JPH04299975A - Apparatus for reforming air quality - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the subject apparatus having a structure where light is sent through a specified optical fiber to a culture solution containing a photosynthetic microorganism such as green algae while bringing the air into contact therewith and capable of converting CO2 into O2 with an improved efficiency utilizing its light-absorption wave length. CONSTITUTION:Water containing dispersed photosynthetic living bodies or water 2 containing immersed fixed-living bodies on a carrier is accommodated in a vessel 1. The air is then sent through an air-supply pipe 3 into the vessel 1 so as to be brought into contact with the above-mentioned water 2. An optical fiber 8 carrying or containing a fluorescent substance capable of absorbing green light and converting it to red light is arranged in the vessel 1 so as to selectively converting light from a condenser 7 to a light having an intensity between a light-compensation point and a light-saturation point by the optical fiber itself 8 and to supply it to the living bodies.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling the oxygen concentration of air and converting carbon dioxide into oxygen.

0002

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years, attention has been paid to the function of converting carbon dioxide into oxygen using photosynthetic organisms such as green algae such as chlorella and blue-green algae.

[0003] Specifically, an air quality conversion device has been reported that disperses the above living organisms in water, blows air containing carbon dioxide gas into this liquid, irradiates it with light, and converts the carbon dioxide gas component into oxygen using the photosynthetic ability of the living organisms. has been done.

[0004] Regarding the above-mentioned air quality conversion device, there is a demand for further improvement in light utilization efficiency. That is, in a liquid in which living organisms are dispersed in water, the irradiated light reaches only the vicinity of the liquid water surface, and green light is reflected, so effective use of reflected light has been desired.

[0005]

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, living organisms such as plants that generally have a photosynthetic function do not substantially convert carbon dioxide into oxygen at light intensity below the light compensation point; At a light intensity above that level, the light cannot be used effectively.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that converts and selects light with an intensity between a light compensation point and a light saturation point, and efficiently supplies the light to a living body.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a fluorescent substance that absorbs green color and converts it to red color by dispersing photosynthetic organisms such as green algae and blue-green algae in water or fixing them on a support and immersing them in water. It is characterized by a configuration in which optical fibers having .

[0008] Furthermore, the optical fiber is characterized by a structure in which a transparent resin containing a fluorescent substance that absorbs green light and converts it to red is printed or applied in dots or lines on the surface of the underwater immersed portion of the optical fiber.

[0009]

[Operation] The air quality conversion device of the present invention uses an organism culture system in which organisms that perform photosynthesis such as green algae and blue-green algae are dispersed in water or fixed on a support and immersed in water, and an optical fiber and absorbs green light to turn it into red. Since the component is a light transmission system composed of a fluorescent substance that converts, it is possible to supply an appropriate amount of light with a wavelength effective for the living body above the compensation point and below the saturation point.
It becomes possible to improve photosynthetic efficiency.

0010

[Example] First, the basics of the present invention will be explained. The air quality conversion device of the present invention consists of an organism culture system in which organisms that perform photosynthesis such as green algae and blue-green algae are dispersed in water or fixed on a carrier and immersed in water, optical fibers and fluorescent light that absorbs green light and converts it into red. It consists of a light transmission system made up of substances. When light such as sunlight, which is an energy source for photosynthesis, hits the light receiving section of the air quality conversion device, the light is supplied to the organisms in the organism culture section through the light introducing section, the transmitting section, and the emitting section. The photosynthetic function of living organisms is carried out in chloroplasts. Particularly in the case of green algae, it has been reported that the pigments chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids in the chloroplasts are involved.

FIG. 2 shows the photosynthetic quantum yield and relative absorbance of chlorophyll and carotenoid in the green alga Chlorella. Figure 2
10 shows the photosynthetic quantum yield spectrum of green algae, 11 shows the relative absorbance spectrum of chlorophyll, and 12 shows the relative absorbance spectrum of carotenoid. The amount of oxygen generated was used as an index of photosynthetic reaction. It can be seen from FIG. 2 that the quantum yield is almost constant at wavelengths longer than about 600 nm and exhibits a maximum yield. On the other hand, in a wavelength range shorter than this, a decrease in yield is observed with a minimum value of about 500 nm. That is, in the region from 500 nm to 600 nm, there is no absorption band of chlorophyll or carotenoid, and the light utilization efficiency is low.

Therefore, in order to efficiently supply light to living organisms, photosynthesis efficiency can be improved by converting light with a wavelength of 500 nm to 600 nm into red visible light with a wavelength longer than 600 nm using a fluorescent substance. The aim is to improve

An embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail below with reference to FIG. In culture tank 1, there is a green algae called Chlorella.
A chlorella culture solution 2 containing ella pyrenoidosa) is filled. The culture tank 1 is provided with an air inlet pipe 3 and an air outlet pipe 4. One end of the air inlet pipe 3 is open at the bottom of the culture tank 1, and air can be bubbled into the culture solution 2 at the bottom of the culture tank 1. The other end is connected to a blower 6 via a filter 5. The light from the light source, which becomes the energy source for photosynthesis, is collected by a concentrator 7,
The focused light is transmitted into the culture tank 1 by the optical fiber 8 from one end of the optical fiber 8 placed at the focal point.

The other end of the optical fiber 8 is immersed in the culture solution 2, and a transparent resin 9 is printed on the side surface of the immersed optical fiber 8 to serve as an exit for light. That is,
The light in the optical fiber 8 is transmitted through repeated specular reflections on the side surfaces of the optical fiber 8, but by coating a portion of the side surfaces with a resin having a refractive index similar to that of the optical fiber 8, the transmitted light can be reduced. A portion is released from the applied area.

Specifically, acrylic resin is coated with 500 nm
A paint mixed with a fluorescent substance that has an absorption band from 600 nm to 600 nm and converts wavelengths longer than 600 nm is printed in dots on the part of the optical fiber 8 made of acrylic resin immersed in the culture solution 2.

With the above configuration, the air containing carbon dioxide sent by the blower 6 floats in the form of bubbles in the culture solution 2, while absorbing carbon dioxide through the photosynthesis of chlorella and converting it into the same number of moles of oxygen. It was confirmed that the water was converted to

Although the above-mentioned fluorescent substance is provided in the light emitting part, the fluorescent substance is provided in the light introducing part or the transmitting part, that is, in the light condenser 7.
, the same effect was obtained when they were mixed in the optical fiber 8, or when a mixture was installed together. Furthermore, although chlorella was used as a photosynthetic organism in the example, the present invention is not limited to this.

[0018]

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, in the present invention, the air containing carbon dioxide sent by the blower absorbs carbon dioxide gas through photosynthesis of photosynthetic organisms while floating in the culture solution as bubbles. In the process of converting it into the same number of moles of oxygen and discharging it from the exhaust pipe, the photosynthetic organisms are supplied with an appropriate amount of light with an effective wavelength above the compensation point and below the saturation point, increasing photosynthetic efficiency. This has the effect of making it possible to improve. Furthermore, it has the effect of increasing the carbohydrate/nitrogen ratio of photosynthetic products by about 30%, which also greatly contributes to improving the efficiency of carbon dioxide fixation, that is, the conversion of carbon dioxide to oxygen.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

[Fig. 1] Conceptual diagram of the air quality conversion device of the present invention

[Figure 2] Characteristic diagram showing the quantum yield of photosynthesis and the relative absorbance of chlorophyll and carotenoids in the green alga Chlorella

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Culture tank 2 Culture solution 3 Air inlet pipe 4 Discharge pipe 5 Filter 6 Air blower 7 Light collector 8 Optical fiber 9 Transparent resin 10 Photosynthetic quantum yield spectrum of green algae 11 Relative absorbance spectrum of chlorophyll 12 Relative absorbance spectrum of carotenoid

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A container for storing water in which photosynthetic organisms are dispersed or water in which a support is fixed, and means for sending air into the container and bringing the air into contact with the water, An air quality conversion device comprising an optical fiber disposed within the container, the optical fiber carrying or containing a fluorescent material that absorbs green light and converts it to red. 2. The air quality conversion device according to claim 1, wherein the optical fiber is made of transparent resin containing a fluorescent substance. 3. The air quality conversion device according to claim 1, wherein a light introducing/converting portion made of a transparent resin containing a fluorescent substance is provided at an end of an optical fiber made of a colorless transparent resin. 4. The optical fiber has an underwater immersion section made of a colorless transparent resin fiber, and a transparent resin containing a fluorescent substance is supported on the surface of the underwater immersion section in the form of dots or lines. The air quality conversion device according to claim 1.