Abstract
The effect of different flow rates (from 0.18 m/s to 0.97 m/s) on the productivity of Spirulina grown outdoors in a strongly curved tubular photo-bioreactor (CTP) was studied. The results were compared to those obtained with a conventional photobioreactor made with straight tubes to form a loop (STP). The cultures were operated at a biomass concentration of 10 g/l dry weight. The productivity of the culture increased by about 39% and 29% in the CTP and STP respectively when the flow rate of the culture was increased from 0.18 m/s to 0.75 m/s. A further increase of the flow rate did not result in any increase of the productivity in either of the photo-bioreactors. The better performance of the culture observed in the CTP was attributed to an intermittent illumination pattern resulting from a secondary flow motion generated in the bends. The power required for the induction of the same flow rate inside the two types of photobioreactor changed significantly. At a Reynolds number of 4000, the power absorbed by the CTP was 25% higher than that required for water recycling in the STP and rose by more than 40% at a Reynolds number of 20000.
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Carlozzi, P., Torzillo, G. Productivity of Spirulina in a strongly curved outdoor tubular photobioreactor. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 45, 18–23 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002530050642
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002530050642