BUOYANT PHOTOBIOREACTOR ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

The invention relates to a buoyant photobioreactor arrangement, wherein the photobioreactor arrangement is buoyant on a surface water, and comprises a) a transparent photobioreactor container, b) a floating body that is buoyant on the surface water and c) a holding device arranged at or on the floating body holding the transparent photobioreactor container, the photobioreactor container being able to be lowered into the surface water by means of the holding device.

Claims

1. A photobioreactor arrangement (1), the photobioreactor arrangement (1) being buoyant on a surface water (200), comprising a) a transparent photobioreactor container (2), b) a floating body (3) that is buoyant on the surface water (200) and c) a holding device (4) arranged at or on the floating body (3) holding the transparent photobioreactor container (2), the photobioreactor container (2) being able to be lowered into the surface water (200) by means of the holding device (4).

2. The photobioreactor arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein i) the floating body (3) is arranged like a frame around the photobioreactor container (2) and has a recess (5) accommodating the photobioreactor container (2), ii) the holding device (4) holding the photobioreactor container (2) is arranged around the recess (5) and iii) the photobioreactor container (2) is held in the recess (5) by the holding device (4) moveably in the vertical direction.

3. The photobioreactor arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the photobioreactor container (2) comprises a horizontally arranged, closed pipe or pipe system (6) made of a preferably rigid, transparent wall material.

4. The photobioreactor arrangement (1) according to claim 3, wherein the pipe or pipe system (6) is arranged in a horizontally meandering shape.

5. The photobioreactor arrangement (1) according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of photobioreactor containers (2), wherein each of the photobioreactor containers (2) is held by an individual holding device (4) and each of the photobioreactor containers (2) are lowerable individually into the surface water (200) by means of the respective individual holding device (4).

6. The photobioreactor arrangement (1) according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of photobioreactor containers (2), wherein at least two of the photobioreactor containers (2) are held by a common holding device (4) and are lowerable together into the surface water (200) by means of the common holding device (4).

7. The photobioreactor arrangement (1) according to according to claim 1, wherein the holding device (4) comprises a holding frame (7) with a lifting system (8) to which the photobioreactor container (2) is fastened and moveable vertically within the holding frame (7).

8. The photobioreactor arrangement (1) according to according to claim 1, wherein the photobioreactor container (2) is adapted to being lowered manually into the surface water (200) by means of the holding device (4).

9. The photobioreactor arrangement (1) according to according to claim 1, wherein the floating body (3) is formed from a plurality of parts.

10. The photobioreactor arrangement (1) according to according to claim 1, wherein the photobioreactor arrangement (1) comprises a measurement and control unit (9) arranged on the floating body (3).

11. The photobioreactor arrangement (1) according to according to claim 1, wherein the photobioreactor container (2) has an input (21) and an output (22) which input (21) and output (22) being connected to a collecting container (12) arranged on the floating body (3) by means of flexible lines (11) and a pump unit (10) arranged on the floating body (3).

12. The photobioreactor arrangement (1) according to claim 11, wherein the pump unit (10) is connected to the input (21) and output (22) of the photobioreactor container (2) and the collecting container (12) such that a culture medium received in the photobioreactor container (2) can be circulated through the collecting container (12) by means of the pump unit (10).

13. The photobioreactor arrangement (1) according to claim 10, wherein the photobioreactor container (2) is adapted to being automatically lowered into the surface water (200) on the basis of measured values captured by means of the measurement and control unit (9).

14. A photobioreactor arrangement (1), comprising a) a transparent photobioreactor container (2), b) a buoyant body (3) and c) a holding device (4) arranged at or on the body (3), the holding device (4) holding the transparent photobioreactor container (2) and including means to raise and lower the photobioreactor container (2), wherein the buoyancy of the buoyant body (3) is sufficient to support the transparent photobioreactor container (2), when filled with culture medium, above the surface of water when the photobioreactor arrangement (1) is placed on water.

15. The photobioreactor arrangement (1) according to claim 14, further comprising a measurement and control unit (9) arranged on the floating body (3), the measurement and control unit (9) connected to at least one sensor adapted to record a physical parameter of the culture medium and/or the environment, the measurement and control unit (9) connected to the holding device (4) to automatically signal the holding device (4) to raise or lower the photobioreactor container (2) on the basis of values supplied by the at least one sensor to the measurement and control unit (9).

16. The photobioreactor arrangement (1) according to claim 15, wherein said at least one sensor is at least one of temperature, flow, photo, pH, pO.sub.2, pCO.sub.2 sensors.

17. The photobioreactor arrangement (1) according to claim 14, wherein the buoyancy of the buoyant body (3) is buoyancy in salt water.

18. The photobioreactor arrangement (1) according to claim 14, wherein the buoyancy of the buoyant body (3) is buoyancy in fresh water.

19. The photobioreactor arrangement (1) according to claim 14, further comprising a collecting container (12) being arranged on the floating body (3) between a pump unit (10) and the photobioreactor container (2), which collecting container (12) is adapted to harvesting a microalgae culture.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] The invention is explained in more detail below, purely for illustrative purposes, with reference to the attached figures.

[0046] FIG. 1. Three-dimensional view of an embodiment of a photobioreactor arrangement according to the invention.

[0047] FIG. 2. Top view of the embodiment of a photobioreactor arrangement according to the invention depicted in FIG. 1.

[0048] FIG. 3. Three-dimensional view of part of the embodiment of a photobioreactor arrangement according to the invention depicted in FIG. 1.

[0049] FIGS. 4, 5. Detailed view of part of the lifting system of the embodiment of a photobioreactor arrangement according to the invention depicted in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0050] FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of an embodiment of a photobioreactor arrangement 1 according to the invention floating on a surface water 200. The photobioreactor arrangement 1 here comprises a floating body 3 essentially rectangular in cross-section (see also FIG. 2), which floating body 3 is composed of individual cuboid floating body modules 32, of which only two are depicted here for the sake of clarity, which form a type of jetty on the outside. The floating body 3 has a recess 5. A photobioreactor container 2 is arranged inside the recess 5, which photobioreactor container 2 here consists of a meandering transparent pipe or pipe system 6 of straight cylindrical pipe elements 17 and curve elements 18 connected to one another with the aid of coupling elements 27. The recess 5 here lies almost centrally within the floating body 3, so that the floating body 3 is arranged in a frame-like manner around the photobioreactor container 2. A holding device 4 fastened around the recess 5 on the floating body 3 holds the transparent photobioreactor container 2 in the recess 5. The holding device 4 here comprises a metal holding frame 7 and a likewise metal support frame 15 on which the photobioreactor container 2 is mounted. The support frame 15 is stabilized by means of transverse/diagonal struts 16. Furthermore, the holding device 4 comprises a lifting system 8 having lifting columns 14, which here comprise threaded spindles. In the embodiment shown here, the support frame 15 is connected via four lifting columns 14 of the lifting system 8 to the holding frame 7, which is fastened to the floating body 3. The photobioreactor container 2 mounted on the support frame 15 can be lowered into the surface water 200 and also raised again by means of the lifting system 8. The support frame 15 can be moved vertically up and down within the recess 5 by rotating the threaded spindles. In addition, a collecting container 12, a pump unit 10 and a measurement and control unit 9 are arranged on the floating body 3. The collecting container 12 is used, for example, to harvest the microalgae culture used in the photobioreactor container 2. A pipeline 19 on the floating body 3 leading to the edge of the recess 5 connects the pump unit 10 to the lower outlet of the collecting container 12. A connection 41 for electrodes and a connection 42 for sampling are provided in said pipeline 19. A further pipeline 20 leading to the edge of the recess 5 arises from an upper outlet of the collecting container 12. The ends 23, 24 of the pipelines 19, 20 towards the recess 5 can be connected to the input 21 and output 22 of the pipe or pipe system 6 of the photobioreactor container 2. Not depicted here are a connection in the region of the input 21 of the pipe or pipe system 6 of the photobioreactor container for the supply of a gas or gas mixture, for example, an air/CO.sub.2 mixture through a pneumatic hose, which is also not depicted, and a connection in the region of the output 22 of the pipe or pipe system 6 of the photobioreactor container 2, via which the gas or liquid can be removed from the photobioreactor container 2. The connections, which are preferably made by means of flexible lines, for example, pneumatic hoses, suction or pressure hoses and/or spiral hoses, so that the photobioreactor container 2 can be moved up and down without the fluid communication between the pipelines 19, 20 located on the floating body and the photobioreactor 2 being interrupted or hindered, are not depicted here. If the input 21 and the output 22 of the pipe or pipe system 6 of the photobioreactor 2 are connected by means of flexible connecting pieces to the ends 23, 24 of the pipelines 19, 20 located at the edge of the recess 5, a closed system that includes the photobioreactor 2 and the collecting container 12 is implemented. Both the collecting container 12 and the pipelines 19, 20 can be made of a transparent material, for example, plastic material.

[0051] This is not necessary, however. The culture medium can be circulated in the closed system by means of the pump unit 10. The measurement and control unit 9 is arranged on a frame 13 which is arranged on the floating body 3 and which is preferably a metal frame. The measurement and control unit 9 serves, among other things, for mixing the air/CO.sub.2 mixture using appropriate flow meters, for power distribution, for optional manual control, for controlling the pump unit 10, for processing sensor data and for controlling the lifting system 8. Measurement data recorded by the measurement and control unit can also be transmitted wirelessly, for example, by radio (for example, WLAN), to a control system arranged outside the photobioreactor arrangement 1 and which comprises a control program with which, for example, remote control of the photobioreactor arrangement 1 and/or reading a measurement is made possible. In addition, a compressor 40 is arranged on the floating body 3, with the aid of which compressor 40 the microalgae culture can be aerated, for example, with an air / carbon dioxide mixture. The outer edge of the floating body 3 is surrounded by a railing 31 with the exception of a region 33 which is kept free and which serves to facilitate access to the photobioreactor arrangement 1. Two floating body modules 32, which act as jetties, are arranged here. A water passage 34 is arranged in the floating body 3, which water passage 34 is implemented here by a recess arranged in the lower part of the floating body 3 directed towards the water surface. A corresponding recess on the opposite side of the floating body 3 cannot be seen here. The recess can be implemented, for example, by inserting a floating body module 32 having a smaller extension in the vertical direction, so that when the floating body module 32 is connected to the remaining floating body, the floating body module 32, with its upper surface, is aligned with the upper surface of the remaining floating body 3 but does not, with its lower surface, contact the surface of the surface water 200. The water passage 34 serves for the exchange of water between the water within the recess 5 and the water of the surface water 200 which surrounds the floating body 3.

[0052] A microalgae culture can be cultivated in the photobioreactor container 2 when there is high solar radiation and high air temperatures. If necessary, the culture can be circulated by means of the pump unit 10. In order to produce optimal growth conditions with regard to light irradiation and temperature, the photobioreactor container 2 can be lowered into or raised from the surface water 200 by means of the lifting system 8. It is also possible to supply the culture with carbon dioxide or with air that is enriched with carbon dioxide. Connections to the pipe or pipe system 6 of the photobioreactor container 2 suitable for this purpose are here, as mentioned, not depicted in detail.

[0053] The culture used can then be harvested depending on the type of microalgae and other conditions, for example, after 7 to 21 days. The harvested biomass can then be further processed in a suitable manner, depending on the desired product, for example, washed and dried or digested.

[0054] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 of a photobioreactor arrangement 1 according to the invention. To avoid unnecessary repetition, reference is therefore made to the description of FIG. 1 at this point.

[0055] FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional view of part of the embodiment of a photobioreactor arrangement 1 according to the invention depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2. The section shows, from a different perspective than that in FIG. 1, the region of the floating body 3 with the collecting container 12 and the pipelines 19, 20 leading therefrom to the recess 5, only the end 24 of the pipeline 20 arising from the upper part of the collecting container 12 being able to be seen here. A flexible line as a connection between the end 24 of the pipeline 20 and the output 22 of the pipe or pipe system 6 of the photobioreactor container 2 is also not depicted here. Two of the four lifting columns 14 of the lifting system 8 and part of the support frame 15 on which the pipe or pipe system 6 of the photobioreactor container 2 is mounted can be seen.

[0056] FIGS. 4 and 5 show a detailed view of part of the lifting system 8 having the lifting columns 14 comprising threaded spindles here. FIG. 4 shows a three-dimensional view of a lifting column 14 in the region of the input 21 of the pipe or pipe system 6 of the photobioreactor container 2, FIG. 5 shows a side view of a lifting column 14 in the region of the output 22 of the pipe or pipe system 6 of the photobioreactor container 2. Rotating the threaded spindles of the lifting columns 14 can move the support frame 15 in the vertical direction, that is, lowered or raised, as indicated by the arrow in the two figures. The threaded spindles can be rotated manually or by means of a motor, for example, an electric motor. The pipe or pipe system 6 of the photobioreactor container 2 is mounted on the support frame 15. For this purpose, the support frame 15 here has supports 26 having a recess which is circular in cross-section and which can accommodate cylindrical pipe sections of the pipe or pipe system 6. The lifting columns 14 are each fastened to the support frame 15 and to the holding frame 7 with fastening means 28, 29 in a suitable manner. The fastening means 29 with which the lifting columns 14 are fastened to the holding frame 7 comprise a ball-and-socket joint in order to avoid stresses during lifting and lowering and to enable the support frame 15 to incline and thus allow inclined lowering.