PHOTOBIOREACTOR

Abstract

An invention proposes a photobioreactor with a cultivation chamber in the form of a shallow closed duct that is irradiated by the sun light. The duct is constructed from an inflatable sleeve from transparent polymer film; this shallow duct is sandwiched between a bank of frames with wire nettings from below and glass panes from above, which are secured on the shelves of the longitudinal sides of the frames.

The shallow duct has small inclination regarding the horizontal plane and the length until several hundred meters. Two headers are supplying and removal of gaseous medium and suspension of microalgae into and out of the shallow duct.

Claims

1. A photobioreactor for cultivation of microalgae or cyanobacteria comprising: two parallel rows of posts and two parallel rows of inclined supporting angles installed on said posts; said posts with said supporting angles play a role of a supporting unit of said photobioreactor; said supporting unit comprises as well a bank of frames, which are installed on said supporting angels and abutted in- line; said frame are divided on two terminal frames and non- terminal frames; each said terminal frame comprises two longitudinal Z-profiles joined with two transverse strips; a sheet is installed on the bottom of each said terminal frame; each said non-terminal frame comprises two longitudinal Z-profiles joined with two transverse strips; a wire netting is installed on the bottom of each said non-terminal frame; a flat duct, which fulfills a role of a microalgae or cyanobacteria photo-cultivation chamber; said flat duct is arranged on said supporting unit and said flat duct comprises a longitudinal sleeve from transparent or translucent flexible polymer, which is positioned on said frames, wherein each terminal section of said longitudinal sleeve is provided with a port; abutted transparent or translucent glass panes are positioned on the upper shelves of said Z-profiles of said non-terminal frame with covering from above said longitudinal sleeve; said transparent or translucent glass panes are joined with said upper shelves of said Z-profiles by fastening members; terminal sections of said longitudinal sleeve comprise inlet and outlet ports for delivery of a gaseous medium containing CO.sub.2 and an aqueous suspension of microalgae or cyanobacteria into the internal space of said flat duct and withdrawal of said gaseous medium and said aqueous suspension of microalgae or cyanobacteria from it; said inlet and outlet ports are formed by plastic welding in said terminal sections of said longitudinal sleeve; two headers, which are established externally to said flat duct; said headers are in fluid communication with said inlet and outlet ports; said first header serves for delivery of said gaseous medium containing CO.sub.2 and said aqueous suspension of microalgae or cyanobacteria into said internal space of said flat duct, and said second header serves for withdrawal of said gaseous medium and said aqueous suspension of microalgae or cyanobacteria from the internal space of said flat duct.

2. The photobioreactor for cultivation of microalgae or cyanobacteria as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first header is provided with a level gauge and a control system, which ensures a required level of the microalgae suspension in it.

3. The photobioreactor for cultivation of microalgae or cyanobacteria as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporting angles are provided with aligning screws in order to minimize misalignment of the frames.

4. The photobioreactor for cultivation of microalgae or cyanobacteria as claimed in claim 1, wherein the glass panes are fabricated from UV-blocking glass.

5. The photobioreactor for cultivation of microalgae or cyanobacteria as claimed in claim 1, wherein said photobioreactor operates with counter flow of the gaseous medium containing CO.sub.2 and the microalgae or cyanobacteria suspension.

6. The photobioreactor for cultivation of microalgae or cyanobacteria as claimed in claim 1, wherein said photobioreactor operates with co-current flow of the gaseous medium containing CO.sub.2 and the microalgae or cyanobacteria suspension.

7. The photobioreactor for cultivation of microalgae or cyanobacteria as claimed in claim 1, wherein the angles of inclination of the supporting angles are of variable values along the length of said photobioreactor.

8. The photobioreactor for cultivation of microalgae or cyanobacteria as claimed in claim 1, wherein U-channels are used instead of Z-profiles in construction of the frames

9. The photobioreactor for cultivation of microalgae or cyanobacteria as claimed in claim 1, wherein angle profiles are used instead of Z-profiles in construction of the frames.

10. The photobioreactor for cultivation of microalgae or cyanobacteria as claimed in claim 1, wherein C-channels are used instead of Z-profiles for construction of the frames.

11. The photobioreactor for cultivation of microalgae or cyanobacteria as claimed in claim 1, wherein I-beams are used instead of Z-profiles for construction of the frames.

12. The photobioreactor for cultivation of microalgae or cyanobacteria as claimed in claim 1, wherein flow of the gaseous medium containing CO.sub.2 in the internal space of the flat duct is executed with pulsating pressure.

13. The photobioreactor for cultivation of microalgae or cyanobacteria as claimed in claim 1, wherein the non-terminal frames are provided with a set of parallel rods instead of the wire nettings.

14. The photobioreactor for cultivation of microalgae or cyanobacteria as claimed in claim 1, wherein polymer transparent or translucent sheets are used instead of the glass panes.

15. The photobioreactor for cultivation of microalgae or cyanobacteria as claimed in claim 1, wherein UV-filtering transparent or translucent polymer sheets are used instead the glass panes.

16. The photobioreactor for cultivation of microalgae or cyanobacteria as claimed in claim 1, wherein setting off vibration of the bottom side of the sleeve is obtained by application of intermittent air jets, which arrive onto the underside of said bottom side from flat zigzag pipes with sets of openings oriented toward said bottom side of said sleeve; pressurized air with pulsating pressure is supplied into said flat zigzag pipes.

17. The photobioreactor for cultivation of microalgae or cyanobacteria as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wire nettings of the non-terminal frames are substituted by glass panes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] FIG. 1 demonstrates a side view of supporting angles installed on posts.

[0058] FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b show elevation and cross-section views of a frame with Z-profiles used for construction of the longitudinal sides of the frame.

[0059] FIG. 2c shows a cross-section of the frame with the wire netting and un-inflated polymer sleeve situated on the wire netting.

[0060] FIG. 2d shows a cross-section of the inflated flat duct of the photobioreactor, which is fastened on posts.

[0061] FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of a frame with application of angle profiles for construction of the longitudinal sides of the frame.

[0062] FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of a frame with application of U-profiles for construction of the longitudinal sides of the frame.

[0063] FIG. 5 shows an elevation view of the photobioreactor including two headers.

[0064] FIG. 6 demonstrates a top view of a flat zigzag pipe to be installed below the frames with the wire nettings.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERABLE EMBODIMENTS

[0065] FIG. 1 demonstrates a side view of supporting angles installed on posts. It comprises: posts 101 with cross-bars 102; a supporting angle 103 and transverse channel bars 104.

[0066] FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b show elevation and cross-section views of frame 200 with Z-profiles, which are used for construction of the longitudinal sides of frame 200.

[0067] Frame 200 comprises Z-profiles 201 and transverse cross-bars 202.

[0068] Each Z-profile comprises a bottom shelf 203, an upper shelf 204 and a middle section 205.

[0069] FIG. 2c shows a cross-section of frame 200 with an installed wire netting. It comprises: Z-profiles 201, transverse cross-bars 202, the wire netting 206 and a non-inflated polymer sleeve 207 situated on the wire netting 206.

[0070] FIG. 2d shows a cross-section of the inflated flat duct of the photobioreactor, which is fastened on posts.

[0071] It comprises: Z-profiles 201, the transverse cross-bars 202, the wire netting 206, the inflated polymer sleeve 207, a glass pane 208, supporting angles 209, posts 210 and fasteners 211.

[0072] FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of frame 300 with application of angle profiles for construction of the longitudinal sides of frame 300.

[0073] It comprises longitudinal angle profiles 301, which is bonded with strips 302 with bowed terminal sections 303.

[0074] FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of frame 400 with application of U-profiles for construction of the longitudinal sides of frame 400. It comprises longitudinal U-profiles 401, which is bonded with strips 402.

[0075] FIG. 5 shows an elevation view of a photobioreactor including two headers.

[0076] It comprises: header 501 with housing 502, an gas inlet connection 503, a broth (microalgae suspension) inlet connection 504, a gas-broth outlet port 505; header 506 with housing 507, an gas outlet connection 508, a broth outlet connection 509, an inlet gas-broth port 510; posts 511; supporting angles 512; Z-profiles 513 of non-terminal frames; glass panes 514; terminal frames 515; a polymer sleeve 516 with an inlet and outlet ports 517 and 518.

[0077] FIG. 6 shows a flat zigzag pipe, which is provided with a set of openings; one end of this flat zigzag pipe is plugged and the other end is provided with an inlet connection. It comprises: the flat zigzag pipe 601; openings 602; the inlet connection 603 and plug 604.