of lighting elements are provided which are spaced apart from each other in the vertical axis direction.

22. Photobioreactor according to claim 1, wherein the partition in the bottom wall side wall region has a peripheral frame region with a partition-through-flow opening surrounded by the frame region, wherein a lower frame part region in the vertical axis direction adjoins the bottom wall.

23. Photobioreactor according to claim 1, wherein the partition has at least one flow guide element projecting into the partition-through-flow opening and a plurality of partition-through-flow openings, lying next to one another in the transverse direction.

24. Photobioreactor according to claim 1, wherein at least one or at least part of the reactor containers has at least one feed nozzle as feeding device.

25. Photobioreactor according to claim 1, wherein an inlets for the nutrient medium is provided at the front reactor container in the longitudinal direction or flow direction in the wall selected from the group consisting of the top wall and the front wall and the side wall of the front reactor container in the longitudinal direction or flow direction, so that the nutrient medium can be supplied to the front reactor chamber of the front reactor container.

26. Photobioreactor according to claim 25, wherein the inlet is coupled to a conveying device simultaneously acting as a circulation device for the nutrient medium in the photobioreactor, by means of which a portion of the nutrient medium withdrawn from a rear region of the photobioreactor can be fed to the foremost reactor container.

27. Photobioreactor according to claim 1, wherein an outlet for the nutrient medium is provided at the rearmost reactor container in the longitudinal direction or flow direction, in the wall selected from the group consisting of the top wall and the rear wall and the side wall of the rearmost reactor container in the longitudinal direction or flow direction, so that the nutrient medium can be discharged from the rear reactor chamber of the rearmost reactor container.

28. Photobioreactor according to claim 1, wherein all reactor containers have an identical U-shaped basic structure with a front wall and a rear wall of substantially the same height, both of which have a gap distance to the top wall and both of which are surmounted by the partition extending up to a d adjoining the top wall; wherein the gap distance to the top wall in the adjacent region of two reactor containers is bridged by the overflow wall region which extends to the top wall and is adjacent thereto; wherein the front wall of the foremost reactor container in longitudinal direction or flow direction has a first wall and plate-like bridging element which extends up to and adjoins the top wall; wherein the rear wall of the rearmost reactor container in the longitudinal direction or flow direction has a second wall-like and plate-like bridging element which extends to the top wall and is adjacent thereto; and wherein the first and second wall and plate-like bridging element as well as all existing front walls, partitions and rear walls as well as the at least one overflow wall region extend in trans verse direction between the side walls likewise extending up to the top wall and adjoin there, so that a closed reactor is formed when the top wall mounted.

29. Biogas plant with at least one photobioreactor according to claim 1.

30. Reactor for gasification of fuels, in particular for gasification of carbonaceous solid fuels, with at least one photobioreactor according to claim 1.

31. Reactor container for a photobioreactor according to claim 1, wherein the reactor container is an upwardly open container which has a U-shape cross section with a preferably rectangular or plate-shaped front extending in the direction of the vertical axis and a preferably rectangular or plate-shaped rear wall spaced apart therefrom in the longitudinal direction and likewise extending in the direction of the vertical axis, which rear walls are connected to one another at the bottom by a bottom wall, wherein a partition, is provided in the reactor container and extends upwards in the vertical axis direction starting from the bottom wall, so that the partition subdivides the reactor container, in relation to the longitudinal direction, into a front reactor chamber and a rear reactor chamber; wherein in the partition, in the adjoining and connecting region adjoining and connecting region of the partition near the bottom wall, at least one partition-through-flow opening is provided between the front and the rear reactor chamber, wherein the reactor container has at least one feeding device, by means of which a CO2-containing medium can be introduced from outside the reactor container; and wherein the CO2-containing medium is a CO2-containing gas or CO2 derived from a CO2-containing gas.

32. Photobioreactor according to claim 1, wherein the photobioreactor is a closed reactor comprising a plurality of upwardly open reactor containers which are closed by a single-part or multi-part, top wall of the photobioreactor and in which a nutrient medium can be accommodated, wherein at least a part of the reactor containers is an individual container that has a U-shaped cross section with a front wall extending in the direction of the vertical axis and a rear wall spaced apart therefrom in the longitudinal direction and likewise extending in the direction of the vertical axis, which rear walls are connected to one another at the bottom by a bottom wall; wherein the reactor containers of the photobioreactor, which are individual containers, are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction in such a way that a front reactor container, adjoins a front wall, which is at least partially transparent to light, of a rear reactor container, forming a gap wherein the free end regions of the front and rear walls, which adjoin one another with the formation of the gap, have a common overflow wall region which closes the gap from above with respect to the vertical axis direction and which has at least one container overflow opening between the adjoining reactor containers wherein the overflow wall region extends up to and adjoins the top wall, adjoining the top wall in a gas-tight and liquid-tight manner; wherein at least one lighting element is accommodated in the gap between adjacent reactor containers, by means of which light element light can be emitted through the respectively associated front or rear wall, which is of light-permeable design at least in regions, into one of the two adjacent reactor containers or into both adjacent reactor containers; wherein in each of the reactor containers designed as individual containers, a partition is provided, which, starting from the bottom wall, extends upwards in the vertical axis direction to the top wall acid adjoins the latter, preferably adjoins the top wall in a gas-tight and liquid-tight manner, so that the partition subdivides the reactor container with respect to the longitudinal direction, into a front reactor chamber and a rear reactor chamber; wherein in the partition, in the bottom wall side adjoining region of the partition to the bottom wall, at least one partition-through-flow opening is provided between the front and the rear reactor chamber so that a nutrient medium received in the front reactor chamber of a front reactor container flows through the at least one partition-through-flow opening into the rear reactor chamber of the front reactor container and further flows from the rear reactor chamber of the front reactor container through the at least one container overflow opening into a front reactor chamber of a rear reactor container, wherein at least a part of the reactor containers has at least one feeding device, by means of which a CO2-containing medium can be introduced from outside the reactor container into at least one reactor container; and wherein the CO2-containing medium is a CO2-containing gas or CO2 derived from a CO2-containing gas.

Description

[0094] The invention is explained in more detail below by way of example only, with reference to a drawing.

[0095] It shows:

[0096] FIG. 1a schematic front view of an exemplary photobioreactor according to the invention, showing a view of the foremost reactor container in the direction of the arrow Z in FIG. 2a,

[0097] FIG. 2a schematic longitudinal cross-section along line A-A of FIG. 1,

[0098] FIG. 2b schematic perspective sectional view of the photobioreactor of FIG. 2b with features partially omitted,

[0099] FIG. 3a schematic example of an overflow wall region formed by a separate component,

[0100] FIG. 3b schematic sectional view along line C-C of FIG. 3a,

[0101] FIG. 3c a schematic representation of another alternative embodiment of the overflow wall region,

[0102] FIG. 4a a schematic detail view of a bridging element forming an outlet,

[0103] FIG. 4b a section along line D-D of FIG. 4a,

[0104] FIG. 5 a schematic front view of a single reactor container,

[0105] FIG. 6 a sectional view along line B-B of FIG. 5,

[0106] FIG. 7 a perspective view of the single reactor container of FIGS. 5 and 6 with side walls,

[0107] FIG. 8a a magnified detail view of a partition in plan view,

[0108] FIG. 8b an alternative embodiment of the partition frame region of FIG. 8a,

[0109] FIG. 9a a schematic representation of an alternative design of an overflow wall region integral with the free end region of the rear wall of a reactor container,

[0110] FIG. 9b a schematic representation of an alternative design of an overflow wall region integral with the free end region of a front wall of a reactor container,

[0111] FIG. 10 a schematic representation of a further alternative design of a two-part overflow wall region, the overflow wall region elements of which are integral with the free end region of the rear wall and with the free end region of the front wall of a reactor container,

[0112] FIG. 11 a schematic representation of a biogas plant according to the invention with a photobioreactor according to the invention, and

[0113] FIG. 12 a schematic representation of a reactor according to the invention for gasification of fuels with a photobioreactor according to the invention.

[0114] FIGS. 1, 2a and 2b together show an exemplary embodiment of a photobioreactor 1 according to the invention for the production of microorganisms, in particular the production of microalgae. This photobioreactor 1 has, as can be seen in particular from FIGS. 2a and 2b, a plurality of reactor containers 2 in the form of individual containers, in which a nutrient medium is accommodated.

[0115] The individual reactor containers 2, as can be seen in particular from the synopsis of FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8, all preferably have a substantially identical and/or flow-related U-shaped basic structure, in which the reactor containers 2 are each designed as upwardly open containers and have a front wall 3 extending in the vertical axis direction z and a rear wall 4 spaced apart therefrom in the longitudinal direction x and likewise extending in the vertical axis direction z. The front wall 3 and the rear wall 3 are connected to one another at the bottom by a bottom wall 5. The front wall 3 and the rear wall 3 are connected to each other at the bottom by a bottom wall 5.

[0116] Both the front wall 3 and the rear wall 4 are here exemplarily plate-shaped and rectangular, while the bottom wall 5 is here exemplarily curved in the shape of an arc.

[0117] The front wall 3 and the rear wall 4 have essentially the same height, as can be seen in particular from FIG. 6, and are surmounted in the vertical axis direction z by a partition 6 arranged here, by way of example, centrally in the reactor container 2. This partition 6 is also exemplarily plate-shaped and rectangular, which can also be seen in particular from FIG. 8a, which shows an individual representation of the partition 6.

[0118] In the assembled state (see, for example, FIG. 2a), the partition 6 extends from the bottom wall 5 in the vertical axis direction z upwards to a top wall 7, which is shown here in dashed lines for clarity and is also, for example, plate-shaped and rectangular. The free end region of the partition 6 at the top in the vertical axis direction adjoins the top wall 7, preferably in a gas-tight and/or liquid-tight manner. If necessary, the partition 6 can also be connected to the top wall 7, in particular detachably. The top wall 7 is shown here in one piece, but can also be made in several pieces if necessary.

[0119] As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 2a, 2b and 6, the partition 6 divides the reactor container, with reference to the longitudinal direction x, into a front reactor chamber 8 and a rear reactor chamber 9.

[0120] In the partition 6, as can be seen in particular from FIG. 8a, in the bottom wall side adjoining and/or connecting region of the partition to the bottom wall 5, several partition-through-flow openings 10 are formed, which allow the nutrient medium to flow over from the front reactor chamber 8 into the rear reactor chamber 9.

[0121] The partition 6, like the front wall 3 and the rear wall 4, extends in the transverse direction y between two side walls 11, which are opposite in the transverse direction y and are likewise merely rectangular and plate-shaped by way of example here, and which, as can be seen in particular from FIGS. 2a, 2b and 7, extend in each case as far as the top wall 7 and adjoin the latter, in particular adjoin it in a gas-tight and/or liquid-tight manner or are possibly even connected to the latter. The latter also applies, of course, to the adjacency of the front wall 3, the partition 6 and the rear wall 4 to the side walls 11.

[0122] It should be noted at this point that the top wall 7 is preferably designed as a removable top wall, so that either no connection may be provided or a detachable connection must be provided between the top wall 7 and the walls or wall areas adjacent to it.

[0123] As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 2a and 7, the apex of the curvature of the bottom wall 5 of the reactor container is located at the lowest point of the reactor container 2 as seen in the vertical axis direction z, so that the opposite side walls 11 extend downward as seen in the vertical axis direction z at least to the apex of this bottom wall 5 and thus form a ground contact surface.

[0124] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2a and 7, each individual reactor container 2 has two separate opposite side walls 11. In FIG. 2b, however, an alternative variant is shown in which two opposite large-area side walls 11 each form the side wads for several or, in the case of FIG. 2b, for all reactor containers 2.

[0125] Both the individual reactor containers 2 and the top wall 7 are preferably designed to is be translucent as a whole, for example made of a translucent glass or plastic material.

[0126] As can be seen from FIG. 6 in conjunction with FIGS. 2a and 2b, all reactor containers 2 have the same basic U-shaped structure with a front wall 3 and rear wall 4 of the same height, both of which have a gap distance to the top wall 7 and both of which are surmounted by the partition 6 extending to the top wall 7.

[0127] In order to bridge the gap distance to the top wall 7, the photobioreactor 1 has an overflow wall region 12 in the adjoining area of two reactor containers 2, which is described below and which, viewed in the vertical axis direction z, extends as far as the top wall 7 and in the transverse direction y between the opposing side walls 11 and adjoins them in each case, in particular adjoins them in a gas-tight and/or liquid-tight manner and/or is possibly even connected to them.

[0128] This overflow wall region 12 is formed in the present case merely by way of example by a separate component (see FIG. 3a), which is firmly connected to the front wall 3 and the rear wall 4 of two adjacent reactor containers 2 (see FIGS. 2a and 2b). As can be seen from FIGS. 2a and 2b, the individual reactor containers 2 are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction x in such a way that a front reactor container 2, as seen in the longitudinal direction x, with a light-permeable rear wall adjoins a light-permeable front wall 3 of a rear reactor container 2, as seen in the longitudinal direction x, forming a gap 13 as an assembly clearance. In the example shown here, the free end regions of the front and rear walls 3, 4 assigned to the overflow wall region 12 are each connected to a lower frame part region 14 of a peripheral frame 15 of the overflow wall region 12, in particular connected in a gas-tight and/or liquid-tight manner. As a result, the mutually associated front and rear walls 3, 4 of the adjacent reactor containers 2 each have a common overflow wall region 12, which closes the gap 13 from above in relation to the vertical axis direction z and here only has several container overflow openings 16 as an example.

[0129] As can be seen in particular from FIG. 3a, the lower frame part region 14 in the vertical axis direction z forms the connection region for the free end regions of the front walls 3 and rear walls 4 of the associated reactor containers 2, while an upper frame part region 17 in the vertical axis direction z adjoins the top wall 7, in particular adjoins it in a gas-tight and/or liquid-tight manner and/or is possibly even connected to it, preferably detachably connected.

[0130] The plurality of container overflow openings 16 adjacent to each other in the transverse direction are formed here by a plurality of connection webs 18 extending in the vertical axis direction z between the upper frame part region 17 and the lower frame part region 14, which preferably simultaneously form flow guide elements.

[0131] Alternatively, however, only a single container overflow opening 16 without flow guide elements or connection webs 18 could be provided (not shown), or a container overflow opening 16 could be provided into which one or more flow guide elements 18a protrude, as shown only by way of example in FIG. 3c.

[0132] As can be seen in particular from the synopsis of FIGS. 2a and 2b, this arrangement of the overflow wall region 12 between the associated front and rear walls 3, 4 of adjacent reactor containers 2 results in an upper overflow region, relative to the vertical axis direction z, through which a nutrient medium can flow or overflow from a rear reactor chamber 9 of a front reactor container 2 into a front reactor chamber 8 of a rear reactor container 2.

[0133] According to an alternative embodiment, however, the overflow wall region 12 can also be integrally formed with the free end region of the rear wall 4 of the reactor container 2. This is shown schematically in FIG. 9a. In this case, a free end region of a front wall 3 of a directly adjacent reactor container 2 is also connected to the overflow wall region 12 to form the common overflow wall region 12 (see arrow 42).

[0134] According to a further alternative embodiment, however, the overflow wall region 12 can also be integrally formed with the free end region of the front wall 3 of the reactor container 2. This is shown schematically in FIG. 9b. In this case, a free end region of a rear wall 3 of a directly adjacent reactor container 2 is also connected to the overflow wall region 12 to form the common overflow wall region 12 (see arrow 42).

[0135] It is also evident that an embodiment according to FIGS. 9a and 9b again results in identical parts, since the reactor containers 2 only have to be rotated by 180° in order to form an overflow wall region 12 arranged on a front wall 3 or on a rear wall 4 in each case.

[0136] The latter also applies to the further alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 10, in is which the overflow wall region 12 is formed in multiple parts and a first front wall side overflow wall region element 12a is integrally formed with the free end portion of the front wall 3 and a second rear wall side overflow wall region element 12b is integrally formed with the free end portion of the rear wall 4 of the reactor container 2. The front wall side overflow wall region element 12a and the rear wall side overflow wall region element 12b of two adjacent reactor containers 2 are then joined together to form the common overflow wall region 12, as indicated by the arrow 44 in the FIG. 10 illustration. In principle, such a solution would also be possible with overflow-wall region elements 12a, 12b, which are designed as separate components and must first be connected to the free end regions of the associated walls as part of a pre-assembly process.

[0137] A similar structure to the overflow wall region 12 is also shown by partition 6 in conjunction with its partition-through-flow openings 10, which have already been briefly discussed earlier.

[0138] As can be seen in particular from FIG. 8a, the partition 6 has a peripheral frame region 19 in the bottom wall side wall area, the lower frame part region 20 of which in the vertical axis direction 7 adjoins the bottom wall 6, in particular adjoins it in a gas-tight and/or liquid-tight manner and/or is even connected to it if necessary, preferably detachably connected.

[0139] Here, too, the partition 6 has, by way of example, a plurality of partition-through-flow openings 10 adjacent to one another in the transverse direction y, which are formed by a plurality of connection webs 21 extending between opposing frame parts, which preferably simultaneously form flow guide elements.

[0140] Thus, the nutrient medium can also flow from the front reactor chamber 8 into the rear reactor chamber 9, resulting in an overall vertical meandering flow pattern of the nutrient medium in photobioreactor 1.

[0141] Alternatively, however, only a single partition-through-flow opening 10 without flow guide elements or connection webs 21 could be provided (not shown), or a partition-through-flow opening 10 could be provided into which one or more flow guide elements 21a protrude, as shown merely by way of example in FIG. 8b.

[0142] As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 2a and 2b, the front wall 3 of the foremost reactor container 2 in the longitudinal direction x or flow direction has a first wall- and/or plate-like bridging element 22 which extends from the free end region of the front wall 3 to the top wall and adjoins the latter, in particular adjoins it in a gas-tight and/or liquid-tight manner and/or is possibly even connected to the latter.

[0143] The same applies in an analogous manner to the rear wall 4 of the rearmost reactor container 2 in the longitudinal direction x or flow direction, which has a second wall- and/or plate-like bridging element 23 that also extends to the top wall 7 and adjoins it, in particular adjoins it in a gas-tight and/or liquid-tight manner and/or is possibly even connected to it.

[0144] With such a structure of a photobioreactor 1, in which bridging elements 22, 23 are used in addition to overflow wall regions 12 in the adjacent area of two reactor containers 2 at the opposite free end sides of the photobioreactor 1, it is ensured that reactor containers with the same basic structure can be used in each case, regardless of the respective position of the reactor containers in the photobioreactor.

[0145] The first and second bridging elements 22 and 23 are preferably separate components that must be connected to the respective wall area of the reactor container 2. However, this is not a mandatory measure. In principle, it would also be possible to design the front wall of the foremost reactor container 2 and the rear wall of the rearmost reactor container 2 from the outset with a height such that the front wall 3 of the foremost reactor container 2 and the rear wall 4 of the rearmost reactor container 2 extend upward in the vertical axis direction z to the top wall 7 and adjoin it there.

[0146] As can be further seen in particular from the synopsis of FIGS. 4a and 4b, the second bridging element 23 may be formed substantially analogously to the overflow wall region 12 of FIGS. 3a and 3b to form, for example, an outlet 24 having at least one outlet opening 25, preferably a plurality of outlet openings 25. Again, the plurality of outlet openings 25 are formed by providing connection webs 26 between opposing frame part regions. In addition, a nozzle-like overflow connection 27 extends outwardly from the mouth region of the outlet 24, so that a defined overflow is created, for example to an adjoining further photobioreactor of essentially identical or the same design, or also as an outlet to a continuous belt filter 28 shown here as an example. This continuous belt filter 28 will be described in more detail below.

[0147] The fact that the partition 6 and the overflow wall region 12 and possibly also the bridging elements 22, 23 each extend to the top wall 7 and adjoin it, preferably in a contact and abutment connection without gap distance, preferably adjoining it in a gas-s tight and/or liquid-tight manner, results in an overall stable structure, since the individual walls or wall regions then extend to the top wall 7 and can be supported there, for example can also be accommodated in a groove-shaped recess, for example can also be detachably latched. In addition to a particularly advantageous seal, the latter also permits a functionally reliable arrangement of the top wall 7 or the individual walls and wall areas in the respective desired position. For the partition 6, this also applies in an analogous manner to its connection to the bottom wall 5.

[0148] As can be seen in particular from FIG. 2a in conjunction with FIG. 2b, a plurality of lighting elements 29 are arranged in each case in the gap 13 between the adjacent reactor containers 2, exemplified here in such a way that a plurality of rows of lighting elements 29a, 29b, 29c and 29d are provided which extend in the transverse direction y and are spaced apart from one another in the vertical axis direction z, preferably uniformly spaced apart from one another, as exemplified here.

[0149] The individual rows of lighting elements 29a, 29b, 29c and 29d can, for example, be lighting elements 29 in the form of LED light bars, to name just one example, whose LEDs can emit light both through the front wall 3 and through the rear wall 4 of two adjacent reactor containers into the respective reactor chambers of the reactor containers 2. This is shown only by way of example in connection with the two reactor containers 2 on the left in the image plane of FIG. 2a.

[0150] Alternatively, the lighting elements 29, for example as LED light bars, can also be arranged or designed in the gap 13 in such a way that light, as shown in connection with the two reactor containers 2 on the right in the image plane of FIG. 2a, is emitted alternately only into one of the two associated reactor containers 2. In the example shown on the right-hand side of FIG. 2a, which is not to be understood as conclusive, the lighting elements 29 arranged one above the other in the direction of the vertical axis z only emit light alternately (seen from top to bottom) through the rear wall 4 of the front reactor container 2, then through the front wall 3 of the rearmost reactor container 2, then again through the rear wall 4 of the front reactor container 2 and finally again through the front wall 3 of the rearmost reactor container 2. It goes without saying that other arrangements and illuminations are also possible at any time.

[0151] These two lighting situations shown in FIG. 2a merely by way of example using the lighting elements 29 and the row of lighting elements 29a to 29d are intended to show that it is particularly advantageous to form differently brightly illuminated areas 30, 31 in the respective reactor chambers 8, 9, these differently brightly illuminated areas 30, 31 preferably being areas lying one behind the other in the flow direction of the vertical meander flow. In the present example case, areas 30 are thus more brightly illuminated than areas 31, resulting in a certain light-dark effect which has a beneficial effect on the growth of microorganisms, in particular on the growth of phytoplankton such as microalgae.

[0152] In the solution according to the invention, the overflow through the partition 6 between the individual reactor chambers 8, 9 or the overflow through the overflow wall region 12 between the individual reactor containers 2 then takes place in an advantageous manner through overflow openings 10, 16 which are adapted to the respective application and which can be geometrically designed in such a way that a targeted influencing of the flow conditions of the vertically meandering flow can be achieved in the respective overflow region, for example in such a way that targeted slight turbulence or swirling is caused there, which counteracts, for example, a settling movement of generated microorganisms without impairing the flow course as such. turbulences can be caused, which counteracts, for example, a settling movement of generated microorganisms without impairing the flow course as such.

[0153] As can be seen from FIGS. 2a and 2b, a stiffening element 32 can be provided in the gap 13 between the respective adjacent reactor containers, preferably in the area above the transition region from the front and/or rear wall 3, 4 to the bottom wall 5, for example a stiffening element 32 closing the gap 13 downward. This stiffening element 32 can extend over a predetermined length in the transverse direction y, for example also extending completely between the opposite side walls 11.

[0154] As can also be seen from the synopsis of FIGS. 1, 2a and 2b, a plurality of transversely spaced feed nozzles 33 are provided in the bottom wall side area of the reactor containers 2, in this case in the area of the rear reactor chamber 9 on the bottom wall 5, by means of which a medium, in particular CO2 or a medium containing CO2, can be introduced into the reactor container 2 from outside the reactor container 2.

[0155] The feed nozzles are preferably aligned with their mouth opening in the direction of flow (compare in particular FIG. 2a), so that the flow of the nutrient medium is supported in the direction of flow when the medium is injected. In addition, such injection can also reliably prevent deposits in the rear reactor chamber, in particular in the bottom wall region.

[0156] As can be seen in particular from the synopsis of FIGS. 1 and 2a, the first bridging element 22 can be designed differently, for example as a closed wall element 22a (to the left of the dividing line T) or, analogously to the overflow wall region 12, can be provided with overflow openings 22b (to the right of the dividing line T). This depends, for example, on how the photobioreactor 1 is specifically used or employed. If the photobioreactor 1 is used as a single reactor or as the first reactor of a reactor cascade, then the first bridging element 22 can be designed as a closed wall element 22a and the nutrient medium is then fed in via the inlet 34, which is only shown schematically in FIG. 2a.

[0157] On the other hand, in case the photobioreactor 1 is part of a reactor cascade and does not form the first photobioreactor here, it may be provided that the first bridging element 22 is provided with the overflow openings 22b, which are then fluidically coupled to the outlet 24 of a preceding photobioreactor 1, preferably via the overflow connection 27 to which the first bridging element 22 is coupled (not shown in detail here).

[0158] In connection with FIGS. 2a and 2b, the first bridging element 22 is here exemplarily formed as a closed wall element 22a.

[0159] As can be further seen from FIG. 2a, the inlet 34 can further be coupled to a feed line 34a by means of which fresh nutrient medium 34a can be fed to the photobioreactor 1 at given times.

[0160] The inlet 34 is also connected to a nutrient medium line designed here as return line 34b, which in this example leads from the last reactor container 2 and by means of which the nutrient medium is circulated via the inlet 34. In principle, a pump can be connected to the return line 34b as a conveying device. Particularly preferably, is however, the conveying device in the solution according to the invention is formed by an air-lift arrangement 35, in which a specific working medium, preferably air, most preferably air enriched with CO2 and/or filtered air, is introduced into the return line 34b led to the inlet 34, which conveys the nutrient medium in the direction of the inlet 34.

[0161] As shown further, in this circulation of the nutrient medium, part of the nutrient medium is preferably drawn off from the rear-most reactor container 2 in the longitudinal direction x or flow direction and then fed back to the front-most reactor container 2 in the longitudinal direction x b or flow direction. However, this can also be deviated from if necessary, for example in such a way that several return lines are provided which branch off from several reactor containers and are led to the inlet. Likewise, an inlet can be provided alternatively or additionally in connection with other or further reactor containers.

[0162] The air-lift arrangement 35 thus serves here simultaneously as a circulation device for the liquid nutrient medium in the photobioreactor 1, i.e. as a circulation device for guiding the nutrient medium vertically meandering through the photobioreactor 1 in the desired manner. As has been pointed out before, such an air-lift arrangement 35 is particularly gentle on the product. However, the invention can in principle be implemented with any type of circulation device.

[0163] In the schematic, principal embodiment shown in FIG. 2a, the photobioreactor 1 is followed by the continuous belt filter 28, in which an endless filter cloth 36 is circulated between a filtering section 37 and a section 38 in which the filtered product 39 is removed from the filter cloth 36. This is shown only very schematically in FIG. 2a.

[0164] As can also be seen from FIG. 2a, the filtered nutrient medium 40 can be returned to the nutrient medium circuit via a further return line 34c, if necessary.

[0165] FIG. 2a further shows that the feed nozzles 33 can also be coupled to a feed line 33a, via which, for example, CO2-enriched medium, for example CO2-enriched air, can be supplied.

[0166] It is understood that valves, backflow preventers and other blocking elements or control elements can of course be arranged in the respective media-carrying lines in the usual manner, with which control or regulation of the media flow takes place.

[0167] Furthermore, a heating and/or cooling element 41 can be arranged on the bottom wall of each of the reactor containers, by means of which the nutrient medium contained in the respective reactor container 2 can be appropriately tempered. This is shown only by way of example and schematically in FIG. 6.

[0168] And finally, the top wall 7 may be provided with one or more ventilation device(s) 45 formed, for example, by ventilation fans. This is only shown extremely schematically and by way of example in FIG. 2a. By means of these ventilation devices 45, gas accumulating between the top wall 7 and the nutrient medium, in particular oxygen-containing gas, can be extracted from the interior of the photobioreactor 1, in particular from the reactor containers 2. In principle, a top wall side ventilation device 45 can be assigned to each reactor container 2.

[0169] FIG. 11 schematically shows an exemplary representation of a biogas plant 46 with a photobioreactor 1 according to the invention, which, as described above, has a plurality of reactor containers 2. The biogas plant 46 is shown here only extremely schematically and has, among other things, a fermenter 47, in which the actual biogas is produced, and a final storage 48, in which a fermentation residue 49 is located.

[0170] As shown in FIG. 11, the biogas 50 is withdrawn from the digester 47 of the biogas plant 46 and fed to a counter-current absorber column 51, in which the CO2 present in the gas is absorbed by a circulating solvent 52. Further, a stripping column 53 is provided in which the CO2 is separated from the solvent. Specifically, the CO2-laden solvent 54 is fed into the head of the stripping column 53, where it trickles down. A steam feeding device 55 is also provided, by means of which steam, preferably water steam, can be introduced into the stripping column 53, whereby the CO2 or, depending on the degree of purification, a CO2-containing gas 56 is released and discharged, preferably at the column head.

[0171] The CO2-free solvent 57 is then withdrawn from the stripping column 53 by a removal device 58 and returned to the counter-current absorber column 51.

[0172] Furthermore, a plurality of pulsing devices 59 associated with each individual reactor container 2 is provided by way of example, by means of which the CO2 or the CO2-containing gas 56 can be introduced intermittently or pulsatingly into the respective reactor container 2, in principle at any desired point, but preferably on the bottom side, in order to generate individual gas bubbles of a defined size, for example from 3 μm to 1.0 cm.

[0173] Furthermore, a feeding device 60 is provided by means of which fermentation residue 49 can be fed to one or more reactor container(s) 2 as fertilizer for the nutrient medium and/or for setting a desired pH value in the nutrient medium. The supply is preferably controlled by a control device 61 shown here only by way of example, for example as a function of a predetermined pH value in the nutrient medium. The control device 61 can also be used, as shown here only schematically, to control the CO2 supply by means of the pulsing devices 59.

[0174] Finally, FIG. 12 shows a set-up similar to FIG. 11, but with the difference that instead of a biogas plant 46, a reactor 62 for gasification of fuels, e.g. coal or biomass (e.g. wood as biomass), is used here and accordingly no feeding of the photobioreactor 1 with a fermentation residue takes place. Instead of the CO2-containing biogas, CO2-containing synthesis gas is fed to the counter-current absorber column 51.

[0175] It is understood that CO2-containing biogas from a biogas plant and CO2-containing so synthesis gas from a reactor for gasification of fuels can of course also be fed to the photobioreactor 1, although this is no longer explicitly shown. Both CO2-containing gas streams can be fed to different or common gas scrubbers as described above.

LIST OF REFERENCE SINS

[0176] 1 photobioreactor [0177] 2 reactor container [0178] front wall [0179] 4 rear wall [0180] 5 bottom wall [0181] 6 partition [0182] 7 top wall [0183] 8 front reactor chamber [0184] 9 rear reactor chamber [0185] 10 partition-through-flow openings [0186] 11 side walls [0187] 12 overflow wall region [0188] 12a first overflow wall region element [0189] 12b second overflow wall region element [0190] 13 gap [0191] 14 lower frame part region [0192] 15 frame [0193] 16 container overflow openings [0194] 17 upper frame part region [0195] 18 connection webs [0196] 18a flow guide element [0197] 19 frame region [0198] 20 lower frame part region [0199] 21 connection webs [0200] 21a flow guide element [0201] 22 first bridging element [0202] 22a closed wall element [0203] 22b overflow openingen [0204] 23 second bridging element [0205] 24 outlet [0206] 25 outlet openings [0207] 26 connection web [0208] 27 overflow connection [0209] 28 continuous belt filter [0210] 29 lighting elements [0211] 29a row of lighting elements [0212] 29b row of lighting elements [0213] 29c row of lighting elements [0214] 29d row of lighting elements [0215] 30 more brightly illuminated region [0216] 31 more darkly illuminated region [0217] 32 stiffening element [0218] 33 feed nozzles [0219] 33a feed line [0220] 34 inlet [0221] 34a feed line [0222] 34b return line [0223] 34c return line [0224] 35 air-lift arrangement [0225] 36 filter cloth [0226] 37 filtering section [0227] 38 section [0228] 39 filtered product [0229] 40 filtered nutrient medium [0230] 41 heating and/or cooling element [0231] 42 arrow [0232] 43 arrow [0233] 44 arrow [0234] 45 ventilation device [0235] 46 biogas plant [0236] 47 fermenter [0237] 48 final storage [0238] 49 fermentation residue [0239] 50 biogas [0240] 51 counter-current absorber column [0241] 52 solvent [0242] 53 stripping column [0243] 54 CO2 laden solvent [0244] 55 steam [0245] 56 CO2 resp. CO2-containing gas [0246] 57 CO2-free solvent [0247] 58 removal device [0248] 59 pulsing device [0249] 60 feeding device [0250] 61 control device [0251] 62 reactor [0252] 63 synthesis gas