Floating photobioreactors for algae biofuel production and devices and methods related thereto
AssigneeExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
InventorsMark A. Diemund, Patrick L. Hanks, Sarah E. Feicht
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatuses including offshore porous floating bioreactors for containing algae water slurries in a saltwater environment. The porous floating bioreactors include a top portion and a bottom portion. At least a portion of the top portion is composed of a first transparent material and at least a portion of the bottom portion is porous. The offshore porous floating bioreactors may be deployed in a saltwater environment to facilitate one or both of cultivation or lipid induction of an algae water slurry contained therein.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- an offshore porous floating bioreactor for containing an algae water slurry in a saltwater environment comprising a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion and the bottom portion comprising an entirety of the bioreactor, the top portion comprising less than half of the bioreactor, wherein the top portion is composed of a first transparent material, and wherein the bottom portion is porous, comprising a plurality of pores, the plurality of pores of the bottom portion having a pore size of about 0.1 micrometer to about 400 micrometers.
A method comprising:
- deploying at least one offshore porous floating bioreactor in a saltwater environment, wherein the at least one offshore porous floating bioreactor comprises a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion and the bottom portion comprising an entirety of the bioreactor, the top portion comprising less than half of the bioreactor, wherein the top portion is composed of a transparent material, and wherein the bottom portion is porous, comprising a plurality of pores, the plurality of pores of the bottom portion having a pore size of about 0.1 micrometer to about 400 micrometers;
- and
- performing at least one of cultivation or lipid induction of an algae water slurry contained in the at least one offshore porous floating bioreactor.
An apparatus comprising:
- an offshore porous floating bioreactor for containing an algae water slurry in a saltwater environment comprising a vessel having a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion and the bottom portion comprising an entirety of the vessel, wherein the top portion and the bottom portion are composed of a transparent, porous material comprising a plurality of pores, the plurality of pores having a pore size of about 0.1 micrometer to about 400 micrometers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.