In order to predict the potential benefit associated with mixing devices designed to introduce periodic light modulations in dense cultures of microalgae, it is necessary to develop a quantitative understanding of the relationship between the frequency of the modulations and the resulting photosynthetic efficiency enhancement. To explore this relationship, the photosynthetic rate of cells of Phaeodactylum tricornutum from a dense steady state culture was determined as a function of modulation frequency, intensity of light received, and the proportion of the total cycle period during which the cells were illuminated. At high flash frequencies, the photosynthetic rate was determined by the average intensity received by the cells (full light intensity integration), while at low frequencies the cells responded to the instantaneous intensity (no light intensity integration). Full integration was approached asymptotically with increasing flash frequency. The frequency response could be described by a rectangular hyperbola, and the parameters of this hyperbola were nearly independent of the illumination intensity and the flash proportion. The saturation constant of the hyperbola, at which the response is one-half of the maximum, was 0.67 Hz.

Theoretical considerations predict that the cell N:P ratio at transition from nitrogen limitation to phosphorus limitation of phytoplankton growth (critical ratio, Rc) varies, as a function of population growth rate. This prediction is confirmed by experimental, data from the literature along with new experimental data for the marine, prymnesiophyte Pavlova lutheri (Droop) Green. Rc passes through a maximum at intermediate growth rates for the three phytoplankton species for which data, are available, but there is significant interspecific variability in its value. There is no theoretical or experimental evidence to support the idea that the ratio of subsistence N and P cell quotas is equal to Rc over the range of growth rates, or that the subsistence quota ratio equals the ratio of the N and P cell quotas minus a storage fraction. Examination of N:P composition ratios can be used to determine which nutrient is limiting, but cannot be used to determine relative growth rates or competitive advantage between species limited by the same nutrient. Growth rates are determined by environmental conditions and by the cell quota of the limiting nutrient, without reference to the cell quota of the non‐limiting nutrient.

Arrays of foils similar in design to airplane wings have been placed in an algal culture flume to create systematic mixing. Vortices are produced in the culture due to the pressure differential created as water flows over and under the foils. In a flume having a flow rate of 30 cm/s, the foil arrays produced vortices with rotation rates of ca. 0.5-1.0 Hz. This rotation rate is satisfactory to take advantage of the flashing light effect if the culture is sufficiently dense. Solar energy conversion efficiencies in an experimental culture of P. tricornutum increased 2.2-2.4 fold with the foil arrays in place versus controls with no foil arrays and solar energy conversion efficiencies averaged 3.7% over a three-month period. Five-day running means of solar energy conversion efficiencies reached as high as 10% during the three-month period. The use of foil arrays appears to be an effective and inexpensive way to utilize the flashing light effect in a dense algal culture system.

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