A mathematical model for carbon fixation and nutrient removal by an algal photobioreactor

Tubular photobioreactor design for algal cultures.

Principles of fluid mechanics, gas-liquid mass transfer, and irradiance controlled algal growth are integrated into a method for designing tubular photobioreactors in which the culture is circulated by an airlift pump. A 0.2 m(3) photobioreactor designed using the proposed approach was proved in continuous outdoor culture of the microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum. The culture performance was a...

Design and operation of an algal photobioreactor system.

A photobioreactor system has been designed, constructed, and implemented to achieve efficient oxygen production for a closed ecological life support system (CELSS). The special features of this system are the optical transmission system, uniform light distribution, continuous cycling of cells, gravity-independent gas exchange, and an ultrafiltration unit. The fiber optic based optical transmi...

Effects of Nutrient Availability on the Biomass Production and CO2 Fixation in a Flat Plate Photobioreactor

A thermophilic cyanobacterium named Thermosynechococcus CL–1 (TCL–1) was cultivated in the flat plate photobioreactors under strong illumination with dense culture to examine the effects of nutrient concentrations on the biomass production, CO2 fixation, and the potential as the feedstock for bioethanol production. The results show that concentrations of Na, NO3, and CaCl2•2H2O, should be decre...

Mathematical Modeling for Volatile Organic Compounds Removal in a Biofilter: Model Validation and Sensitivity Analysis

Energy-efficient photobioreactor configuration for algal biomass production.

An internally illuminated photobioreactor (IIPBR) design is proposed for energy-efficient biomass production. Theoretical rationale of the IIPBR design and its advantages over the traditional bubble column photobioreactors (PBRs) are presented, followed by experimental results from prototype scale cultivation of freshwater and marine algal strains in an 18L IIPBR. Based on theoretical considera...