APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING BIOFUEL FROM ALGAE BY APPLICATION OF SHAPED PULSED PRESSURE WAVES

摘要

Biofuels may be produced from algae, and algae may be dewatered, by exposing the algae to shaped pulsed pressure waves. The shaped pulsed pressure waves are produced within the liquid medium containing the algae, and are designed to effectively disrupt the physical structure of the algae in the liquid medium to facilitate the release of biofuel, water, or both. Biofuel is obtained by separating the biofuel from the disrupted algae and liquid medium in any desired manner. Accordingly, the production of biofuel from algae may be performed efficiently, without pre-drying the algae. Dewatered algae is obtained by separating the disrupted algae from the liquid medium in any desired manner. Suitable pressure wave sources include electrohydraulic generators, electromagnetic generators, and piezoelectric generators. A drive pulse supply such as a Marx bank generator may be used to drive these sources to obtain the shaped pulsed pressure waves.