Systems and methods for positioning flexible floating photobioreactors
A top reference photobioreactor system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a flexible floating photobioreactor having a buoyancy tube filled with a gas that is less dense, and a ballast tube filled with a substance, such as saltwater, that is more dense, than the liquid in which the photobioreactor floats. A top reference photobioreactor method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes controlling a depth of the top reference photobioreactor by controlling a volume and/or density of ballast in the ballast tube and/or by controlling a volume and/or density of gas in the buoyancy tube.
1. A photobioreactor system comprising:
a reservoir containing liquid, the liquid having a top surface level;
a photobioreactor, wherein the photobioreactor is flexible and is floating in the liquid, the photobioreactor comprising:
a growth chamber containing media in which organisms may be grown; and
a ballast chamber containing a fluid, the fluid having an effective density greater than that of the liquid, such that the ballast chamber exerts a force on the photobioreactor in a downward direction;
wherein the photobioreactor is one of a plurality of photobioreactors each substantially the same as the photobioreactor, wherein the plurality of photobioreactors is floating in the liquid, and wherein the plurality of photobioreactors are positioned one next to the other such that a spacing between two adjacent photobioreactors of the plurality of photobioreactors is determined by widths of adjacent abutting ballast chambers.
2. The photobioreactor system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid is a first fluid, wherein the effective density is a first effective density, wherein the force is a first force, and wherein the photobioreactor further comprises:
a buoyancy chamber containing a second fluid, the second fluid having a second effective density less than that of the liquid, such that the buoyancy chamber exerts a second force on the photobioreactor in an upward direction.
3. The photobiorector system of claim 2 , wherein the photobioreactor further comprises:
a sparging chamber having a plurality of holes opening into the growth chamber, the sparging chamber containing a sparging gas or gas mixture that is configured to pass through the plurality of holes and rise through the media.
4. The photobiorector system of claim 3 , wherein the top surface level is a reservoir top surface level, wherein the growth chamber comprises a head space above a media top surface level, and wherein the head space accommodates accumulation of the sparging gas or gas mixture.
5. The photobioreactor system of claim 4 , wherein the buoyancy chamber is isolated from, and directly adjacent to, the head space.
6. The photobioreactor system of claim 5 , wherein the ballast chamber is isolated from, and directly adjacent to, a bottom of the growth chamber.
7. The photobioreactor system of claim 5 , wherein the sparging chamber is located at a bottom of the growth chamber, and wherein the ballast chamber is isolated from, and directly adjacent to, the sparging chamber.
8. The photobioreactor system of claim 2 , wherein the ballast chamber and the buoyancy chamber maintain the photobioreactor in a substantially upright position as the photobioreactor is floating in the liquid.
9. The photobioreactor system of claim 2 , wherein the first fluid is salt water, and the second fluid is air.
10. The photobioreactor system of claim 2 , wherein the buoyancy chamber comprises at least one port through which the second fluid may be added to or removed from the buoyancy chamber.
11. The photobioreactor system of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is a body of water selected from the group consisting of: an ocean, a lake, a sea, a pond, a river, a basin, a tub, a pool, and a tank.
12. The photobioreactor system of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is a naturally occurring body of water.
13. The photobioreactor system of claim 12 , wherein the fluid is salt water.
14. The photobioreactor system of claim 1 , wherein the ballast chamber comprises at least one port through which the fluid may be added to or removed from the ballast chamber.
15. The photobioreactor system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of photobioreactors comprises a top flap, wherein the top flap is configured to be placed over a top of an adjacent photobioreactor or over the top surface level of the liquid between adjacent photobioreactors.
16. The photobioreactor system of claim 15 , wherein the photobioreactor is at least partially formed of a substantially transparent plastic film.
17. The photobioreactor system of claim 15 , wherein the photobioreactor is at least partially formed of or coated by an anti-biofouling additive selected from the group consisting of: polyethylene glycol (PEG), hyperbranched fluoropolymer (HBFP), polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polymethylmethacrylatc (PMMA), natural rubber (NR), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polystyrene (PS), perfluoropolyether (PFPE), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and silicons and derivatives.
18. The photobioreactor system of claim 15 , wherein the media comprises an anti-biofouling additive selected from the group consisting of: polyethylene glycol (PEG), silicons and derivatives, biocides, fluorocarbons, and quatinary amines.
19. The photobioreactor system of claim 1 , wherein the photobioreactor is at least partially formed of a substantially transparent plastic film.
20. The photobioreactor system of claim 19 , wherein at least a bottom surface of the ballast chamber is reinforced to minimize possible puncture.
21. The photobioreactor system of claim 1 , wherein the photobioreactor is at least partially formed of or coated by an anti-biofouling additive selected from the group consisting of: polyethylene glycol (PEG), hyperbranched fluoropolymer (HBFP), polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polymethylmethacrylatc (PMMA), natural rubber (NR), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polystyrene (PS), perfluoropolyether (PFPE), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and silicons and derivatives.
22. The photobioreactor system of claim 21 , wherein at least a bottom surface of the ballast chamber is reinforced to minimize possible puncture.
23. The photobioreactor system of claim 1 , wherein the media comprises an anti-biofouling additive selected from the group consisting of: polyethylene glycol (PEG), silicons and derivatives, biocides, fluorocarbons, and quatinary amines.
24. The photobioreactor system of claim 1 , wherein at least a bottom surface of the ballast chamber is reinforced to minimize possible puncture.
25. The photobioreactor system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid is salt water.
26. The photobioreactor system of claim 1 , wherein the ballast chamber is isolated from, and directly adjacent to, a bottom of the growth chamber.