Systems and methods for processing algae cultivation fluid
AssigneeAurora Algae, Inc.
InventorsMehran Parsheh, Megan Hippler, Shahrokh A Naieni, Guido Radaelli
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for reducing an amount of unwanted living organisms within an algae cultivation fluid are provided herein. According to some embodiments, methods may include subjecting the algae cultivation fluid to an amount of cavitation, the amount of cavitation being defined by a pressure differential between a downstream pressure and a vapor pressure, the pressure differential divided by half of a product of a fluid density multiplied by a square of a velocity of an apparatus throat.
Claims16
A method for reducing an amount of unwanted living organisms within an algae cultivation fluid, the algae cultivation fluid including wanted living algae of genus Nannochloropsis, the method comprising:
- subjecting the algae cultivation fluid, the algae cultivation fluid including the wanted living algae of genus Nannochloropsis and the amount of unwanted living organisms, to an amount of cavitation, the amount of cavitation being defined by a pressure differential between a downstream pressure and a vapor pressure, the pressure differential between the downstream pressure and the vapor pressure divided by half of a product of a fluid density multiplied by a square of a velocity of an apparatus throat, the amount of cavitation falling within a range of 0.05 to 1 and the amount of cavitation reducing the amount of the unwanted living organisms within the algae cultivation fluid without significantly reducing the wanted living algae of genus Nannochloropsis.
An improved method for producing a biofuel from algae cultivation fluid, the algae cultivation fluid including algae of genus Nannochloropsis, the method comprising:
- reducing an amount of unwanted living organisms within the algae cultivation fluid, the algae cultivation fluid including algae of genus Nannochloropsis, by passing the algae cultivation fluid through at least one apparatus throat to induce an amount of cavitation within the algae cultivation fluid to reduce the unwanted living organisms within the algae cultivation fluid;
- wherein reducing the amount of unwanted living organisms within an algae cultivation fluid causes algae cells within the algae cultivation fluid to mature at an accelerated rate relative to algae cells within algae cultivation fluid having a higher concentration of unwanted living organisms;
- separating algae cells from the algae cultivation fluid;
- and
- processing the algae cells in such a way that a biofuel is produced.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.