JP2011250760A - Illuminator and culture apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an illuminator suitable for culturing algae, which can promote the photosynthesis of algae by excellently irradiating light to the algae in a culture solution even when a culture density increases in the culture solution for culturing the algae.SOLUTION: The illuminator illuminates the culture solution S for culturing the algae includes: a magnetic field generating part 41 which causes a magnetic field in the culture solution S; a coil which causes a faradism by the magnetic field; and a light source which make conductive with the coil and emits light by the faradism.

Description

  The present invention relates to a lighting device and a culture device.

  The so-called bioreactor has a feature that the reaction rate is slow compared with the chemical reaction, but it does not require high temperature and high pressure unlike the chemical reaction, so it is excellent in energy saving, and the reaction equipment does not need to be heat resistant and pressure resistant. ing. Furthermore, since it has the feature that a reaction system with few side reactions can be constructed from a specific raw material to a target product according to the species used in the reaction, it is industrially advantageous. Has received a lot of attention.

  In recent years, bioreactors have attracted attention using algae, especially microalgae. For example, for microalgae that produce heavy oil by photosynthesis, the oil content is refined from the grown microalgae and used as fuel (biodiesel), which plays a role in measures against oil depletion and environmental measures (warming measures) It is expected that. Attempts have also been made to produce, using algae, substances that are physiologically useful natural products for the human body and accumulate in algae, such as the antioxidant substance astaxanthin.

  Such algae usually grow by photosynthesis. Therefore, as a culture tank for culturing algae, a culture tank formed using a transparent material such as light-transmitting glass or plastic is used, and the algae is cultured using sunlight or light emitted from a separately provided lighting device. A configuration that promotes photosynthesis is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-8-38156

  However, the apparatus described in the above patent document has the following problems. That is, in the above apparatus, the culture vessel is formed of a transparent material, so that the light irradiated from the outside is effectively used for photosynthesis, but when the culture density in the reaction solution increases, the culture vessel The algae inside block the light that enters from the outside, making it difficult to insert light into the culture tank. Therefore, when a conventional culture tank is used, the growth of the algae inside is inhibited, and it may be difficult to culture the algae at a high culture density.

  On the other hand, as described above, when biodiesel or physiologically useful substances are produced using cultured algae, it is preferable to culture algae at a culture density as high as possible because production efficiency can be improved.

  As described above, the conventional apparatus can cultivate the desired algae, but cannot cultivate the algae at a high culture density suitable for the intended use.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides an illumination device capable of irradiating algae with light well and promoting algae photosynthesis even when the culture density of the algae increases. The purpose is to do. Another object of the present invention is to provide an algal culture apparatus having such a lighting apparatus.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the lighting device of the present invention is a lighting device that illuminates a culture solution for culturing algae from within the culture solution, a magnetic field generation unit that generates a magnetic field in the culture solution, and the magnetic field And a light source that conducts with the coil and emits light by the induced current.
According to this configuration, the coil generates an induced current due to electromagnetic induction by the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generation unit, and the light source emits light. Since it is not necessary to supply power from the outside to the light source, it is easy to illuminate the inside of the culture solution by arranging the light source and the coil in the culture solution. Therefore, even if the culture density of the algae to be cultivated is high, the algae in the culture solution can be irradiated with light, and a lighting device that can culture algae at a high culture density can be provided.

  Here, the culture solution refers to a solution in which algae are dispersed in water that is a culture environment for algae such as fresh water and seawater.

In the present invention, it is desirable that the coil and the light source are housed in a light-transmitting substrate and constitute a light source device that floats in the culture medium.
According to this configuration, when the light source device floating in the culture solution moves in the culture solution and passes through the region where the magnetic field generation unit generates a magnetic field, the coil in the light source device induces an induced current due to electromagnetic induction. The light source emits light, and light can be supplied to the algae in the culture solution through the substrate.

In the present invention, the specific gravity of the light source device can be set in the following two ways. First, the specific gravity of the light source device can be equal to or higher than the specific gravity of the culture solution.
According to this configuration, since the light source device does not float on the liquid level of the culture solution, the internal illumination of the culture solution can be reliably performed.

Or in this invention, the specific gravity of the said light source device is smaller than the specific gravity of the said culture solution, and it is good also as having a locking member which connects the said light source device.
According to this configuration, the light source device can float in the culture solution and illuminate the culture solution. Further, since the light source device can be locked by the locking member, the light source device is not dispersed when used in, for example, the sea or a pond. Therefore, it is possible to reliably illuminate the inside of the culture solution.

In the present invention, it is desirable that the light source device includes the three coils arranged to be orthogonal to each other and the light sources connected to the three coils.
According to this configuration, regardless of the posture of the light source device that passes through the region in which the magnetic field is generated by the magnetic field generator, an induced current is generated in any coil, and the coil in which the induced current is generated The light source connected to the light will emit light. For this reason, the light emission time becomes longer (the time during which light is not emitted becomes shorter), and the algae can be cultured more efficiently.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the light source includes a first light source and a second light source, and the first light source and the second light source emit light having different wavelength bands.
According to this configuration, light can be emitted in a wide wavelength band, and a light source device that emits light suitable for photosynthesis of various algae can be obtained.

In the present invention, the light source includes a first light source and a second light source, and the first light source and the second light source are light emitting diodes, and the energization directions are opposite to each other. It is desirable to be connected to the coil.
According to this configuration, since the first light source or the second light source emits light regardless of the direction in which the induced current is generated in the coil, the time during which the light source device does not emit light is shortened.

Moreover, the culture apparatus of this invention is a culture apparatus which culture | cultivates algae, Comprising: It has the storage tank which stores the culture solution containing the said algae, and the above-mentioned illuminating device, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.
According to this configuration, even if the culture density of the algae to be cultivated is high, the algae can be irradiated with light from within the culture solution to cause good photosynthesis of the algae, and the algae can be cultured at a high density. A simple culture apparatus.

In the present invention, there is provided a stirring device that includes a stirring blade that stirs the culture solution, and a rotating shaft that is connected to the stirring blade and rotates the stirring blade, and the magnetic field generator is provided in the stirring blade. It is desirable that
According to this structure, the area | region which has generate | occur | produced the magnetic field in a culture solution changes with rotation of a stirring blade. Therefore, even if the culture density becomes high and the culture solution becomes difficult to convect and the light source device becomes difficult to move, the magnetic flux density is reduced in the coil in the light source device by moving the region where the magnetic field is generated. It changes and electromagnetic induction arises, and it can be made to perform favorable light emission.

  In that case, it is preferable that the magnetic field generator is a permanent magnet because the apparatus configuration can be simplified.

In the present invention, the magnetic field generation unit may be provided outside the storage tank and generate a magnetic field inside the storage tank.
According to this configuration, since the magnetic field generation unit is not immersed in the culture solution, it is easy to adopt a device configuration that is electrically controlled as the magnetic field generation unit. For example, a magnetic field is generated using an electromagnetic wave generation device such as a magnetron. It becomes possible to make it.

  According to the present invention, even if the culture density of the algae to be cultured increases, the light source device that floats in the culture solution can emit light, so that the algae can be irradiated with light, and the photosynthesis of the algae can be caused satisfactorily. And a culture device capable of culturing algae at a high density.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the culture apparatus and illuminating device which concern on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows a light source device. It is a schematic diagram which shows the modification of a light source device. It is a schematic diagram which shows the modification of a light source device. It is a schematic diagram which shows the modification of a light source device.

  Hereinafter, an illuminating device and an algae culture device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In all the drawings below, the dimensions and ratios of the constituent elements are appropriately changed in order to make the drawings easy to see.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a culture device of the present invention and a lighting device provided in the culture device. As shown in the figure, the culture apparatus 1 of this embodiment includes a storage tank 2 that stores a culture solution S for culturing algae, a stirrer 3 that is provided in the storage tank 2 and that stirs the culture solution S, and a culture solution S. And an illuminating device 4 for illuminating.

  The culture solution S stored in the storage tank 2 contains algae to be cultured and a dispersion medium that is an algae culture environment. Examples of algae that can be cultured include Haematococcus algae for producing chlorella and astaxanthin, and Botriococcus algae for producing oil. As the dispersion medium, a dispersion medium suitable for algae such as fresh water and seawater can be selected depending on the type of algae to be cultured.

  The storage tank 2 may be a closed type or an open type. The side wall 2a and the lid 2b may be formed of a light transmissive material, and the culture solution S may be irradiated with sunlight or light from external illumination (not shown).

  The stirrer 3 has a rotating shaft 31, a stirring blade 32, and a motor 33, and stirs the culture solution S by the rotation of the stirring blade 32. As the stirring blade 32, a generally known screw blade, propeller blade, anchor blade, paddle blade, pitched paddle blade, turbine blade, large lattice blade, or the like can be used. In addition, by using aeration equipment as a stirrer and sending air into the culture medium S, the culture medium S can be stirred by bubbles of air while dissolving oxygen.

  The illumination device 4 includes an electromagnetic wave generation unit (magnetic field generation unit) 41 that generates an electromagnetic wave, such as a magnetron, and a plurality of light source devices 42. The electromagnetic wave generator 41 irradiates the culture solution S in the storage tank 2 with electromagnetic waves. In that case, it is good also as changing the magnetic flux density of a magnetic field temporally by changing the intensity | strength of electromagnetic waves temporally.

  The light source device 42 has a light source connected to the coil inside, and an induced current is generated in the coil by the electromagnetic wave (magnetic field component of the electromagnetic wave) emitted from the electromagnetic wave generator 41, and the induced current is connected to the coil. The light source emits light.

  Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the light source device 42 according to the present embodiment includes a coil 421, a light source (first light source) 422 connected in parallel to the coil 421, and a light source (second light source) 423. And a light source base 424 having a coil 421 and light sources 422 and 423 therein.

  The light sources 422 and 423 are light emitting diodes, and are connected to the coil 421 such that energization directions are opposite to each other. Thus, light can be emitted regardless of the direction of the current flowing from the coil 421 and alternating current.

  The wavelength of light emitted from the two light sources 422 and 423 is selected according to the wavelength of light absorbed by the cultured algae. The wavelength bands of the light emitted from the light sources 422 and 423 may be the same or overlap each other, or may be different from each other. When the wavelengths of light emitted from the two light sources 422 and 423 are different, a light source that emits light in a wide wavelength band can be obtained.

  The light source base 424 is formed of a transparent forming material. For example, it is formed using glass or a light-transmitting synthetic resin. The light source base 424 may be hollow and include a circuit having the coil 421, the light source 422, and 423 in the internal space. When the light source base 424 is formed of a resin material, the circuit may be embedded. .

  The outer shape of the light source substrate 424 may be spherical as shown in FIG. 2, or may have another shape such as an ellipsoid, a cube, or a polygonal column. The size W of the light source substrate 424 may be a size that does not interfere with the culture of algae, and may be, for example, a spherical shape of about 1 cm.

  The surface of the light source substrate 424 may be provided smoothly or may have unevenness. When the surface has irregularities, the cultured algae may grow while adhering. In such a case, by collecting the light source device 42 with a net or the like, the algae adhering to the surface can be collected at the same time, and the algae can be easily separated.

  The specific gravity of such a light source device 42 is substantially the same as the specific gravity of the culture solution S, and is configured to have a specific gravity capable of floating in the culture solution S. When the light source device 42 has such a specific gravity, the culture medium S can be freely moved by stirring the culture medium S. For example, when the dispersion liquid of the culture solution S is seawater, if the specific gravity is set to about 1.03, it floats in the culture solution S and can take the intended behavior.

  When the light source substrate 424 is formed of a synthetic resin, the synthetic resin often has a specific gravity smaller than that of water, and thus the specific gravity of the entire light source device 42 is often smaller than 1.03. In such a case, the overall specific gravity may be adjusted by embedding a high specific gravity such as a metal piece in the light source base 424 in order to adjust the specific gravity.

  Such adjustment of specific gravity may be performed in the creation of the light source 42. For example, a light source device with a specific gravity adjusted for fresh water and a light source device with a specific gravity adjusted for seawater are appropriately used. It's also good. Or it is good also as adjusting the specific gravity of the light source device 42 each time according to the culture solution S which a user uses for culture | cultivation.

  In such an illuminating device 4, a region in which the light source device 42 floating in the culture solution S is moved in the culture solution S by agitation of the culture solution S in the storage tank 2, and electromagnetic waves are irradiated from the electromagnetic wave generator 41. Across. In the coil 421 in the light source device 42, an induced current due to electromagnetic dielectric is generated due to a change in magnetic flux density when crossing a region irradiated with electromagnetic waves, and the light source 422 or the light source 423 emits light.

  The culture apparatus 1 may have a supply device that supplies the culture solution S into the storage tank 2 and a discharge device such as a pump for discharging the culture solution S in the storage tank 2.

  Further, such a culture apparatus 1 may be subjected to batch operation control or continuous operation control.

  According to the culture device 1 and the lighting device 4 configured as described above, the light source device 42 floating in the culture solution S emits light in the culture solution S and can supply light to the algae contained in the culture solution S. . Therefore, even if the culture density of the algae increases, the algae inside the storage tank 2 can be irradiated with light, and the photosynthesis of the algae can be favorably caused, so that the algae can be cultured at a high density. It becomes possible.

  In this embodiment, the electromagnetic wave generator 41 such as a magnetron is used. However, electromagnetic induction is caused to occur in the coil of the light source device 42 using an electromagnet or a permanent magnet and a magnetic field obtained therefrom. It is also good. In this case, as shown in FIG. 1, it is good also as providing in the storage tank 2, but it can also be installed in another place.

  For example, if a permanent magnet is provided on the stirring blade 32, electromagnetic induction occurs in the light source device 42 floating in the vicinity of the stirring blade 32 due to the rotation of the stirring blade 32, and the light source device 42 can emit light. With such a configuration, the region where the magnetic field is generated in the culture solution S is changed by the rotation of the stirring blade 32. Therefore, even if it becomes difficult for the culture medium S to convect due to an increase in culture density and the light source device 42 to move, the coil in the light source device 42 is moved by moving the region where the magnetic field is generated. The magnetic flux density changes to cause electromagnetic induction, and good light emission can be performed.

  In addition to the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the light source device 42 may have a plurality of coils 421 as shown in FIG. 3, and a plurality of light sources 422 and 423 are connected in series (FIG. 3A )) Or in parallel (FIG. 3B) may be connected to the coil 421. As these light sources 422 and 423, light sources that emit light in the same wavelength band may be used, and light sources that emit light in different wavelength bands may be used.

  Further, when the light source device 42 has a plurality of coils 421, as shown in FIG. 4, at least three coils 421 are arranged so as to be orthogonal to each other, and the light sources 422 and 423 are connected to the respective coils 421. A configuration can be employed.

  In the light source device 42 having such a configuration, an induced current is generated in any of the coils regardless of the posture of the light source device 42 that passes through the region irradiated with the electromagnetic wave, and the coil in which the induced current is generated. The light sources 422 and 423 connected to the light source emit light. For this reason, the light emission time becomes longer (the time during which light is not emitted becomes shorter), and the algae can be cultured more efficiently.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the plurality of coils may constitute a circuit that is electrically and independently connected to the light source, or has three or more coils in one circuit, and these coils It is good also as arrange | positioning so that it may mutually orthogonally cross.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5A, a light source device 44 in which a plurality (three in the figure) of light source devices 42 are connected to each other by a flexible string-like member 43 can be used. When such a light source device 44 is used, it becomes easy to recover the light source device 44 from the culture solution S after culturing.

  Further, a light source device 42 (light source device 44) as shown in FIG. 5 (a) is formed to have a specific gravity smaller than that of the culture solution, and further, a string-like member that connects the light source device 44 to the inner wall of the culture tank 2 (Locking member) 43 may be included.

  As a device configuration having an external shape similar to such a configuration, a configuration in which a member corresponding to the locking member is a conductive wire and power is supplied to the light source device connected to the conductive wire via the conductive wire is considered. It is done. However, in this case, it is inconvenient that the conductive wire is tensioned by the movement of the light source device floating in the liquid and is easily broken, and that processing for electrical connection is required to increase the number of light source devices. May occur. On the other hand, in the configuration in which the light source device 42 (light source device 44) of the present embodiment is locked by the locking member, such an assumed problem does not occur and light irradiation can be favorably performed.

  When such a configuration is employed, for example, instead of the culture tank 2 employed in the present embodiment, a partition is provided in the sea or pond and seawater or fresh water is used as a culture solution, and algae is cultured in the partitioned region. It can be set as the structure suitable for. That is, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), the light source device 44 itself tries to float by locking the light source device 42 with the locking member 43 to the bottom of the sea or pond indicated by the symbol B, Since the locking member 43 locks the light source device 44, the light source device 44 can be prevented from floating up to the water surface while floating in water. By adopting such a configuration and generating a magnetic field from a separately provided magnetic field generator, diffusion of the light source device 44 to the outside of the system and aggregation to one place can be prevented, and efficient light irradiation can be performed.

  In the present embodiment, the light source device 42 has a specific gravity substantially equal to that of the culture solution S. However, the light source device 42 may flow in the culture solution S by convection in the culture solution S generated by the stirring of the stirring device 3. If possible, the specific gravity of the light source device 42 may be larger than that of the culture medium S. That is, when the specific gravity of the light source device 42 is larger than that of the culture solution S and the culture solution S is left without stirring, the light source device 42 is wound by convection of the culture solution S generated by stirring even if the light source device 42 settles to the bottom. If the specific gravity is such that the rising culture fluid S can flow, the light source device 42 flows in the culture fluid S during stirring, and effective light irradiation can be performed as in the present embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the light source device 42 is described as being configured to float in the culture medium S, but a configuration in which the light source device 42 is fixed to the inner wall of the storage tank, for example, may be employed. Even in such a configuration, an induced current is generated in the coil in the light source device 42 by the magnetic field generated from the magnetic field generation unit, and the algae can be illuminated from the culture solution S by causing the light source to emit light.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such examples. Various shapes, combinations, and the like of the constituent members shown in the above-described examples are examples, and various modifications can be made based on design requirements and the like without departing from the gist of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Culture apparatus, 2 ... Reservoir, 3 ... Agitation apparatus, 4 ... Illumination device, 31 ... Rotating shaft, 32 ... Agitation blade, 41 ... Magnetic field generation part, 42, 44 ... Light source apparatus, 47 ... Locking member, 421 ... Coil, 422 ... Light source (first light source), 423 ... Light source (second light source), S ... Culture medium,

Claims (11)

An illumination device for illuminating a culture solution for culturing algae from within the culture solution,
A magnetic field generator for generating a magnetic field in the culture solution;
A coil that generates an induced current by the magnetic field;
And a light source that is electrically connected to the coil and emits light by the induced current.   The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the coil and the light source constitute a light source device that is housed in a light-transmitting substrate and floats in the culture solution.   The lighting device according to claim 2, wherein a specific gravity of the light source device is equal to or higher than a specific gravity of the culture solution. The specific gravity of the light source device is smaller than the specific gravity of the culture solution,
The lighting device according to claim 2, further comprising a locking member that holds the light source device. The light source device includes three coils arranged to be orthogonal to each other,
The lighting device according to claim 2, further comprising a plurality of the light sources respectively connected to the three coils. The light source has a first light source and a second light source,
4. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first light source and the second light source emit light having different wavelength bands. 5. The light source has a first light source and a second light source,
The said 1st light source and the said 2nd light source are light emitting diodes, and are connected to the said coil so that an energization direction may mutually become reverse, The any one of Claim 1 to 4 characterized by the above-mentioned. The lighting device described. A culture device for culturing algae,
A storage tank for storing a culture solution containing the algae;
A culture device comprising: the lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 7. A stirring device including a stirring blade that stirs the culture solution, and a rotating shaft that is connected to the stirring blade and rotates the stirring blade;
The culture apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the magnetic field generation unit is provided on the stirring blade.   The culture apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the magnetic field generation unit is a permanent magnet.   The culture apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the magnetic field generation unit is provided outside the storage tank, and generates a magnetic field inside the storage tank.

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