Photobioreactor systems and methods

Abstract

An algal growth method includes the steps of providing an algal growth system, the algal growth system including a frame, a first flexible sheet material mounted on a first frame in a first mounted geometry, the first flexible sheet material having a substantially vertical orientation when mounted on the first frame, a second flexible sheet material mounted on a second frame in a second mounted geometry, where the second flexible sheet material has a substantially vertical orientation, a first drive shaft, a second drive shaft, an actuator system, wherein the actuator system is coupled with the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft, a motor, a harvesting mechanism, and a reservoir, and operating the algal growth system, and harvesting algae from the algal growth system.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An algal growth method comprising the steps of:
 providing an algal growth system, the algal growth system including;
 a. a frame; 
 b. a first flexible sheet material mounted on a first frame in a first mounted geometry, the first flexible sheet material having a substantially vertical orientation when mounted on the first frame such that a height of the first mounted geometry is greater than a width of the first mounted geometry; 
 c. a second flexible sheet material mounted on a second frame in a second mounted geometry, the first flexible sheet material and the second flexible sheet material being noncontiguous, where the second flexible sheet material has a substantially vertical orientation when mounted on the second frame such that a height of the second mounted geometry is greater than a width of the second mounted geometry; 
 d. a first drive shaft, the first drive shaft being coupled with the first frame, wherein the first drive shaft supports and actuates the first flexible sheet material, and a second drive shaft, the second drive shaft being coupled with the second frame, wherein the second drive shaft is supports and actuates the second flexible sheet material; 
 e. a gear system, wherein the gear system is coupled with the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft such that the first flexible sheet material and the second flexible sheet material are concurrently actuated; 
 f. a first roller coupled with the first frame to guide the first flexible sheet material, and a second roller coupled with the second frame to guide the second flexible sheet material; 
 g. a drive motor, the drive motor being coupled with the gear system, wherein the drive motor actuates the gear system and the first drive shaft such that the first flexible sheet material is actuated and the second drive shaft such that the second flexible sheet material is actuated concurrently; 
 h. a liquid phase and a gaseous phase, wherein the liquid phase comprises rotating the first flexible sheet material and the second flexible sheet material through a contacting liquid retained within a fluid reservoir and the gaseous phase comprises rotating the first flexible sheet material and the second flexible sheet material through a sunlight capture part wherein a majority of the first flexible sheet material and the second flexible sheet material is positioned within the gaseous phase and a minority of the first flexible sheet material and the second flexible sheet material is positioned within the liquid phase; 
 i. a harvesting mechanism, wherein the harvesting mechanism is positioned entirely within a sunlight capture part associated with the gaseous phase; and 
 j. a raceway, at least a portion of the raceway being positioned beneath the frame, wherein the raceway at least partially defines the fluid reservoir; 
   operating the algal growth system; and   harvesting algae from the algal growth system.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the harvesting mechanism is an automatic harvesting mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible sheet material and the second flexible sheet material are selected from the group consisting of cheesecloth, fiberglass, porous PTFE coated fiberglass, chamois, vermiculite, microfiber, synthetic chamois, burlap, cotton duck, velvet, poly-lactic acid, abraised poly-lactic acid, vinyl laminated nylon, polyester, wool, acrylic, lanolin, woolen, cashmere, leather, silk, lyocell, hemp fabric, polyurethane, olefin fibre, polylactide, and carbon fiber. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the harvesting mechanism is operably configured to harvest algae selected from the group consisting of  Nannochloropsis, Scenedesmus, Haematococcus, Botryococcus, Spirulina, Dunaliella, Arthrospira, Porphyridium, Phaeodactylum, Nitzschia, Crypthecodinium  and  Schizochytrium.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the drive motor is associated with a programmable controller that is operably configured to rotate the first flexible sheet material and the second flexible sheet material on a predetermined schedule. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible sheet material and the second flexible sheet material comprise a surface roughness, a hydrophobicity, and a positive surface charge. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible sheet material and the second flexible sheet material comprise a plurality of materials. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid reservoir includes an amount of contacting liquid. 
     
     
         9 . An algal growth method comprising the steps of:
 providing an algal growth system, the algal growth system including;
 a. a frame; 
 b. a first flexible sheet material mounted on a first frame in a first mounted geometry, the first flexible sheet material having a substantially vertical orientation when mounted on the first frame such that a height of the first mounted geometry is greater than a width of the first mounted geometry; 
 c. a second flexible sheet material mounted on a second frame in a second mounted geometry, the first flexible sheet material and the second flexible sheet material being noncontiguous, where the second flexible sheet material has a substantially vertical orientation when mounted on the second frame such that a height of the second mounted geometry is greater than a width of the second mounted geometry; 
 d. a first drive shaft, the first drive shaft being coupled with the first frame, wherein the first drive shaft actuates the first flexible sheet material, and a second drive shaft, the second drive shaft being coupled with the second frame, wherein the second drive shaft actuates the second flexible sheet material; 
 e. an actuator system, wherein the actuator system is coupled with the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft such that the first flexible sheet material and the second flexible sheet material are concurrently actuated; 
 f. a motor, motor being coupled with the actuator system, wherein the motor actuates the actuator system and the first drive shaft such that the first flexible sheet material is actuated and the second drive shaft such that the second flexible sheet material is actuated concurrently; and 
 g. a harvesting mechanism; and 
 h. a reservoir, at least a portion of the reservoir being positioned beneath the frame; 
   operating the algal growth system; and   harvesting algae from the algal growth system.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first flexible sheet material and the second flexible sheet material are selected from the group consisting of cheesecloth, fiberglass, porous PTFE coated fiberglass, chamois, vermiculite, microfiber, synthetic chamois, burlap, cotton duck, velvet, poly-lactic acid, abraised poly-lactic acid, vinyl laminated nylon, polyester, wool, acrylic, lanolin, woolen, cashmere, leather, silk, lyocell, hemp fabric, polyurethane, olefin fibre, polylactide, and carbon fiber. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising a harvesting mechanism operably configured to harvest algae selected from the group consisting of  Nannochloropsis, Scenedesmus, Haematococcus, Botryococcus, Spirulina, Dunaliella, Arthrospira, Porphyridium, Phaeodactylum, Nitzschia, Crypthecodinium  and  Schizochytrium.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the motor is associated with a programmable controller that is configured to rotate the first flexible sheet material and the second flexible sheet material on a predetermined schedule. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first flexible sheet material and the second flexible sheet material comprise a surface roughness, a hydrophobicity, and a positive surface charge. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first flexible sheet material and the second flexible sheet material comprise a plurality of materials. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the reservoir includes an amount of contacting liquid. 
     
     
         16 . An algal growth method comprising the steps of:
 providing an algal growth system, the algal growth system including;
 a. a first flexible sheet material mounted on a first frame in a first mounted geometry, the first flexible sheet material having a substantially vertical orientation when mounted on the first frame such that a height of the first mounted geometry is greater than a width of the first mounted geometry; 
 b. a second flexible sheet material mounted on a second frame in a second mounted geometry, the first flexible sheet material and the second flexible sheet material being noncontiguous, where the second flexible sheet material has a substantially vertical orientation when mounted on the second frame such that a height of the second mounted geometry is greater than a width of the second mounted geometry; 
 c. a drive motor, the drive motor being coupled with a gear system, wherein the drive motor actuates the gear system such that the first flexible sheet material is actuated and the second flexible sheet material are actuated concurrently; 
 d. a raceway, at least a portion of the raceway being positioned beneath the first flexible sheet material and the second flexible sheet material; 
   operating the algal growth system; and   harvesting algae from the algal growth system.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising a harvesting mechanism. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first flexible sheet material and the second flexible sheet material are selected from the group consisting of cheesecloth, fiberglass, porous PTFE coated fiberglass, chamois, vermiculite, microfiber, synthetic chamois, burlap, cotton duck, velvet, poly-lactic acid, abraised poly-lactic acid, vinyl laminated nylon, polyester, wool, acrylic, lanolin, woolen, cashmere, leather, silk, lyocell, hemp fabric, polyurethane, olefin fibre, polylactide, and carbon fiber. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the drive motor is associated with a programmable controller. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the reservoir includes an amount of contacting liquid.