CN101935610A - A multi-group bubbling photobioreactor - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention discloses a multi-group bubbling photobioreactor, which comprises a box body, bubbling type photobioreactor units, a main gas pipe, a light source and a control system, wherein more than two bubbling type photobioreactor units are arranged in a row in the box body, the main gas pipe is connected to the gas pipe and a gas distributor in the bubbling type photobioreactor units through gas distribution branch pipes, the light source is arranged on two sides of the bubbling type photobioreactor units, and the control system comprises a temperature control system and a light source control system for controlling the temperature in the box body and the intensity of the light source. The invention provides a batch, controllable and mature device for microalgae culture in laboratories and small scale.

Description

A multi-group bubbling photobioreactor

technical field

The invention belongs to the technical field of biological reaction devices, relates to a multi-group bubbling photobioreactor, and in particular designs a multi-group bubbling photobioreactor suitable for microalgae cultivation.

Background technique

As an important biomass resource, microalgae has the outstanding characteristics of wide distribution, large biomass, high _CO2 utilization rate, strong environmental adaptability, short growth cycle and high yield. It is an excellent material for biorefinery. The production of microalgae fuel, the development of microalgae biological preparations and the extraction of biologically active substances have broad development prospects. Many microalgae are rich in proteins, polysaccharides, oils, carotenoids and unsaturated fatty acids and other biologically active substances, and are important biological resource banks for human beings. Algae resources have become an important treasure house of food, medicine, and bioenergy products. Microalgal biomass is an excellent raw material for the production of bioactive substances, biomaterials and biofuels. Utilizing microalgae or engineered microalgae and other microalgae biomass resources to produce fossil resource substitute products, especially biodiesel, can open up a new technical path for the bioenergy industry, effectively solve the raw material bottleneck of the biofuel industry, and provide new opportunities for the biofuel industry. It provides new ideas for the healthy, stable and sustainable development of society, so as to realize the replacement of fossil resources and the sustainable development of social economy. at present. Global research hotspots have begun to focus on the technology of microalgae biorefinery. Microalgae biorefinery technology refers to a technology based on photosynthesis, through the large-scale cultivation of microalgae cells in photobioreactors, to produce biomass fuels and bioactive products

The global research and development wave of microalgae has arrived, but the research and development work in this field in various countries in the world is basically still in the initial stage of experimental research and pilot test demonstration, and large-scale preparation has not yet been realized. This is mainly because there are many technical difficulties in the research and development of microalgae, among which the development of high-efficiency photobioreactor as a research carrier is one of the main bottlenecks, so this direction has always been the focus of microalgae cultivation and microalgae fixation of CO ₂ technology. Research hotspots.

The goal of optimal design of photobioreactor mainly involves four aspects: (1) Increase the specific surface area of the reactor. There are various forms of photobioreactors, including open type and closed type (mainly divided into three types: tube type, plate type and cone type), among which the open type has a larger specific surface area; (2) enhance the gas-liquid mass transfer efficiency . Generally, the gas-liquid mass transfer effect in the microalgae cultivation process is improved by designing the structure of auxiliary devices, such as gas-liquid exchangers, condensers, ultrafiltration devices, mixing devices, and nutrient supply devices; (3) providing high-efficiency light sources. A large number of studies have shown that the rate of microalgae absorbing CO ₂ and producing O ₂ depends largely on light conditions. To improve the lighting conditions, two problems need to be solved, one is to provide high-efficiency light source, and the other is the effective distribution of light in the reactor. In addition to using sunlight and ordinary fluorescent lamps as light sources, various photobioreactors using light-emitting diodes, optical fibers, and flash lamps as light sources have also been developed. The position of the light source can be divided into two types: external type and built-in type. The built-in type can significantly improve the distribution of light and improve the utilization rate of the light source, but the production cost is relatively high. In addition, various light operating conditions, such as light quality, light intensity, light-to-dark ratio, and light time, also have a great impact on the growth of microalgae; (4) Improve light transfer efficiency. The study found that simply increasing the light intensity could not correspondingly increase the O ₂ production rate of microalgae. In the photobioreactor with Chlorella kessleri as the algae species and light-emitting diode as the light source, when the algae density reaches 5×10 ⁸ cells/mL, the net O ₂ production rate is 10 mmol O ₂ /(L·h). When the algae increase to a certain density, its apparent oxygen production rate (OPR) begins to decrease, and if there is no shading between the algae in the photobioreactor, the _O2 production rate will increase by at least 5 times.

There are many technical difficulties in the research and development of microalgae, among which there is a lack of efficient, energy-saving, and technologically mature photobioreactors as the research basis, which greatly limits the research and development and scale development of microalgae. This is mainly because the design of microalgae photobioreactor involves many interdisciplinary subjects. The current research has not systematically understood and mastered the basic scientific principles and laws of its design, so it is difficult to form the core technology to solve key problems. The development of low-cost, high-efficiency, and energy-saving microalgae photobioreactor design technology will undoubtedly lay a solid foundation for the research of microalgae biotechnology and seize the initiative of the future microalgae bio-economy.

Contents of the invention

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a multi-group bubbling photobioreactor for small-scale production with simple layout and practicality, so as to fill the gap in China.

In order to solve the problems of the technologies described above, the technical scheme adopted in the present invention is as follows:

A multi-group bubbling photobioreactor, which includes a box body, a bubbling photobioreaction unit, a leading air pipe, a light source and a control system, and more than two bubbling photobioreaction units are placed in a row in the box , the main trachea communicates with the gas blowing tube in the bubbling photobioreaction unit and the gas distributor at the bottom of the bubbling photobioreaction unit through the gas distribution branch tube. The light source is placed on both sides of each row of bubbling photobioreaction unit. The control system includes temperature The control system and the light source control system are used to control the temperature in the cabinet and the intensity of the light source.

Wherein, the casing is provided with an openable cover.

Wherein, the inner wall of the box is coated with reflective material.

Wherein, each row of bubbling photobiological reaction units is provided with a leading trachea on the top.

Wherein, each gas distribution branch pipe is provided with a gas flow meter.

Wherein, the bubbling photobiological reaction unit is made of high light-transmitting material, the lower end is closed in an arc, the upper end is closed and polished, and sealed with a rubber stopper, and the air inlet, air outlet, and feeding port are reserved on the rubber stopper and electrode sockets.

Wherein, the wavelength of the light source is configured according to requirements, and the wavelength band is any band in 250nm-780nm.

Wherein, the light source is a tubular lamp, and a plurality of tubular lamps are uniformly and parallelly distributed from a position close to the upper edge of the bubbling photobiological reaction unit to a position close to the bottom end.

Wherein, the light source between two adjacent rows of bubbling photobiological reaction units is a single row or a double row.

Wherein, a baffle is arranged between two adjacent rows of bubbling photobiological reaction units, the baffle divides the box into multiple chambers, and the surface of the baffle is coated with reflective materials.

Beneficial effect: the present invention has the following advantages and effects compared with the prior art:

1. Adopt specially designed box structure. The inner wall of the box of the device is coated with reflective material, which can effectively prevent light leakage, increase light intensity, and improve light energy utilization. The opening and closing design is reasonable and sealed, which can effectively ensure the effective control of temperature and light energy.

2. Adopt microcomputer intelligent automatic light source control system. The automatic control system of the light source part of the device controls the light intensity by adjusting the number of lights, and can realize multi-stage light source control through control, such as light and dark cycles, cycle switching of different light intensities, and can also be replaced according to the requirements of the light source band.

3. Complete design of light source and bioreactor. The reactor part of the device is an independent compartment. Independent component air supply and light intensity control of the chamber can be realized. In addition, aeration rate control of stand-alone photobioreactors can be achieved. The structure is simple, the operation is convenient, the temperature, light intensity, light quality, ventilation rate, gas composition can be controlled, and it can be processed in batches.

4. Light source intensity and light quality are controllable. The light source of the light cultivation system adopts a detachable design, and the light source can be replaced according to the growth conditions of different algae species and microalgae. The light source part of the device can be configured with light sources of different light bands according to the light quality required for biomass growth, and the light band can be any band from infrared to near ultraviolet.

5. The temperature is intelligently controllable. The light cultivation system includes multi-point temperature sensing, refrigeration compressor, electric heating system, and realizes accurate and controllable light temperature in the light cultivation system.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the front view of the multi-group bubbling photobioreactor of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a top view structural schematic diagram of multiple groups of bubbling photobioreactors of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a left view structural schematic diagram of multiple groups of bubbling photobioreactors of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is the multi-row light source mode of the multi-group bubbling photobioreactor of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a way of using baffles in the multi-group bubbling photobioreactor of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is another way of using baffles in the multi-group bubbling photobioreactor of the present invention.

Detailed ways

The present invention can be better understood from the following examples. However, those skilled in the art can easily understand that the description of the embodiments is only for illustrating the present invention, and should not and will not limit the present invention described in the claims.

Example 1:

Fig. 1 is a front structural schematic diagram of a multi-group bubbling photobioreactor of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a top structural schematic diagram thereof, and Fig. 3 is a left structural schematic diagram thereof. The device structure of the present invention can be clearly understood through FIGS. 1-3. The multi-group bubbling photobioreactor of the present invention mainly includes a box body 1 , a bubbling photobioreaction unit 2 , a main air pipe 3 , a light source 4 and a control system 5 .

Several bubbling photobioreaction units 2 are placed in a row in the cabinet 1, and each row of bubbling photobioreaction units 2 is provided with a leading air pipe 3 on the top, and the main air pipe 3 passes through each gas distribution branch pipe 12 It is connected to the air blowing tube 6 in each bubbling photobioreaction unit and the gas distributor 7 at the bottom of the air blowing tube for bubbling. The gas distributor 7 is made of high-temperature calcined alumina or made of polymer materials, so that the mixed The gas is dispersed into the culture medium with very small bubbles. In order to control the gas flow rate of each photobioreaction unit individually, a gas distribution pipe 6 is provided on each gas distribution branch pipe 6 and above the bubbling photobioreaction unit 2. flowmeter9. The setting of the gas flow meter is designed for independent control of the gas flow, and can also be directly controlled by a valve. A valve or a gas flow meter is set on the main air pipe 3 to simultaneously control the gas flow rate of the rows of photobioreaction units 2, or in some gas Valves or gas flow meters are set on the distribution branch to control the gas flow rate of part of the photobioreaction unit 2, which does not affect the essence of the present invention, and is within the protection scope of the present invention. Even without any valves or gas flow meters, the entire box The photobiological reaction units 2 in the body all adopt the same gas flow rate, which is also within the protection scope of the present invention. The main air pipe 3 is externally connected to a gas supply system, which is composed of a gas source, a gas mixing device, a buffer container, a filter, and a gas flow meter. Those skilled in the art can realize the assembly of the gas supply system according to the existing technology.

The bubbling photobiological reaction unit 2 is made of high light-transmitting materials, such as high borosilicate glass. Its lower end arc closes to the bottom, and the upper end closes and polishes, and seals with rubber stopper 10, reserves air inlet, air outlet, feeding port and electrode socket (as temperature electrode or pH electrode) on the rubber stopper. The present invention has no limitation on the number, size and arrangement of the bubbling photobioreaction unit 2, and those skilled in the art can select the bubbling photobioreaction unit 2 according to the cultivation requirements of different microalgae and the required production scale. Adaptive changes in shape, selection of photobiological reaction units of appropriate size and specifications, determination of the appropriate number of units, arrangement of arrangements, and determination of the size of the adapted box are all within the protection scope of the present invention. Inside.

The light source 4 is placed on both sides of each row of bubbling photobioreaction units 2. The wavelength of the light source 4 covers any band from infrared to near ultraviolet (that is, the wavelength is 250nm-780nm). The wavelength of the light source realizes the controllable wavelength of the light source. The light source 4 can be a lamp of any shape or size, as long as it is evenly distributed on both sides of the photobioreaction unit 2, preferably a tubular lamp, from the position near the upper edge of the bubbling photobioreaction unit 2 to the position near the bottom end , a plurality of tubular lamps are evenly distributed in parallel from top to bottom. Tubular, etc. can be fixed on the box at one end or at both ends, or fixed by a bracket. Those skilled in the art can choose a suitable fixing method according to needs, and this kind of fixing can be permanently fixed. Or it can be detachable and fixed, which is convenient for replacing lamp tubes of different light sources or damaged lamp tubes. The present invention does not impose any limitation on the number of light sources, and those skilled in the art can set an appropriate number of light sources according to the required light intensity of different microalgae. The light sources 4 can be arranged in a single row or in multiple rows. The device shown in FIG. 3 is one form of the device of the present invention, that is, a row of several tubular lamps arranged in parallel from top to bottom are arranged on both sides of each row of bubbling photobioreaction units 2 . And Fig. 4 is another form of the device of the present invention, that is, on the basis of the device shown in Fig. 3 , two rows of tubular lamps are arranged between two adjacent rows of bubbling photobioreaction units 2 . Of course, more than two rows of light sources can also be arranged between two adjacent rows of bubbling photobioreaction units 2 as required. Or irregularly set the number of rows of light sources between two adjacent rows of bubbling photobioreaction units 2 .

The box body 1 is provided with an openable cover 8, which facilitates the removal and insertion of the bubbling photobioreaction unit 2, and facilitates the replacement of the light source 4. The present invention does not impose any restrictions on the position and size of the cover, and can be placed The side wall of the body or the top of the box. In order to facilitate the observation of the reaction inside the box body 1 , an observation window can also be arranged on the box body 1 . The inner wall of the box body 1 is coated with reflective material to realize effective utilization of light energy. The box can adopt a double-layer sealed structure to maintain the temperature inside the box. The casing 1 usually has an air inlet duct opening and an air outlet duct opening.

The control system 5 includes a temperature control system and a light source control system to control the temperature in the box and the intensity of the light source. The temperature control system includes: refrigeration compressor, blower fan, electric heating system, multi-point temperature sensor, and microcomputer temperature control system. Those skilled in the art can realize that the temperature in the box is controllable according to the prior art. The light source control system 5 intelligently controls the lighting system by a microcomputer. For example, the controllable light intensity can be realized by controlling the number of lights of the lamp tubes, and a time cycle can also be set to allow the light source to generate illumination within a certain period of time and extinguish it within a certain period of time. . Those skilled in the art can compile lighting programs according to the prior art.

As a preferred mode of the present invention, a baffle 11 can be set between two adjacent rows of bubbling photobioreaction units 2, the surface of the baffle 11 is coated with a reflective material, and the baffle 11 divides the box body 1 into multiple chambers, The light source intensity of each chamber is independent. The present invention does not limit the number of baffles, can be divided according to the number of independent chambers required, and a corresponding number of baffles can be set, for example, as shown in Figure 5, between all adjacent two rows of bubbling photobioreaction units 2 The baffle is set so that each row of bubbling photobioreaction units 2 forms an independent space to realize the independence of light intensity. It can also be shown in Figure 6, where two adjacent rows of bubbling photobioreaction units A baffle is set between the two to divide the box into two independent chambers. Whether to set the baffle does not conflict with the number of rows of light sources. For example, two rows of light sources can be arranged between two adjacent rows of bubbling photobioreaction units 2, and the baffle is inserted between the two rows of light sources (Fig. 5 ), it is also possible to adopt the method of setting a single row of light sources between two adjacent rows of bubbling photobioreaction units 2, and insert the baffle between the single row of light sources and the photobioreaction unit, as long as it is ensured that each divided room has The light source is sufficient (Figure 6). The present invention does not impose any restrictions on the fixing method of the baffle, and the baffle can be fixed by the slot of the box, or the bracket can be fixed on the baffle, or the baffle can be fixed on the light source, or even without any fixing method, directly Inserting the baffle between the light sources or between the light source and the photobiological reaction unit is also within the protection scope of the present invention.

The control of temperature, light intensity, light quality, aeration rate and gas components in the cultivation process can be realized through the multiple groups of bubbling photobioreactors of the present invention.

Example 2:

Cultivate Chlorella in multiple groups of bubbling photobioreactors described in Example 1, fill the f/2 medium in the bubbling photobioreaction unit (diameter 10cm, height 60cm), and sterilize outside the box , connect the chlorella, the inoculum amount is 0.2g/L, and then put it into the box, connect the main air pipe, gas distribution branch pipe with the air blower pipe and the gas distributor, plug in the temperature electrode or pH electrode, and plug in the gas outlet , Tighten the rubber stopper. Open the gas distribution device, control the ratio of carbon dioxide and air through the gas flow meter, open the valve on the gas distribution branch pipe, and bubble into the bubbling photobioreaction unit. As shown in Figure 5, the control light intensity in the four chambers of the reactor is 3000lux, 5000lux, 70000lux, 9000lux in turn, the temperature of the box is controlled at 26°C, and the ventilation content of _CO is 1% (v/v) respectively , 3% (v/v), 5% (v/v), 7% (v/v), after two weeks of cultivation, the highest biomass reached 2.253g/L, and the oil content was 35%. After the experiment, clean the bubbling photobioreaction unit in time and save it for the next use.

Claims (10)

1. A plurality of groups of bubbling photobioreactors is characterized in that it comprises casing (1), bubbling photobioreaction unit (2), leading trachea (3), light source (4) and control system ( 5), more than two bubbling photobioreaction units (2) are arranged in a row in the box body (1), and the main air pipe (3) is connected to the bubbling photobioreaction unit through the gas distribution branch pipe (12). The gas blowing tube (6) is connected with the gas distributor (7) at the bottom of the gas blowing tube, the light source (4) is placed on both sides of each row of bubbling photobioreaction units (2), and the control system (5) includes a temperature control system And the light source control system is used to control the temperature in the cabinet and the intensity of the light source. 2. The multi-group bubbling photobioreactor according to claim 1, characterized in that the box body (1) is provided with an openable cover (8). 3. The multi-group bubbling photobioreactor according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner wall of the box body (1) is coated with light-reflecting materials. 4. The multi-group bubbling photobioreactor according to claim 1, characterized in that each row of bubbling photobioreaction units (2) is topped with a leading air pipe (3). 5. The multi-group bubbling photobioreactor according to claim 1, characterized in that each gas distribution branch pipe (6) is equipped with a gas flow meter (9). 6. The multi-group bubbling photobioreactor according to claim 1, characterized in that said bubbling photobioreactor unit (2) is made of high light-transmitting material, the lower end arc closes to the bottom, and the upper end The mouth is polished and sealed with a rubber stopper (10), and the air inlet, air outlet, feeding port and electrode socket are reserved on the rubber stopper. 7. The multi-group bubbling photobioreactor according to claim 1, characterized in that the wavelength of the light source (4) is 250nm-780nm. 8. The multi-group bubbling photobioreactor according to claim 1, characterized in that the light source (4) is a tubular lamp, from the position near the upper edge of the bubbling photobioreaction unit (2) to near the bottom A plurality of tubular lamps are evenly distributed in parallel. 9. The multi-group bubbling photobioreactor according to claim 1 or 8, characterized in that the light sources (4) between two adjacent rows of bubbling photobioreactor units (2) are single row or double Row. 10. A plurality of groups of bubbling photobioreactors according to claim 1, characterized in that a baffle (11) is arranged between adjacent two rows of bubbling photobioreaction units (2), and the baffle (11 ) divides the casing (1) into multiple chambers, and the surface of the baffle plate (11) is coated with reflective material.

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