US 4,473,970 AGranted

Method for growing a biomass in a closed tubular system

OwnerChristopher B. Hillsinventor

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Abstract

The present invention is an improved method of growing a biomass in an aquaculture medium comprising enclosing the aquaculture medium containing seed amounts of a biomass in an enclosure in which the medium containing the biomass fills one-half of the enclosure and a CO.sub.2 and air gaseous layer is above the medium and fills the other one half, growing the biomass in the medium within the enclosure in a predetermined growing cycle enhancing growth of the biomass in the medium by exposing it to continuous agitation by agitation means heat, by heating means, and illumination by a light source capable of causing photosynthesis in the biomass, and whereby CO.sub.2 consumed from the medium and gaseous layer during photosynthesis in the biomass is continuously replenished by a CO.sub.2 enrichment means and oxygen produced to the medium and gaseous layer during photosynthesis is extracted by extraction means.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An improved method of growing a biomass in an aquaculture medium comprising the steps of:

(1) seeding an aquaculture medium with a desired biomass;
(2) placing the seeded medium in a sealed enclosure to partially fill the enclosure;
(3) simultaneously bubbling carbon dioxide into the seeded medium while placing it into the enclosure;
(4) filling the remainder of the enclosure with air and carbon dioxide to form a gaseous layer over the seeded medium;
(5) continuously agitating the medium containing the biomass while in the enclosure;
(6) providing a light source for the biomass for causing photosynthesis in the biomass;
(7) removing a portion of the medium from the enclosure;
(8) placing an electrical charge on the removed portion of the medium;
(9) spraying the charged medium in an electrostatic chamber with a dielectric disposed on the walls and said chamber having carbon dioxide and oxygen atmosphere;
(10) polarizing the carbon dioxide and oxygen molecules oppositely;
(11) attracting and combining carbon dioxide molecules to spray droplets of the charged medium and forming carbon dioxide enriched medium;
(12) replacing the carbon dioxide enriched medium to the enclosure;
(13) repelling the oxygen molecules by the spray droplets of the charged medium;
(14) extracting the oxygen molecules and uncombined carbon dioxide molecules from the chamber;
(15) continuing steps 5 through 14, inclusive, until the growing cycle of the biomass is completed;
and
(16) removing the grown biomass from the enclosure for harvesting.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.