TUBE-IN-TUBE BUBBLE COLUMN PHOTOBIOREACTOR

摘要

Systems and methods are provided for growing algae and/or other microorganisms in a controlled environment while reducing or minimizing the amount of energy required for maintaining desired conditions in the growth medium. The systems can be based on a photobioreactor having a “tube-in-tube structure”, where an outer cylindrical tube contains a heat regulation fluid that surrounds one or more inner cylinders that contain microorganisms in growth media. The heat regulation fluid in the outer cylinder, as well as the outer cylinder itself, can assist with regulating the temperature of the growth media in the inner cylinder(s).

主权项

1. A method for growing micro-organisms, comprising:
providing a first cylinder having a first volume containing a heat regulation fluid, a diameter of the first cylinder being about 15 cm to about 120 cm, the first cylinder having a surface comprising a coating, the coated surface having an average transmittance for wavelengths between about 400 nm and about 700 nm of at least about 0.6 and an average transmittance for wavelengths between about 950 nm and about 1100 nm of about 0.5 or less; providing a second cylinder having a second volume containing a growth media comprising micro-organisms, the second cylinder being contained within the first cylinder, a longest axis of the second cylinder being substantially parallel to a longest axis of the first cylinder, a diameter of the second cylinder being about 3 cm to about 25 cm, a ratio of a surface area of the first cylinder to a surface area of the second cylinder being at least about 4; exposing the cylinder to a light source comprising visible radiation and infrared radiation to grow the micro-organisms; and maintaining an average temperature of the growth media within the second cylinder of about 0° C. to about 60° C. during a characteristic time period.