Apparatus for the intensive, controlled production of microorganisms by photosynthesis

Intensive, controlled production apparatus, by photosynthesis, of microorganisms suspended in a liquid medium comprising:

• at least one photobioreactor (6) to be placed on an expanse of water (8) having a first group of light-transparent tubes (38), in which circulates the liquid medium, and a second group of tubes (62) placed beneath the first group, said second group being able to render the photobioreactor (6) submersible or non-submersible,
• means (66,67,68) for controlling the second group of tubes with a view to the immersion or non-immersion of the photobioreactor,
• at least one carbonator (12) connected to the intake (10) of the photobioreactor (6) for charging the liquid medium with the C.sub.2 necessary for photosynthesis, said carbonator (12) having two columns including an intake column (88) in which the liquid medium (1) is charged with CO.sub.2 and a discharge column (96), connected to the intake column into which is introduced the CO.sub.2 -charged liquid medium,
• at least one degassing means (36) connected to the photobioreactor (6) for eliminating from the liquid medium (1) in particular oxygen produced by the microorganisms,
• at least one expansion tank (2) connected to the photobioreactor (6) for reducing possible variations in the volume in the photobioreactor (6).

Apparatus for the intense, controlled production by photosynthesis of microorganisms suspended in a liquid medium comprising:

• at least one photobioreactor (6) to be placed on an expanse of water (8) having a first group of light-transparent tubes (38), in which circulates the liquid medium (1) and a second group of tubes (62) positioned beneath the first group, said second group being able to make the photobioreactor (6) submersible or non-submersible,
• means (67,66,68) for controlling the second group of tubes (62) with a view to the immersion or non-immersion of the photobioreactors,
• at least one carbonator (12) connected to the intake (10) of the photobioreactor for charging the liquid medium (1) with C.sub.2 necessary for photosynthesis,
• at least one degassing means (36) connected to the photobioreactor (6) for eliminating from the liquid medium (1) in particular oxygen produced by the microorganisms, said degassing means (36) having a sealed external enclosure (78) with a longitudinal axis (79), a U-shaped duct (82) for collecting oxygen, whereof a branch (84) of said U-shaped duct is located in said enclosure (78) parallel to said axis and whereof a base (86) of said U-shaped duct is located on the side of the enclosure base (80), an end (85) of said duct (82) collecting oxygen issuing into the upper part of the enclosure, whereby at least one supply pipe (61) and at least one discharge pipe (63) for the liquid medium (1) is connected to the lower part of the enclosure,
• at least one expansion tank (2) connected to the photobioreactor (6) for reducing possible variations of the volume in the photobioreactor (6).