Controlled growth environments for algae cultivation
AssigneeGenifuel Corporation
InventorJames R. Oyler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for cultivating algae can include providing a body of water in a substantially enclosed system. The enclosed system can have a length of channel and a cover. The method can optionally include circulating the body of water through the enclosed system under positive pressure conditions. The positive pressure should prevent ingress of any external atmosphere or material. Further, the method can include cultivating the algae in the body of water at conditions which promote growth. Likewise, a system for cultivating algae can include a channel with a cover, water in the channel, and a pump to introduce positive pressure into the system.
Claims22
A system for cultivating algae, comprising:
- a channel with a cover system that substantially closes the channel to an outside environment and forms a protected growth volume, the cover system being designed to selectively adjust amounts of light allowed to enter the protected growth volume;
- a body of water including one or more algae contained in the channel;
- and
- a gas pump configured to introduce a positive pressure into the protected growth volume.
A multi-stage method of cultivating algae, comprising
- providing a body of water in a substantially enclosed system including a length of channel, a first cover, and a second cover, wherein at least one of the first cover and second cover contributes to the substantially enclosed system and the first cover has a greater translucence than the second cover;
- and
- cultivating said algae within the body of water under conditions sufficient to promote growth of algae, wherein the growth includes a light growth stage and a dark growth stage, said dark growth stage being a function of the second cover being oriented over the body of water.
A system for cultivating algae, comprising:
- a plurality of individual channels being lined at least partially to prevent migration of materials between the individual channels and surrounding earth, and including a reflecting layer on a portion of an inner wall of the individual channels, said reflecting layer being oriented to redirect light through a central portion of the individual channels, and said channels having slanting inner walls approaching each other near a bottom of the channel to form a longitudinal depression along the length of the channels;
- a first cover that substantially closes the channels to an outside environment and forms a protected growth volume, said first cover being substantially translucent and being formed of a thin layer of plastic having a plurality of perforations;
- a second cover configured to at least partially cover the first cover, said second cover being substantially opaque and being formed of a thin layer of plastic having a plurality of perforations;
- two pocket channels flanking opposing edges of either each of the individual channels or the plurality of individual channels, said pocket channels configured to retain the first cover held in place by a complimentary retainer, said complimentary retainer being of sufficient size and weight to at least partially fit in the two pocket channels to produce at least a partial seal between the first cover and the individual channels;
- a body of water including preselected strains of algae contained in the individual channels;
- a gas pump operatively connected to the protected growth volume and configured to introduce a positive pressure into the protected growth volume;
- and
- a gas distributor operatively connected to the gas pump and oriented to release gas along a bottom region of the individual channels sufficient to provide vertical mixing of the body of water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.