System and method for processing biological material

摘要

The invention provides an algae cultivation system and a process for cultivating algae. The algae cultivation system includes a conduit system having a first portion exposed to illumination and a second portion occluded from illumination that is capable of containing and moving a first type of algae, and a heat exchanger in thermal contact with the second portion of the conduit system. The algae cultivation system also includes a vertical conduit connected to the first portion of the conduit system and extending vertically upward from the first portion of the conduit system, a gas collection chamber communicating with an upper end region of the vertical conduit, and an algae processing unit that is capable of processing algae from the first portion of the conduit system, and that directs the extracted sugar, water and nutrients into the second portion of the conduit system to interact with the second type of algae therein.

主权项

1. An algae cultivation system, comprising:
a conduit system for cultivating a first type of algae, having a portion exposed to illumination and a second portion occluded from illumination; a flow mechanism for causing movement of a first type of algae, in an aqueous medium through said conduit system; a heat exchanger for cultivating a second type of algae, in thermal contact with said second portion of said conduit system, said second portion passing the first type of algae, in the aqueous medium; a source of algae nutrients; a first flow regulating system that regulates flow of algae nutrients from said source of algae nutrients into said first portion of said conduit system; a source of carbon dioxide; a second flow regulating system that regulates carbon dioxide flow from said source of carbon dioxide into said first portion of said conduit system; a vertical conduit connected to said first portion of said conduit system and extending vertically upward from said first portion of said conduit system to introduce hydrostatic pressure to said first portion of said conduit system; a collection chamber communicating with an upper end region a said vertical conduit, said second flow regulating system being controlled based on characteristics of gas in said collection chamber; and an algae processing unit which processes algae from said first portion of said conduit system, wherein the algae is collected via the vertical conduit and the collection chamber, to extract sugar, water and algae nutrients and directing the extracted sugar, water and algae nutrients into said heat exchanger to interact with the second type of algae therein; wherein the first portion of said conduit system is partially or entirely transparent to the illumination.