Algae Pond Circulation
OwnerJames D. Osterlohinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems, apparatuses and methods for circulating and agitating algae ponds or reservoirs are described. Inflatable or floatable masses resident in the algae ponds are cyclically or rhythmically moved thereby causing propagating waves to advance along ponds. Waves encourage increased equilibrium of oxygen and carbon dioxide between ambient air and growth medium and thereby improved growth of algae and increased production of biomass. With relatively little energy input, large quantities of algae or biomass may be grown in relatively large ponds and on an economically viable commercial scale.
Claims38
A method for cultivating algae, the method comprising:
- at least partially filling a feed pond with an aqueous growth medium;
- adding algae to the aqueous growth medium;
- placing an agitator in the feed pond, wherein the agitator is;
- and
- intermittently generating a propagating wave in the feed pond by operating the agitator, wherein the propagating wave travels a substantial portion of a width of the feed pond.
An algae cultivator comprising:
- a compressor as a source of compressed gas;
- a damper in connection with the compressor;
- an inflatable actuator in connection with the compressor via the damper, wherein the damper controls a flow of compressed gas into or out of the inflatable actuator, and wherein the inflatable actuator is disposed in a reservoir for cultivating algae;
- and
- a controller capable of controlling the damper.
A system for cultivating algae, the system comprising:
- a recess at least partially filed with an aqueous growth medium that is capable of sustaining algae growth;
- a movable agitator placed in the aqueous growth medium in the recess, wherein the movable agitator is capable of intermittently causing a propagating wave in a direction in the aqueous growth medium;
- and
- an actuator, wherein the actuator is capable of causing the movable agitator to generate a propagating wave in the aqueous growth medium of the recess.
An algae cultivation and harvesting system comprising:
- a facility for growth media preparation, wherein the growth media is enriched with carbon dioxide;
- at least one feed pond, wherein a feed pond is prepared for algae cultivation by feeding the feed pond with growth media prepared at the facility for growth media preparation;
- a set of pulse agitated cultivation ponds, wherein each cultivation pond is formed from a feed pond, and wherein each cultivation pond includes an addition of algae to the feed pond, and wherein each cultivation pond includes an agitator, and wherein pulse agitation includes intermittently generating a propagating wave in the growth media by operating the agitators, wherein the propagating wave travels at least a substantial portion of each cultivation pond;
- and
- at least one harvest pond, wherein the at least one harvest pond is prepared from one of the set of pulse agitated cultivation ponds by draining the growth media from the one cultivation pond and drying the cultivated algae.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.