System for growing algae in serpentine canals

摘要

A system for growing alga comprises a plurality of canals 10 wherein the canals have an increasing width. The increase may either be stepwise or continuous. The flow of the algae and seawater from input to output is at least 0.2ms-1 and inoculum is continuously injected at the inlet of the system and wherein the biomass concentration is periodically returned to its starting value along its path by dilution, the flow in each canal is continuous. Each channel may be folded to create a serpentine-type canal. The inoculum is reinjected to the beginning of the system 42 by a feedback loop. The system provides a simple and energy efficient system for the mass production of photosynthetic microalgae for the production of biodiesel.