project:algae-coil:design
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Description

  1. A photobioreactor consisting of a vertical coil of transparent (or semi-transparent) tubing (1) mounted on a frame (2), joined at top and bottom via a central tube or tank (3), having an opening at the top of the tube above the coil (4) for adding water & nutrients to the solution in the tubing and a tap at the base of the central tube (5) to allow the solution to be drained.
  2. A photobioreactor as in 1 having a gas inlet (with a stop valve) (6) connected to the base of the coil above the tap, and arranged so that gas flows up through the solution in the coil of tubing, with the opening at the top of the tube acting as a gas outlet (4).
  3. The photobioreactor as in 1 - 2 may have the central tube that joins the top and bottom of the coil replaced with a tank or second vertical coil, through which the solution flows downward to the base of the photobioreactor.
  4. A photobioreactor as in 1 - 3 having a method of temperature control, whereby a temperature controlling system (7) is attached to the pipe connected to the gas inlet.
  5. The coil in the photobioreactor as in 1 - 4 may be made into a shape other than a cylinder, such as a cone, oval cylinder, cuboid, tetrahedron, pyramid or a flat horizontal coil shape.

Diagrams

AlgaeCoil1s.jpg AlgaeCoil2s.jpg AlgaeCoil3s.jpg

Or view the PDF file: Algae Coil

Figure 1a. shows a side view of the photobioreactor in the vertical coil shape, with a central tube. 1 is the vertical coil of transparent tubing. 2 is the frame that the coil is attached to. 3 is the central tube with 4 being the open end of the tube acting as a gas outlet. 5 is the tap at the base of the central tube. 6 is the gas inlet at the base of the coil angled up into the tubing so that gas bubbles up through the solution in the coil of tubing. 7 is the temperature control system attached to the gas inlet pipe.

Figure 1b. shows an intersection of the side view of the photobioreactor in the vertical coil shape, with a central tube. Note, the gas inlet going up into the tubing at the base of the coil at location 6.

Figure 1c. shows the top view of the photobioreactor in the vertical coil shape, with a central tube. Note the gas inlet going up into the tubing at the base of the coil at location 6. 2 is the square shape of the top of the frame.

Figure 2a. shows a side view of the photobioreactor in the vertical coil shape, with a tank in the centre.

Figure 2b. shows an intersection of the side view of the photobioreactor in the vertical coil shape, with a tank in the center. Note, the tubing has been extended into the tank just to highlight the connections to top and base of the coil of tubing.

Figure 2c. shows a top view of the photobioreactor in the vertical coil shape, with a tank in the center. Note the gas inlet going up into the tubing at the base of the coil at location 6. 2 is the square shape of the top of the frame.

Figure 3a. shows a side view of a variation on the photobioreactor in the cone, pyramid or triangle coil shape, with a tube in the center.

Figure 3b. shows a side view of a variation on the photobioreactor in the cone, pyramid or triangle coil shape, with a tank in the center.