CN104988059A - Photobioreactor for algal culture - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of biotechnology, in particular to a photobioreactor for algae cultivation, comprising a reactor main body, a separation unit and ventilation equipment, the reactor main body is in the shape of a tube with a bottom cover and is made of a transparent material; the separation unit is located in the Inside the reactor main body, the reactor main body is divided into two spaces, and the top and bottom of the partition unit are left with passages for the left and right two spaces to communicate; the ventilation equipment and the bottom of any space of the reactor main body Connected, upward ventilation. The photobioreactor uses four-dimensional circulating mixing of algae liquid to solve the four major problems of temperature control, mixing and stirring of algae liquid, supply of carbon source, and discharge of oxygen at any time in the process of microalgae cultivation, which are solved by the present invention. The gas introduced causes the difference in the specific gravity of the two parts of the algae liquid before and after, which increases the mixing efficiency, increases the aeration function, reduces the consumption of gas volume, increases the path and time for the reaction and absorption of carbon, and creates a suitable environment for microalgae. environment.

Description

A photobioreactor for algae cultivation

technical field

The invention relates to the field of biotechnology, in particular to a photobioreactor for algae cultivation.

Background technique

At present, "microalgae high-efficiency large-scale cultivation technology" is one of the cores of microalgae biotechnology. A closed photobioreactor, that is, a closed culture system, is a bioreactor constructed of transparent materials. In addition to the ability to harvest light energy, this bioreactor has many similarities with traditional microbial fermentation bioreactors in many other aspects. The closed photobioreactor can realize the cultivation of single species and pure species of microalgae, and the culture conditions are easy to control, the culture density is high, and it is easy to harvest, so the efficiency is higher, but the construction and operation costs are also increased.

For example, Chinese patent ZL02134235.0 discloses a tubular photobioreactor for automatic continuous production. Its reaction vessel is a cylindrical connecting pipe of transparent light-transmitting material, with an inlet port and an outlet port, and is connected to a mixing tank. It is a three-dimensional pipeline formed by cross-overlapping multi-layer "U"-shaped connecting pipes, and the light source is located in the "#"-shaped three-dimensional space formed by cross-overlapping connecting pipes. Although this microalgae breeding method and equipment overcome the shortcomings of extensive open ponds, the structure is complex, large-scale devices are difficult to realize, the construction cost is high, and it is difficult to make full use of natural sunlight, so it is not suitable for low-cost and large-scale cultivation of microalgae.

Chinese patent ZL03128138.9 discloses a closed tube photobioreactor, which consists of three-dimensional double-row flat spiral pipes and a unique U-shaped connecting elbow, double towers, zero-shear force infusion pump, carbon dioxide gas injection device, cooling heat exchanger etc. The oxygen exhaust reaction tower in the double tower is equipped with a negative pressure jet pump, which can effectively remove the accumulated oxygen in the culture solution, and the control tower can adjust the hydraulic pressure and automatically transport the culture solution to the reaction pipeline with negative pressure. The reactor overcomes the disadvantages of large occupied area and low efficiency of conventional reactors, and can realize large-scale production, but the structure is complex and the manufacturing cost is high. Moreover, if the reactor is placed upright, the culture solution and algae solution need a lot of energy to be transported from the bottom to the top, which will greatly increase the shear force on the algae filaments and increase the cost of microalgae cultivation.

Chinese patent CN1721523A discloses a photobioreactor for large-scale cultivation of microalgae, including a transparent pipeline, a gas analysis device, an auxiliary pipeline system, and cultivation parameter sensing and control facilities. The problem of gas exchange in closed-pipe photobioreactors is solved by adopting a large-scale gas analysis device and connecting transparent pipes arranged in parallel in parallel, but there are also problems of high manufacturing and operating costs.

Chinese patent CN1668185A discloses a method and a gas treatment system using a photobioreactor to process gas. According to the disclosed method and device, microalgae can reach the maximum growth rate and effectively absorb carbon dioxide and/or nitrogen oxides. However, the structure of the system is complex. Although it is controlled by computer, large-scale production will inevitably lead to high equipment manufacturing costs and high energy consumption, which is not suitable for obtaining a large amount of microalgae biomass at low cost.

Chinese patent ZL96216364.3 discloses a closed-type circulating latent layer spirulina cultivation device, which is composed of an overflow injector, an overflow plate photobioreactor, a liquid storage tank, and a circulating pump, which are made of light-transmitting materials. The overflow plate photobioreactor is equipped with multiple layers of support plates with baffles placed horizontally and the overflow outlets of the upper and lower layers are distributed crosswise. Although the reactor has high efficiency, the structure of the multi-layer pallet is very complicated, which is not conducive to large-scale scale-up production.

Therefore, in view of the above deficiencies, it is necessary to provide a photobioreactor for algae cultivation with high utilization rate of light energy, energy saving and low carbon, full utilization of natural resources and high production efficiency of microalgae.

Contents of the invention

(1) Technical problems to be solved

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to solve the problem that the photosynthesis is inhibited and the production efficiency of microalgae is low due to the inability to release the oxygen produced by photosynthesis in the process of algae culture, and the natural light area is small, the light energy utilization rate is low, The problems of complex existing production equipment, high energy consumption and high cost.

(2) Technical solution

In order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides a photobioreactor for algae culture, including a reactor main body, a separation unit and ventilation equipment, the reactor main body is in the shape of a bottom-sealing tube made of a transparent material; The separation unit is located inside the reactor main body, and divides the reactor main body into two spaces, left and right, and the top and bottom of the separation unit are provided with channels for communication between the left and right spaces; The ventilation device communicates with the bottom of any space of the reactor main body to ventilate upward.

Wherein, the cross-section of the reactor main body is equal parts quincunx.

Wherein, the separating device is a transparent partition.

Wherein, the partition unit is a transparent pipe structure formed by connecting a row of vertical pipes sequentially, the upper and lower ends of each vertical pipe are sealed, and the vertical pipe near the middle is provided with a light source.

Wherein, the vertical pipe near the edge of the transparent pipe arrangement structure is a long pipe, and the long pipe is closely attached to the inner wall of the reactor main body, and the vertical pipe near the middle position of the transparent pipe arrangement structure is a short pipe, so as to The top and bottom of the pipe structure form a channel for the communication between the left and right spaces.

Wherein, the length of the short tube is 10% to 40% shorter than the length of the long tube; the light source is an LED lamp.

Wherein, the bottom of the reactor main body is provided with a liquid guide port, and the top is provided with a top cover with a liquid inlet port.

Wherein, the ventilation equipment includes a gas source, an air guide pipe and an air nozzle connected in sequence, and the air guide pipe is passed down from the top of the reaction generator along the long pipe to the bottom of the reaction generator and the air nozzle. Mouth connection.

Wherein, the air source is a connected wind air compressor and a compressed air storage tank, and the compressed air storage tank is connected to the air guide pipe.

Wherein, the gas nozzle is a microporous gas disperser; the main body of the reactor is provided with a metal base.

(3) Beneficial effects

The above-mentioned technical scheme of the present invention has the following advantages: the present invention divides the reactor main body into two spaces by the partition unit, and the bottom of one space is connected with ventilation equipment to ventilate upwards, and the proportion of algae liquid in this space is reduced due to the gas that is passed in , so that the algae liquid in the two spaces forms a difference in specific gravity, the algae liquid in the ventilated space runs to the top and passes through the channels left on the top of the two spaces, and moves downward with the downward liquid flow into the non-ventilated space, and then runs to the bottom through The channel left at the bottom of the two spaces enters the ventilation space with the liquid flow, and the four-dimensional circulation and mixing of the algae liquid formed in this way is different from the traditional airlift mixing, which increases the mixing efficiency, increases the ventilation function, and reduces the gas volume. consumption. If the gas containing carbon dioxide is injected, the path and time for its reaction and absorption of carbon will be increased, creating a suitable environment for microalgae, and more importantly, the problem of releasing oxygen at any time during the process of microalgae cultivation will be solved by using the gas introduced. , so the compressed air passing into the photobioreactor at least has the functions of mixing and stirring the algae liquid, providing carbon source, controlling the temperature of the algae liquid and discharging oxygen at any time, and gas exchange; Compared with the design, the utilization rate of light energy is greatly increased; and through the wind-powered air compressor and the transparent pipe structure with built-in light source, wind energy and light energy are integrated into the photobioreactor system, realizing controllable microalgae cultivation conditions, low-carbon green , High-density culture of microalgae with high utilization rate of light energy.

In addition to the technical problems solved by the present invention described above, the technical characteristics of the technical solutions formed and the advantages brought by the technical characteristics of these technical solutions, other technical characteristics of the photobioreactor of the present invention and these technical characteristics bring The advantages to come will be further explained in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is the overall structural diagram of the photobioreactor that is used for algae cultivation in the embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is the three-dimensional view of the main body of the reactor in the photobioreactor for algae culture according to the embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is the reactor cross-sectional view of the photobioreactor that is used for algae cultivation in the embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is the overall structural diagram of the photobioreactor used for algae cultivation in the second embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a photobioreactor for algae cultivation according to Example 2 of the present invention.

In the figure: 1: Reactor main body; 2: Side pipe; 3: Short pipe; 4: Air guide pipe; 5: Air nozzle; 6: Liquid inlet; 7: Top cover; 8: Separation unit; 9: Ventilation equipment; 10: Liquid guide port; 11: Air source.

Detailed ways

In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments It is a part of embodiments of the present invention, but not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by persons of ordinary skill in the art without making creative efforts belong to the protection scope of the present invention.

Embodiment one

As shown in Figure 1, the photobioreactor for algae cultivation provided by Embodiment 1 of the present invention includes a reactor body 1, a partition unit 8 and an aeration device 9, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the reactor body 1 It is in the shape of a tube with a back cover, and the cross-section is equally divided into plum blossoms. It is made of transparent materials. This structure and the traditional round tube design greatly increase the illuminated area and light energy utilization rate, which increases it by 50-70%; the partition unit 8 is a transparent partition. The plate is located inside the main body of the reactor 1, and divides the main body of the reactor 1 into two spaces. The top and bottom of the transparent partition are left with channels for the communication between the left and right spaces. The partition is transparent and does not affect the light. .

Specifically, the ventilation device 9 includes an air source 11, an air guide pipe 4 and an air nozzle 5 connected in sequence; further, the air source 11 is an air compressor and a compressed air storage tank connected, and the compressed air storage tank is connected with the air guide pipe 4, The air guide pipe 4 leads downward from the top of the reactor main body 1 to the bottom of the reactor main body 1 and is connected with the air nozzle 5. The air nozzle 9 can be selected as a microporous gas disperser to ventilate upward evenly and continuously; storage.

Generally, the bottom of the reactor main body 1 is provided with a liquid guide port 10, through which the cultured algae liquid can flow out and enter the next step; the top is provided with a top cover 7 with a liquid inlet port 6, which can prevent miscellaneous The objects fall into the reactor main body 1 and cause pollution with the algae liquid; when the reactor main body 1 is in use, a metal base can be provided, and the reactor can be placed on the metal base.

Because of the difference in the specific gravity of the algae liquid in the front and rear two parts of the space caused by the gas introduced, it runs to the top and enters the other half of the space and runs downward with the downward liquid flow, which greatly increases the mixing efficiency and reduces the consumption of gas. If the gas containing carbon dioxide is fed, the path and time for its reaction and absorption of carbon are also increased. More importantly, the problem of temperature control and oxygen release at any time during the algae cultivation process is solved by using the gas that is fed.

Embodiment two

As shown in Figure 4 and Figure 5, the main difference between the photobioreactor for algae cultivation provided by the second embodiment of the present invention and the first embodiment is that the partition unit 8 is a transparent pipe structure formed by connecting a row of vertical pipes in sequence , located inside the reactor main body 1, divides the main body of the reactor 1 into two spaces, the top and bottom of the transparent tube structure are left with passages for the left and right spaces to communicate, and the upper and lower ends of each vertical pipe are sealed, A light source is set in the vertical pipe near the middle position, and the light source can be an LED light, so that the inside of the reactor main body 1 can get uniform light, which is conducive to better photosynthesis of algae, and the light source is controllable, so that the microalgae are under good light conditions .

Specifically, the vertical pipe near the edge of the transparent pipe arrangement structure is a long pipe 2, which is close to the inner wall of the reactor main body 1, and a light source may or may not be provided inside it, because it is close to the edge and has a corresponding In the natural light environment, the air guide pipe is passed down from the top of the reaction generator along the long pipe to the bottom of the reaction generator and connected to the air nozzle; the vertical pipe in the middle of the transparent pipe structure is a short pipe 3, so that The top and bottom of the structure form a passage for the left and right spaces to communicate, and the length of the short pipe 3 is 10% to 40% shorter than the length of the long pipe 2 .

In summary, the present invention divides the reactor main body into two spaces by the partition unit, and the bottom of one space is connected with ventilation equipment to ventilate upwards, and this half space forms the algae liquid containing a large number of microbubbles to run upwards, and the half space for ventilation The algae liquid runs to the top through the channels left at the top of the two spaces, runs down into the unventilated half of the space with the downward liquid flow, and then runs to the bottom through the channels left at the bottom of the two spaces, along with the liquid flow Entering the ventilated space, in this way, the liquid is continuously replenished downwards, forming a state of circulation of the algae liquid, achieving the functions of uniform mixing of the algae filaments, exhausting oxygen, regulating the temperature of the algae liquid, and eliminating the gradient of nutrition, light and temperature in the reactor.

Finally, it should be noted that: the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that: it can still be Modifications are made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent replacements are made to some of the technical features; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the various embodiments of the present invention.

Claims (10)

1. for a bioreactor for algal culture, comprise reactor body, separating element and aeration equipment, is characterized in that: described reactor body is back cover tubulose, is made up of transparent material; Described separating element is positioned at the inside of described reactor body, described reactor body is divided into left and right two spaces, and the passage be communicated with for left and right two spaces is all left in top and the bottom of described separating element; Described aeration equipment is communicated with the bottom in arbitrary space of described reactor body, up-draught.

2. bioreactor according to claim 1, is characterized in that: the square section of described reactor body is that equal portions are quincunx.

3. bioreactor according to claim 2, is characterized in that: described separation device is lamina of septum pellucidum.

4. bioreactor according to claim 2, is characterized in that: described separating element is the transparent calandria structure that row's vertical tube is in turn connected to form, and each vertical tube upper and lower end sealing, by arranging light source in the vertical tube in mid-way.

5. bioreactor according to claim 4, it is characterized in that: the vertical tube by marginal position of described transparent calandria structure is long tube, long tube and reactor body inwall are adjacent to, the vertical tube by mid-way of described transparent calandria structure is short tube, to form with bottom the passage be communicated with for left and right two spaces at the top of transparent calandria structure.

6. bioreactor according to claim 5, is characterized in that: the length of described short tube is than the length short 10% to 40% of described long tube; Described light source is LED.

7. bioreactor according to claim 1, is characterized in that: the bottom of described reactor body is provided with fluid guidance port, and top is provided with the top cover with fluid inlet.

8. bioreactor according to claim 5, it is characterized in that: described aeration equipment comprises the source of the gas, airway and the air nozzle that connect successively, described airway to be passed into downwards bottom described reaction generator along described long tube by described reaction generator top and to be connected with described air nozzle.

9. bioreactor according to claim 8, is characterized in that: described source of the gas is the wind power air compressor and pressurized air storage tank that are connected, and described pressurized air storage tank is connected with described airway.

10. bioreactor according to claim 8, is characterized in that: described air nozzle is micropore gas decollator; Described reactor body is provided with metab.