Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
  • A01G33/00—Cultivation of seaweed or algae
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
  • C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
  • C12M21/00—Bioreactors or fermenters specially adapted for specific uses
  • C12M21/02—Photobioreactors
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
  • C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
  • C12M23/00—Constructional details, e.g. recesses, hinges
  • C12M23/02—Form or structure of the vessel
  • C12M23/06—Tubular
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
  • C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
  • C12M23/00—Constructional details, e.g. recesses, hinges
  • C12M23/02—Form or structure of the vessel
  • C12M23/14—Bags
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
  • C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
  • C12M23/00—Constructional details, e.g. recesses, hinges
  • C12M23/48—Holding appliances; Racks; Supports
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
  • C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
  • C12M23/00—Constructional details, e.g. recesses, hinges
  • C12M23/56—Floating elements
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
  • C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
  • C12M41/00—Means for regulation, monitoring, measurement or control, e.g. flow regulation
  • C12M41/30—Means for regulation, monitoring, measurement or control, e.g. flow regulation of concentration
  • C12M41/34—Means for regulation, monitoring, measurement or control, e.g. flow regulation of concentration of gas
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02A40/00—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production
  • Y02A40/80—Adaptation technologies in agriculture, forestry, livestock or agroalimentary production in fisheries management

Definitions

• This invention relates to a method for algae production. More particularly, it concerns a method, in which gases are circulated through a container filled at least partly with liquid, the container being designed to exhibit growth- promoting features, for example by being transparent.
• the method is equally suitable for the production of so-called micro-algae both on land and in the sea.
• the invention also includes a device for practising the method.
• micro-algae for feeds is constantly increasing in aquaculture, as health food for human beings and as a feed supplement for animals.
• aquaculture micro-algae are used directly or indirectly as feed for fish and shells.
• cod fry micro-algae for a period, in which the cod fry is particularly sensitive to environmental conditions.
• Shell production also appears to be a trade, which will have a need for feed of this kind.
• poultry production micro-algae are already used as a feed supplement.
• micro-algae are used for a number of purposes in research and industrial activities. According to the prior art micro-algae are produced in transparent pipes and containers, which are placed in buildings resembling greenhouses.
• US patent 5534417 thus discloses a method for producing micro-algae, in which the micro-algae are placed in pockets made of plastic material, and in which gas is bubbled into the pockets .
• Carbon dioxide, C0 2 is an important ingredient in the nutrient supply of micro-algae, and C0 2 is, therefore, mixed into air before being bubbled into the pockets. However, only a minor part of the C0 2 bubbled in is picked up by the algae in the pocket. The excess C0 2 flows out into the atmosphere. This, according to the prior art, common practice involves a cost-driving and unnecessary waste of C0 2 .
• the invention has as its object to remedy the drawbacks of the prior art.
• a gas mixture comprising oxygen, 0 2 and carbon dioxide, C0 2 .
• the C0 2 that is not absorbed by algae in the growth containers is extracted into a gas-conditioning apparatus, which is arranged, among other things, to adjust the portion of C0 2 in the circulating gas before the gas is directed into the growth containers again.
• the circulating gas mixture is also adjusted with respect to 0 2 in order to ensure that the 0 2 -level does not exceed values critical to the micro-algae.
• the containers are made of a double plastic sheet, in which the two sheet layers are welded together along their peripheral edges and along parallel lines, so that the sheet layers form a sheet bag.
• the welding together along the parallel lines is terminated, at the end portions of the lines, at a distance from the edge weld of the sheet.
• the spaces between the parallel welding lines thus communicate with each other at their end portions .
• a pipe for the supply and drainage of liquid is connected to the sheet bag.
• Said sheet bag may with advantage be provided with further sheet layers, in which, for example, a fluid may be circulated for temperature adjustment of the liquid in the growth containers, or the light spectrum for the algae may be adjusted by means of a fluid present between adjacent sheet layers .
• the welded-together sheet bag is placed to float horizontally in the water surface.
• a perforated supply channel for gas is arranged along each growth container in the lower portion of the growth container. Gas is drawn off from the gas-filled upper portion of the gas container.
• the method and the device according to the invention provide for large-scale production of algae, in which the investment and operating costs are relatively modest compared with those of the prior art .
• Figure 1 shows a side view of a sheet bag connected to a gas-conditioning apparatus
• Figure 2 shows a section I-I of Figure 1
• Figure 3 shows a section corresponding to that of Figure 2 , the sheet bag being provided with further sheet layers ;
• Figure 4 shows a side view of a sheet bag which is placed in the water surface;
• Figure 5 shows a section IV-IV of the sheet bag of Figure 4.
• the reference numeral 1 denotes a sheet bag including a first sheet 2 and a second sheet 4.
• the sheets 2 and 4 are welded together along their peripheral edges 6 and along parallel lines 8.
• the welds along the parallel lines 8 are terminated at a distance from the peripheral edge 6.
• the sheet bag 1 is kept in an essentially vertical position by means of suspension hooks 10 complementarily fitting into suspension openings 12 in a mounting portion 14 of the sheet bag 1.
• a first manifold 16 is formed in the upper portion of the sheet bag 1 in the region above the parallel weld lines 8 and is defined by the peripheral edge 6.
• a second manifold 18 is formed in the lower portion of the sheet bag.
• a first pipe 20 is connected via a valve 22 to the second manifold 18.
• a gas-conditioning apparatus 24 communicates with the first manifold 16 by means of a second pipe 26, and with a perforated pipe 28, which is located in the second manifold 18, via a third pipe 30.
• the perforated pipe 28 extends in the longitudinal direction of the second manifold 18.
• the sheet bag 1 is filled with fluid containing, among other things, algae, via the valve 22 and the first pipe 20 up to a level 32.
• the spaces between the parallel lines 8 and between the parallel lines 8 and the vertical parts of the peripheral edge 6 now form growth containers 34, see Figure 2.
• Gas which has been corrected to the desired content of 0 2 and C0 2 and possibly other gases, flows from the gas- conditioning apparatus 24 via the third pipe 30 to the perforated pipe 28, from which the gas bubbles up through the growth containers 34.
• the growth containers 34 together with the first manifold 16, the second manifold 18, the gas-conditioning apparatus 24, a second pipe 26, a third pipe 30 and the perforated pipe 28 form a circulation circuit.
• the sheet bag 1 is provided with further sheet layers 36, 38 arranged for the circulation of temperature- and colour-adjusting fluid.
• the sheet bag 1 is disposed floating in a water surface 40.
• perforated pipes 28 are fitted along the lower portion of each growth container 34. The gas flows from the perforated pipe 28 through the water in the growth container 34 up to a gas pocket 42, from where the gas flows out through the second pipe 26.
• the elements 20, 26, 28 and 30 are referred to as pipes, but may be formed in the practical embodiment by, for example, integrated channels in the sheet bag, hoses or other hollow elements .

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
• Zoology (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Bioinformatics & Cheminformatics (AREA)
• Biotechnology (AREA)
• Genetics & Genomics (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Biochemistry (AREA)
• Sustainable Development (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Microbiology (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Clinical Laboratory Science (AREA)
• Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
• Molecular Biology (AREA)
• Marine Sciences & Fisheries (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Cultivation Of Seaweed (AREA)

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Publications (1)

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Cited By (26)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (3)

• 2004
  • 2004-06-11 NO NO20042425A patent/NO320950B1/no not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2005
  • 2005-06-10 EP EP05752394A patent/EP1765973A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2005-06-10 WO PCT/NO2005/000196 patent/WO2005121309A1/en not_active Ceased

Patent Citations (3)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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