APPARATUS FOR THE AUTOMATIC, CONTINUOUS CLEANING OF THE PIPE OF THE SOLAR RECEPTOR OF A PHOTOBIOREACTOR

摘要

An apparatus for the automatic, continuous cleaning of the pipe of a solar receptor of a photobioreactor also having a carbonator associated with the solar receptor. The solar receptor and the carbonator both being traversed in series in a closed loop by a nutrient medium solution. A branch duct being provided between an outlet and an inlet of the solar receptor to permit a circulation of cleaning balls therebetween. The apparatus including a motorized valve on a vertical portion of the branch duct for bringing about the automatic passage of the balls with the exclusion of the solution, as well as a pivoting sleeve placed in the inlet of the solar receptor, downstream of the junction with the branch duct. The sleeve serving as a support for a controllable manual valve and permitting the introduction or removal of cleaning balls with respect to the pipe. The apparatus also including first and second rod systems each equipped with a regulatable penetrating rod able to stop or permit the passage of the cleaning balls while allowing the circulation of the solution. The first rod system being positioned at the junction of the intake pipe of the carbonator and the branch duct and the second rod system being positioned at the inlet of the solar receptor, immediately downstream of the manual valve.