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Large-Scale Production of Algal Biomass: Photobioreactors

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Algae Biotechnology

Part of the book series: Green Energy and Technology ((GREEN))

Abstract

Photobioreactors have been used extensively for the cultivation of microalgae for a variety of applications from biofuels to high value products. The ability to cultivate monocultures of algae with high biomass yields and significantly smaller footprints has made photobioreactors a very attractive technology for specific applications. This chapter deals with photobioreactor design, application, efficiencies, and factors affecting their performance.

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Abbreviations

A :

Local specific radiant energy absorbed (μmol s−1 kg−1)

a light :

Specific illuminated area for the photobioreactor (m−1)

C X :

Biomass concentration (kg m−3)

D :

Dilution rate (h−1 or s−1)

E a :

Mass absorption coefficient (m2 kg−1)

f d :

Design dark volume fraction of any photobioreactor (dimensionless)

G :

Local irradiance (μmol s−1 m−2)

G c :

Compensation irradiance value (μmol s−1 m−2)

K :

Half saturation constant for photosynthesis (μmol s−1 m−2)

L :

Depth of the rectangular photobioreactor (m)

M X :

C-molar mass for the biomass (kgX mol −1X )

q :

Photon flux density on a given surface (PFD) (μmol s−1 m−2)

Q :

Volume liquid flow rate (m3 d−1)

r X :

Biomass volumetric growth rate (productivity) (kg m−3 s−1 or kg m−3 h−1)

S light :

Illuminated surface of the photobioreactor (m2)

PS :

Areal biomass productivity (kg m−2 d−1)

P V :

Volumetric biomass productivity (kg m−3 d−1)

t :

Time (days or s)

V r :

Photobioreactor volume (m3)

x d :

Diffuse fraction for incident PFD at any location (−)

z :

Depth of culture (m)

α :

Linear scattering modulus (dimensionless)

β :

Inclination of the photobioreactor surface (rad)

γ :

Fraction for working illuminated volume in the photobioreactor (dimensionless)

δ :

Extinction coefficient for the two-flux method (m−1)

θ :

Incident angle (defined from the outward normal of the PBR) (rad)

λ :

Wavelength (m)

ρ M :

Maximum energy yield for photon conversion (dimensionless)

τ p :

Residence time (h)

τλ :

Absorption optical thickness, τλ = Eaλ C X/a light (dimensionless)

\(\varphi^{\prime}_{X}\) :

Biomass mole quantum yield for the Z-scheme of photosynthesis (molX μmol −1hν )

max:

Related to maximum available value

opt:

Related to the optimal value for residence time

\(\langle {X} \rangle = \frac{1}{V}\iiint\limits_{V} X{\text{d}}V\) :

Spatially-averaged property

\(\overline{X}\, = \,\frac{1}{\Delta \,t}\int\limits_{\Delta \,t} X {\text{d}}t\) :

Time-averaged property

PAR:

Photosynthetically active radiation

PBR:

Photobioreactor

PFD:

Photon flux density

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the French National Research Agency project DIESALG (ANR-12-BIME-0001-02) for biodiesel production based on solar production of microalgae, and is part of the French “BIOSOLIS” research program on developing photobioreactor technologies for mass-scale solar production (http://www.biosolis.org/). Laurent Pilon is grateful to the Région Pays de la Loire for the Research Chair for International Junior Scientists.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. GEPEA, Université de Nantes, CNRS, UMR 6144, BP 406, 37 bd de l’Université, CRTT, 44602, Saint-Nazaire Cedex, France

    Jeremy Pruvost

  2. ENSCCF, Institut Pascal—UMR-CNRS 6602, Clermont Université, BP 10448, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    Jean-François Cornet

  3. Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of California, Los Angeles, 420 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA

    Laurent Pilon

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  1. Jeremy Pruvost
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  2. Jean-François Cornet
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Correspondence to Jeremy Pruvost .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Water and, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa

    Faizal Bux

  2. Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

    Yusuf Chisti

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Pruvost, J., Cornet, JF., Pilon, L. (2016). Large-Scale Production of Algal Biomass: Photobioreactors. In: Bux, F., Chisti, Y. (eds) Algae Biotechnology. Green Energy and Technology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12334-9_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12334-9_3

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