System for harvesting algae in continuous fermentation

A method for harvesting algae in continuous fermentation, said method comprising the steps of:

• moving a main moving belt through a reactor tank, containing algae, by rollers, the belt having a submerged portion in said reactor tank so as to collect algae on the belt;
• transporting algae on the belt in said reactor tank to a vacuum extractor to remove algae from the belt;
• stabilizing the belt during exposure to said vacuum extractor;
• collecting algae from said vacuum extractor as biomass for oil harvesting;
• returning the belt to said reactor tank;
• and
• repeating movement of the belt for continuous harvest of algae.

A system for harvesting algae in continuous fermentation, said system comprising:

• a harvesting means being comprised of a main moving belt, a plurality of rollers, and a motor means for driving said main moving belt;
• a reactor tank, said main moving belt having one end within an interior of said reactor tank and having at least one roller placed along a predetermined length of said reactor tank;
• a vacuum extraction means for applying a vacuum over a width of said main moving belt to extract biomass and to dry said main moving belt, said main moving belt having another end extended into said vacuum extraction means;
• a stabilizing means being comprised of at least two belts, said main moving belt being placed between said at least two belts in said vacuum extraction means;
• a collection means for holding extracted biomass;
• an oil extraction means for said collected biomass, said oil extraction means being comprised of
• a gasifier means for converting a hydrocarbon composition into a syngas of a temperature range between 300° F. and 1500° F., said syngas being comprised of carbon monoxide, hydrogen and impurities;
• a pre-heating means for heating said collected biomass, the biomass being comprised of a liquid portion, a catalyst, and a biomass solids portion ranging between 15-92% by weight of the biomass, the biomass solids portion being algal solids, the biomass being pre-heated to a temperature range between 200° F. and 500° F.;
• a means for injecting said syngas and the pre-heated biomass as a mixture into a reactor;
• a means for separating the mixture into a gas component, liquid component, and solids component, said solids component being algal crude, said gas component being a lower temperature syngas, the separating means comprising:
• a reactor housing said syngas and the pre-heated biomass at a temperature greater than 600° F., said syngas being dissolved into said liquid portion of the biomass in said reactor and defused into cellular structure of the biomass for a predetermined amount of time;
• and
• a flash chamber, changing the defused biomass stream mixture from liquid to vapor within said biomass cellular structure;
• collecting means for the lower temperature syngas;
• a means for cycling said solids component to the pre-heating means, the solids component being cooled in order to pre-heat said biomass stream;
• and
• a means for collecting the cooled solids component.