Development of a ground-based space micro-algae photo-bioreactor

Ai, Weidang; Guo, Shaohui; Qin, Lifeng; Tang, Yongkang

doi:10.1016/j.asr.2007.06.060

Cited by 38 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 13 publications

(14 reference statements)

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“…As in space flight cost is not that importance it can be the trend-setter for innovative photo-bioreactor design, e.g. [66][67][68]. In an example [69], oxygen production and removal by membranes is the main target.…”

Section: Concepts For Improved Photo-bioreactor Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

Design principles of photo‐bioreactors for cultivation of microalgae

Posten

2009

Engineering in Life Sciences

665

361

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The present hype in microalgae biotechnology has shown that the topic of photobioreactors has to be revisited with respect to availability in really large scale measured in hectars footprint area, minimization of cost, auxiliary energy demand as well as maintenance and life span. This review gives an overview about present designs and the basic limiting factors which include light distribution to avoid saturation kinetics, mixing along the light gradient to make use of light/ dark cycles, aeration and mass transfer along the vertical or horizontal main axis for carbon dioxide supply and oxygen removal and last but not least the energy demand necessary to fulfil these tasks. To make comparison of the performance of different designs easier, a commented list of performance parameters is given. Based on these critical points recent developments in the areas of membranes for gas transfer and optical structures for light transfer are discussed. The fundamental starting point for the optimization of photo-bioprocesses is a detailed understanding of the interaction between the bioreactor in terms of mass and light transfer as well as the microalgae physiology in terms of light and carbon uptake kinetics and dynamics.

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Section: Concepts For Improved Photo-bioreactor Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

Design principles of photo‐bioreactors for cultivation of microalgae

Posten

2009

Engineering in Life Sciences

665

361

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“…Bubble-free membrane-aerated photobioreactors for space application have already been described by various authors [103][104][105].…”

Section: Membrane-aerated Photobioreactors For Spacementioning

confidence: 99%

Photobioreactors in Life Support Systems

Wagner

Braun

Slenzka³

et al. 2015

Microalgae Biotechnology

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Life support systems for long-term space missions or extraterrestrial installations have to fulfill major functions such as purification of water and regeneration of atmosphere as well as the generation of food and energy. For almost 60 years ideas for biological life support systems have been collected and various concepts have been developed and tested. Microalgae as photosynthetic organisms have played a major role in most of these concepts. This review deals with the potentials of using eukaryotic microalgae for life support systems and highlights special requirements and frame conditions for designing space photobioreactors especially regarding illumination and aeration. Mono- and dichromatic illumination based on LEDs is a promising alternative for conventional systems and preliminary results yielded higher photoconversion efficiencies (PCE) for dichromatic red/blue illumination than white illumination. Aeration for microgravity conditions should be realized in a bubble-free manner, for example, via membranes. Finally, a novel photobioreactor concept for space application is introduced being parameterized and tested with the microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. This system has already been tested during two parabolic flight campaigns.

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“…The recent experiments conducted by Ai et al (2008) showed that the density of algae in a photo-bioreactor can increase at very high rate -from 0.174 to 4.064 g (dry weight)/L after 7 days growth. Duckweeds, which, in addition to their ability of treating wastewater and producing oxygen, are a 100% food source in contrast to practically inedible Chlorella, can successfully grow at 1600 ppm CO 2 (Gale et al, 1989).…”

Section: Enhanced Algae and Duckweed Growthmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…AGM along with AQM is the most important unit, which provides water, food, oxygen, and the inedible biomass for composting and fertilization, as well as assimilates carbon dioxide (Tikhomirov et al, 2007;Sychev et al, 2008;Barta et al, 2006). In addition to the production of food, water, oxygen, and inedible biomass, AQM can contribute to the treatment of liquid wastes (Mori et al, 1989;Oguchi et al, 1989;Gitelson, 1992;Ai et al, 2008;Blüm, 2003;Blüm et al, 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Closed bioregenerative life support systems: Applicability to hot deserts

Polyakov¹,

Musaev

Polyakov³

2010

Nature Precedings

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Water scarcity in hot deserts, which cover about one-fifth of the Earth's land area, along with rapid expansion of hot deserts into arable lands is one of the key global environmental problems.As hot deserts are extreme habitats characterized by the availability of solar energy with a nearly complete absence of organic life and water, space technology achievements in designing closed ecological systems may be applicable to the design of sustainable settlements in the deserts. This review discusses the key space technology findings for closed biogenerative life support systems (CBLSS), which can simultaneously produce food, water, nutrients, fertilizers, process wastes, and revitalize air, that can be applied to hot deserts. Among them are the closed cycle of water and the acceleration of the cycling times of carbon, biogenic compounds, and nutrients by adjusting the levels of light intensity, temperature, carbon dioxide, and air velocity over plant canopies. Enhanced growth of algae and duckweed at higher levels of carbon dioxide and light intensity can be important to provide complete water recycling and augment biomass production.The production of fertilizers and nutrients can be enhanced by applying the subsurface flow wetland technology and hyper-thermophilic aerobic bacteria for treating liquid and solid wastes.The mathematical models, optimization techniques, and non-invasive measuring techniques developed for CBLSS make it possible to monitor and optimize the performance of such closed ecological systems. The results of long-duration experiments performed in BIOS-3, Biosphere 2, Laboratory Biosphere, and other ground-based closed test facilities suggest that closed water cycle can be achieved in hot-desert bioregenerative systems using the pathways of evapotranspiration, condensation, and biological wastewater treatment technologies. We suggest that the state of the art in the CBLSS design along with the possibility of using direct sunlight for * Corresponding author. Tel.: +1-347-673-7747. E-mail address: ypolyakov@uspolyresearch.com (Yu.S. Polyakov). 2 photosynthesis and recent advances in photovoltaic engineering can be used as a basis for building sustainable settlements producing food, water, and energy in hot deserts.

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Development of a ground-based space micro-algae photo-bioreactor

Cited by 38 publications

References 13 publications

Design principles of photo‐bioreactors for cultivation of microalgae

Design principles of photo‐bioreactors for cultivation of microalgae

Photobioreactors in Life Support Systems

Closed bioregenerative life support systems: Applicability to hot deserts

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