| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 681273 | Bioresource Technology | 2012 | 8 Pages |
An internally illuminated photobioreactor (IIPBR) design is proposed for energy-efficient biomass production. Theoretical rationale of the IIPBR design and its advantages over the traditional bubble column photobioreactors (PBRs) are presented, followed by experimental results from prototype scale cultivation of freshwater and marine algal strains in an 18 L IIPBR. Based on theoretical considerations, the proposed IIPBR design has the potential to support 160% higher biomass density and higher biomass productivity per unit energy input, B/E, than a bubble column PBR of equal incident area per unit culture volume. Experimental B/E values recorded in this study with fresh water algae and marine algae (1.42 and 0.37 g W−1 d−1, respectively) are at least twice as those reported in the literature for comparable species cultivated in bubble column and airlift PBRs.
Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Developed an internally illuminated photobioreactor (IIPBR) for algal cultivation. ► Theoretical reactor analysis of IIPBR showed improvement over bubble columns. ► Experimental results on two algal strains validated theoretical advantages of IIPBR. ► Biomass production per energy input of IIPBR is twice that of current PBRs.
