Algae cultivation systems and methods with reduced energy loss
AssigneeGlobal Algae Technologies, LLC
InventorDavid A. Hazlebeck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An open raceway algae cultivation system includes a channel configured to contain an algae cultivation fluid. The channel includes a contraction zone having a width and a depth and an expansion zone having a width and a depth. A pump is configured to circulate the algae cultivation fluid in the channel and includes an entrance and an exit. A width of the contraction zone decreases leading into the entrance of the pump, and a depth of the contraction zone is greater than a depth of at least a portion of the channel located outside of the contraction zone. A bottom of the channel at a beginning of the contraction zone is lower than a bottom of the channel at an outlet of the expansion zone, and the contraction zone increases in depth along at least a portion of its length.
Claims18
An open raceway algae cultivation system comprising:
- a channel configured to contain an algae cultivation fluid, the channel including a contraction zone having a width and a depth and an expansion zone having a width and a depth;
- and
- a pump configured to circulate the algae cultivation fluid in the channel, the pump including an entrance and an exit;
- and
- wherein (i) the width of the contraction zone decreases leading into the entrance of the pump, and (ii) the depth of the contraction zone is greater than a depth of at least a portion of the channel located outside of the contraction zone,
- wherein a bottom of the channel at a beginning of the contraction zone is lower than a bottom of the channel at an outlet of the expansion zone, and
- wherein the contraction zone increases in depth along at least a portion of its length.
An open raceway algae cultivation system comprising:
- a channel configured to contain an algae cultivation fluid, the channel including an expansion zone having a width and a depth and a contraction zone having a width and depth;
- and
- a pump configured to circulate the algae cultivation fluid in the channel, the pump including an entrance and an exit,
- wherein (i) the width of the expansion zone increases going away from the exit of the pump, and (ii) the depth of the expansion zone is greater than a depth of at least a portion of the channel located outside of the expansion zone,
- wherein a bottom of the channel at a beginning of the contraction zone is lower than a bottom of the channel at an outlet of the expansion zone, and
- wherein the contraction zone increases in depth along at least a portion of its length.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.