Micro-organism production system and method

A micro-organism production apparatus, comprising:

• a tubular, coiled growth structure made of a substantially rigid material capable of maintaining therein micro-organisms in solution, said tubular structure having a first end and a second end and said tubular growth structure being capable of permitting radiation to pass there through;
• a radiation transmitting component adjacent at least said first end of said tubular growth structure capable of directing incoming radiation onto said tubular growth structure;
• and
• A reflecting structure circumscribing said tubular, growth structure, and located adjacent said second end of said tubular growth structure capable of redirecting radiation towards said tubular growth structure;
• Wherein upon the receipt of a predetermined amount of live organisms, liquid, and nutrients within said tubular growth structure and the application of radiation through said radiation transmitting component, the apparatus produces the rapid growth of micro-organisms within said tubular growth structure.

A micro-organism production apparatus, comprising:

• a substantially rigid, support member having a first end and a second end, said support member being made of a material that permits radiation to pass there through;
• a reflecting structure circumscribing said support member and located adjacent said second end of said support member, and a growth cavity formed between said support member and said reflecting structure circumscribing said support member capable of maintaining within said growth cavity micro-organisms in solution;
• a radiation transmitting component adjacent at least said first end of said support member capable of directing incoming radiation onto said growth cavity;
• and
• Wherein upon the receipt of a predetermined amount of live organisms, liquid, and nutrients within said growth cavity and the application of radiation through said radiation transmitting component, the apparatus produces the rapid growth of micro-organisms within said growth cavity.

A micro-organism production system, comprising:

• A substantially rigid support member having a first end and a second end, said member being of a predetermined height and made of a material that permits radiation to pass there through;
• Micro-organism growth means operably associated with said support member for maintaining therein micro-organisms in solution;
• A radiation transmitting component adjacent at least said first end of said support member capable of directing incoming radiation onto said micro-organism growth means;
• A reflecting structure circumscribing said micro-organism growth means and located adjacent said second end of said support member capable of redirecting radiation towards said micro-organism growth means;
• Means for providing carbon dioxide to a first end of said micro-organism growth means;
• a two way valve and a pump interposed between said means for providing carbon dioxide and said first end of said micro-organism growth means;
• Means for providing live organisms and liquid and nutrients to a second end of said micro-organism growth means;
• and
• another two way valve and another pump interposed between said means for providing live organisms and said means for providing liquid and nutrients and said second end of said micro-organism growth means;
• Wherein upon the receipt of a predetermined amount of the live organisms, liquid, and nutrients within said micro-organism growth means and the application of radiation through said radiation transmitting component, the system produces the rapid growth of micro-organisms within said growth means.

A method of producing micro-organisms, comprising the steps of:

• Providing live organisms, water and nutrients into at least one transparent micro-organism growth unit;
• Providing a source of radiation and directing said source of radiation to the at least one growth unit, the at least one growth unit being substantially rigid and substantially vertically upright and being of substantial length;
• Filtering the radiation such that only a preselected wavelength of the radiation reaches the at least one micro-organism growth unit;
• Providing CO2 to the growth unit;
• Permitting growth of micro-organisms within the at least one growth unit until the growth unit becomes substantially opaque or until a predetermined time interval has occurred;
• Stopping the provision of CO2 to the at least one growth unit;
• Harvesting the micro-organisms from the at least one growth unit;
• Removing any excess liquid from the harvested micro-organisms;
• and
• Recycling the excess liquid back into the system for future use.