Studies on the effect of wind speed on loss of carbon dioxide during bio sequestration

Microalgal technology is one of the most promising technologies to eliminate the anthropogenic CO2 and to create a benign environment. Carbon dioxide is bubbled into the microalgae reactors during bio sequestration process. Since CO2 concentration in the atmosphere is very less, mass transfer occur naturally from the reactor to the atmosphere. The possibility of losses to the atmosphere occurs due to the higher flow rate, lower fixation rate of the species and also due to the wind speed available at the particular locations. The objective of the study is to evaluate the CO2 loss due to the different wind speeds in an open pond reactor. The wind velocities in the range of 2.7 m/s to 10.5 m/s on the percentage loss of carbon dioxide were studied. The results indicate that higher the wind speed, higher the CO2 loss to the atmosphere. The gas transfer velocity was evaluated at each wind speed. The empirical relation was determined relating the wind speed and gas transfer velocity. The developed correlation was verified satisfactorily for the percentage loss of carbon dioxide in the open air. Based on the wind speed available at any location, the rate of CO2 loss could be predicted from the correlation.