Types of photobioreactors

Microalgae cultivation: closing the yield gap from laboratory to field scale

“…Most microalgae commercial cultivation takes place in photobioreactors that improve control, productivity, quality, and biomass recovery. Various closed photobioreactors, such as column, tubular, and flat plate photobioreactors, have therefore been designed to optimize light utilization efficiency (especially by reducing light inhibition), gas-liquid mass transfer, and biomass harvesting ( Borowiak et al, 2021 ; Cui et al, 2021 ; Yaqoubnejad et al, 2021 ; Wang et al, 2022b ; Leong et al, 2023 ). However, and despite inherent risks of contamination, open raceways ponds remain the system of choice for commercial production as these systems are more economic to build and operate than closed designs ( Jorquera et al, 2010 ; Craggs et al, 2012 ).…”

Transdisciplinary collaboration in architecture: Integrating microalgae biotechnologies for human and non-human perspectives

“…Semi-closed or closed systems, the so-called photobioreactors (PBRs), have a significant advantage -the ability to control the entire assembly's carbon dioxide supply, air, and overall individual variables (Koller, 2015). The most common types of PBRs are tubes, columns, or flat panels, made of transparent or translucent materials such as laboratory glass, plexiglass, or foil, positioned horizontally or vertically and arranged in systems of loops, helixes, coils, or fences according to the desired purpose or spatial conditions (Acién, Molina, Reis, Torzillo, Zittelli, Sepúlveda, Masojídek, 2017;Leong, Chang, Lee, 2023). Closed systems have minimal direct contact with the surrounding environment, reducing the likelihood of culture contamination, but making them more maintenance-intensive than open systems.…”