Photosynthetic bioreactor for the conversion of electricity and fertilizer into biomass
AssigneeForeLight, Inc.
InventorsAdam Flynn, Julie Moffitt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A photobioreactor for cultivation and/or propagation of a photosynthetic organism and associated systems/methods are disclosed herewith. The photobioreactor includes (1) a substantially spherical vessel having a wall defining an interior vessel volume; (2) a water-submersible system for converting electrical energy into electromagnetic radiation; (3) a temperature management system for circulating heat dispersal fluid into and out of the water-submersible system; and (4) a photobioreactor control system comprising a processor and a controller.
Claims36
A photobioreactor for cultivation and/or propagation of a photosynthetic organism comprising:
- a. a substantially spherical vessel having a wall defining an interior vessel volume;
- b. a water-submersible system for converting electrical energy into electromagnetic radiation;
- c. a temperature management system for circulating heat dispersal fluid into and out of the water-submersible system;
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- d. a photobioreactor control system comprising a processor and a controller.
The photobioreactor of claim Error! Reference source not found., further comprising one or more sensors in operable communication with the photobioreactor control system.
The photobioreactor of claim 0, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a temperature sensor, a gas sensor, an acid or a pH sensor, a protein differentiation detector, a spectrophotometer, or a cytometer.
The photobioreactor of claim 0, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors are integrated into a reactor housing or structure of the photobioreactor.
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The photobioreactor of claim Error! Reference source not found., wherein the photobioreactor control system is configured to manage the water-submersible system.
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The photobioreactor of claim Error! Reference source not found., further comprising one or more power supplies.
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The photobioreactor of claim Error! Reference source not found., further comprising a circulation system for manipulating, extracting or circulating fluid, waste or nutrients into and out of the substantially spherical vessel, wherein the circulation system is in operable communication with the photobioreactor control system.
The photobioreactor of claim Error! Reference source not found., further comprising a ventilation system for the addition or dispersion of gases into the substantially spherical vessel, wherein the ventilation system comprises one or more gas diffusion devices.
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The photobioreactor of claim Error! Reference source not found., wherein the wall defining the interior vessel volume comprises a dual-layered wall having an interior layer and an exterior layer.
24-26. (canceled)
The photobioreactor of claim Error! Reference source not found., wherein the water-submersible system comprises a spherical or substantially spherical inner vessel having an inner wall defining an inner space.
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The photobioreactor of claim 0, comprising materials or meta-materials with properties that enable the manipulation and/or influence the behavior of electromagnetic radiation.
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The photobioreactor of claim 0, comprising one or more surfaces with hydrophobic, superhydrophobic, hydrophilic or oleophobic properties.
33-38. (canceled)
The photobioreactor of claim 0, wherein converting electrical energy to electromagnetic radiation comprises one or more sources of illumination.
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The photobioreactor of claim 0, wherein the temperature management system in operable communication with the photobioreactor control system.
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The photobioreactor of claim 0, further comprising one or more cleaning units.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.