LT6844B - Microalgae collection harvester - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention belongs to the field of underwater plant cutting technology. The invention is intended for the collection of microalgae from lagoons and other large surface water bodies. The aim of the invention is to improve the stability of the treatment plant in undulating water bodies, to increase the amount of microalgae collected from water by reducing their moisture and volume, to expand the combine's applicability, to reduce the negative impact on the environment using renewable energy sources. and from the sides, two smaller lifting microalgae collection mechanisms with spreading nozzles, air nozzles for cleaning filtration networks, two microalgae collection tanks between pontoons, covered with thermal insulation material and using renewable energy sources to extract energy.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention belongs to the field of underwater plant cutting technology. The invention is intended for the collection of microalgae from lagoons and other large surface water bodies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, one of the main disadvantages of the algae collection equipment used is low stability and resistance in undulating water bodies, rapid filling of the algae collection tank, rapid rot of the collected algae biomass, clogging of filtration networks and ambient air pollution during operation.

The present analog of the invention (Patent No. US8479481B2) is a combine for collecting plants from water bodies. The principle of operation of the combine is based on the fact that macroalgae and other plants are sucked through the front pick-up pump with a spreading nozzle at the bottom with cutting blades. The sucked plants on the deck of the combine are piped to a closed filtration bag located on the deck of the raised support structure. The water escaping from the filter bag is directed back to the water body via the combine's side. Advantages of the device: can cut plants, has a vertically adjustable frame, which together with the pick-up nozzle can be immersed deep underwater, in the filtration bag the plants lose part of the water due to traction, so they can be collected more. The disadvantages of the device are as follows: the device can only be used in medium or small water bodies as the front suction pump cannot be raised above the water, making the combine unstable in undulating water bodies , is not intended for the collection of microalgae due to the rare filtration network, and the combine does not use low - polluting renewable energy sources, which makes it more polluting to ambient air when working in sensitive ecosystems.

The present analog of the invention (Patent No. CN101929147A) is a vessel for collecting floating macroalgae and other plants from water bodies. The principle of operation of the vessel is based on the fact that the plants are collected using a flexible, floating, stretched net, which catches and concentrates the floating plants in a water pump at the end of the net. At the front of the unit, a conveyor with a sparse net is installed on the deck of the vessel, on which the collected plants are transferred by pipes. The plants on the conveyor are separated from the water and transported to a drainage and compaction mechanism. Once in the drainage and compaction mechanism, the plants are pushed to the end by means of a screw inside, where water is released and released. advantages of the device: the floating net concentrates the plants for suction, the plants are drained and compacted, thus taking up less space. Disadvantages of the device: the floating net does not have a lifting function from the water, the net is of an unstable structure that can be broken by waves and cause higher wave resistance during swimming, other disadvantages are the same as listed for the analog described above.

The closest analog to the microalgae harvester (Patent No. US3347029A) is a harvester for collecting plants from water bodies. The principle of operation of the combine is based on the fact that the aquatic plants cut by the hydraulic cutting belt fall on the lower part of the main conveyor. The conveyor transports the plants on a loading conveyor in the central part of the combine, from where they are directed to the plant collection tank. Conveyors have a metal grid through which water flows from the plants into the water body. The main advantage of the device is that the main and loading conveyors can change the position in the vertical direction, so they can cut the plants at different depths and lift the protruding mechanisms out of the water during swimming, thus reducing the resistance caused by water waves during swimming. Other advantages of the device are that the hydraulic cutting belt does not cause vibration, and the mechanism installed in the plant collection tank allows the plants to be pushed out of the tank to the desired location. The main disadvantages of the unit are: conveyor nets are not very dense, so the unit cannot collect microalgae, the unit does not separate microalgae from the water mechanism, does not have a cleaning mechanism for clogged nets, as the unit is not very large and uncompacted aquatic plants take up a lot of space capacity, the combine makes a lot of noise due to the wide moving conveyors of metal networks. Other disadvantages of the device are the same as those listed for other analogues.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The microalgae harvester has a unique design that improves the stability of the treatment plant in large bodies of water, increases the efficiency of microalgae collection and separation from water, increases the amount of microalgae collected in one pass without compromising the quality of microalgae biomass, expand the vessel's applicability part of the energy from renewable energy sources.

The microalgae harvester differs from current vessels and combines in that it has three separate unique microalgae collection systems with expanding nozzles at the front and sides of the vessel for microalgae collection, separation from water, drainage, lifting of microalgae collection mechanisms from water and to save energy by reducing the ship's wave resistance, the microalgae collection tanks are covered with thermal insulation material to keep the collected biomass of high quality and have solar modules and a biodiesel engine on the roof to extract energy from renewable energy sources.

The operating principle of the microalgae harvester is based on a new microalgae collection technology consisting of a 30 ° inclined front collection mechanism with a spreading nozzle, two vertical moving side collection mechanisms, collection mechanism lifting systems, microalgae separation in compressed air nozzles and microalgae separation.

In large bodies of surface water, especially in undulating lagoons, it is difficult for large microalgae collection vessels and harvesters to collect microalgae and maintain the stability of the whole structure during navigation. Also, due to the protruding parts, most of the combines are easily pushed by the water body waves, which requires higher energy consumption for wave resistance and maintaining the intended path. Therefore, a microalgae harvesting combine with a system for lifting microalgae collection mechanisms from the water is more stable during navigation and less affected by waves in the water body. When the micro-algae collection mechanisms are lifted out of the water, the combine does not have any significantly protruding structures in the water, which makes it easier to control while sailing, has less resistance and consumes lower fuel and energy consumption.

The front microalgae collection mechanism has an expanding nozzle that collects the microalgae from a larger area and directs them in a narrowing direction towards the microalgae collection mechanism. The latter consists of a filtration network holding and rotating two perforated cylinders. The larger diameter perforated cylinder at the bottom is semi-immersed in water. The pump nozzle inside it pumps water together with the microalgae and forcibly draws the microalgae onto the net using the suction force. Since the microalgae cannot pass through the filtration network, they remain on the rotating network, and the water passing through the filtration network is directed back to the water body by pipes. The hydraulic mechanisms installed in the combine allow to adjust the depth of microalgae collection by regulating the vertical sinking of the collection mechanisms and their tips under water. Thanks to the wide nozzle, the microalgae can be collected from a larger area, and due to the narrowing of the nozzle, the collected algae are concentrated and easier to direct towards the pump. Due to the vertical movement of the collection mechanisms, the vessel does not lose either the stability or the efficiency of the microalgae collection, unlike in conventional microalgae collection combines. This mechanical cleaning process does not use expensive chemical (eg flocculants), biological or electromagnetic means that can have a negative impact on the environment.

In order to separate very fine microalgae or cyanobacteria from the sludge consistency that have adhered to the net, a compressed air spray is installed in the upper part of the microalgae collection mechanism, which not only directs the microalgae to the collection funnel but also cleans the net. Due to their consistency, microalgae tend to clog the meshes of dense 144-197 pm sieves, which results in reduced water filtration through the network and the efficiency of microalgae collection. To solve this problem, after lifting the microalgae into the upper part of the conveyor, high-pressure nozzles are installed inside the smaller diameter perforated cylinder, which wash away the clogged net when the perforated cylinder rotates. Such regeneration of the conveyor mesh, without the use of scraper blades and mechanical contact of parts, prolongs its service life, reduces the replacement of the mesh and maintains a stable assembly efficiency. Due to the variety of microalgae and the wider application of the combine to different water bodies, the filtration networks on the collection system can be changed to higher or lower density networks. The interchangeable grid of the collection mechanism without changing the construction of the unit itself and the openings of the compressed air nozzles are cost-effective and mechanically simple solutions for the combine focused on the type of microalgae to be collected, thus expanding the combine's application possibilities.

In order to increase the amount of microalgae collected during one loading, the combine has the conveyor and pump adjustment functions of the collection mechanisms. Depending on the type of microalgae and the amount of microalgae water required, the suction intensity and the speed of the conveyor are controlled from the control panel.

The algal collection capacity for microalgae collection is recommended to be impermeable and resistant to environmental influences. Microalgae are harvested during the warm seasons, so when exposed to sunlight and high temperatures, they biodegrade, rot and emit gases that can be used in biogas production. Pudam! algae emit unpleasant odors, which can make it uncomfortable to work in a combine. The collected microalgae can also be used for the production of phycocyanin, but for this the biomass must be of high quality and not rotten. To avoid these effects and to preserve the collected biomass, two thermally insulated collection tanks are installed between the pontoons below the deck for the storage of high quality microalgae. Storage tanks equipped in this way are protected from the negative effects of thermal sunlight or ambient temperature and are additionally naturally cooled by contact of the surface water body with the bottom of the tanks.

Solar modules have been installed on the roof of the microalgae harvester to reduce environmental pollution and use renewable energy sources. Considering that the microalgae harvester is designed for large bodies of water, it is large in size and therefore has a large area of roof that is fully utilized for the layout of solar modules and energy production. The solar modules are very airtight and moisture-resistant, so they can also be operated in a large, undulating body of water where the probability of wetting is high. The thickness of the solar modules is 3.2 mm, so they are very light and stacked on the roof completely does not affect the maneuverability of the microalgae harvester, does not complicate its operation and stability. The clean energy produced by the solar modules is used to cover part of the energy needs of the microalgae harvester, resulting in less conventional, depleting and environmentally harmful energy sources.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND FIGURES

The drawings show images of a microalgae harvester of the present invention, where:

Fig. 1 is a front axonometric view of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear axonometric view of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a side axonometric view of a frontal algal collection system of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a side view of a front microalgae collection system of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a front and rear axonometric view of a side microalgae collection system of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a front view and an axonometric front view of a perforated cylinder of the microalgae collection systems of the present invention.

The microalgae harvester consists of: catamaran hull with pontoons (1), front microalgae collection system (2), side microalgae collection systems (3), spreading nozzles (4), perforated cylinders (5), water pump (6), dense network (7), compressed air nozzles (8), lifting mechanisms for microalgae collection systems (9), transported microalgae transport pipes with hoods (10), filtered water discharge pipes (11), collected microalgae tanks covered with thermal insulation material (12), pilot's cabin (13), toilet (14), auxiliary cabin (15), anchors (16), biodiesel engine (17), solar modules (18), fuel tank (19), compressor (20).

DESCRIPTION OF OPERATING PRINCIPLE

The microalgae harvester is stably supported on a corrugated large body of water by a catamaran-shaped body with two pontoons (1) on which a pilot cabin (13) is mounted, the front microalgae collection system (2), the side microalgae collection systems (3) are covered with (12), fuel tank (19), equipped toilet (14) and auxiliary room (15). Anchors (16) and lifting mechanisms for micro-algae collection systems (9) are installed on the sides of the vessel to maintain stability while standing and mooring.

The microalgae are collected using a front microalgae collection mechanism (2) and two side microalgae collection mechanisms (3) consisting of: a spreading nozzle (4), two perforated cylinders (5) for each system, a water pump (6), a dense network (7), compressed air nozzles (8), lifting mechanisms for microalgae collection systems (9), tubes for transporting collected microalgae with hoods (10). The water pump (6) inside the perforated cylinder (5) on which the dense network (7) is tensioned pumps water with microalgae, thus causing forced water filtration through the tank network (7).

The water flowing through the tank network (7) is discharged through the filtered water outlet pipes (11) back into the water body. Micro-algae that have not leaked through the dense net (7) are attracted to it by means of a pump (6). As the perforated cylinders (5) rotate in one direction holding the dense network (7) with the microalgae, the collected biomass is slowly transported upwards towards the compressed air nozzles (8). Ascending to the top due to gravity, additional biomass filtration takes place through a network of tanks (7) and the amount of microalgae water decreases.

The compressed air nozzles (8) are turned into a dense network (7) by the compressor (20) supplying compressed air sequentially spraying the adhering microalgae from the dense network (7) and directing them to the collected microalgae transport pipe with the hood (10). The compressed air nozzles (8) not only spray the microalgae off the net (7), but also clean the clogged holes in the filtration net (7), thus maintaining a high microalgae collection efficiency. Cleaning the dense net (7) without the use of mechanical contact prolongs its service life.

The blown microalgae are subjected to gravity-sloping conveying tubes (10) into two containers of collected microalgae covered with thermal insulation material (12). The thermal insulation material protects microalgae from sunlight and high ambient temperatures during the warm season. Also, the collected microalgae tanks (12) are located between the catamaran hull pontoons (1) below deck level, so that the water of the lower temperature treated water body naturally cools the microalgae from below. In this way, the microalgae biomass is kept intact, of high quality and does not emit unpleasant odors, so the work in the combine remains comfortable for the operator.

The microalgae collection comb, the front microalgae collection system (2) and the side microalgae collection systems (3) are equipped with a lifting mechanism (9) for the microalgae collection systems. This mechanism allows you to adjust the immersion depth and lifting height of the front (2) and side microalgae collection systems (3). In this way, the immersion depth of the spreading nozzle (4) is changed, which can reach up to 0.5-1 m. This feature is useful to maintain the stability of the microalgae harvester in floating water and saves energy by reducing wave resistance to protruding parts of the combine, such as the front (2) and side microalgae collection systems (3).

For operator convenience, the front (2) and side micro-algae collection systems (3), system lift mechanisms (9), and control of the biodiesel engine (17) are located from the cockpit (13). In order to prolong the working time of the microalgae harvester on the water body so that there is no need to return to the shore, the combi is equipped with a toilet (14) and an auxiliary room (15) for storing first aid equipment.

All ship systems are powered by a biodiesel engine (17), which puts pressure on the entire hydraulic system. The electricity generator next to the biodiesel engine supplies electricity to the entire electrical control system. The biodiesel engine (17) is powered by biodiesel.

Additional energy is obtained from the installed solar modules (18). Their total area is 10.725 m ² and the power supply is about 4000 W. The solar modules (18) are thin and light and therefore mounted on the combine's roof. Power is supplied to lithium-ion batteries, from which power is supplied to the combine's lighting and other ship's electrical appliances.

Claims (5)

DEFINITION OF THE INVENTION 1. A microalgae harvester consisting of a catamaran-shaped hull, a cockpit, a toilet, an auxiliary room, a control system, characterized by new technology front and side microalgae collection systems, a lifting mechanism, a microalgae tank covered with thermal insulation and energy recovery resources. 2. Combine according to claim 1, characterized in that the microalgae are collected from the water using front and side conveyor-type collection systems consisting of a spreading nozzle, a water pump, perforated rotating cylinders, a dense network, a compressed air nozzle network for cleaning, filter different types of microalgae by changing nets. 3. Combine according to claim 1, characterized in that the front and two side microalgae collection systems can be raised vertically above the water level or submerged. 4. Combine according to claim 1, characterized in that the two containers of collected microalgae arranged between the catamaran pontoons below the deck level are covered with thermal insulation material. 5. Combine according to claim 1, characterized in that it operates in a complex manner using a biodiesel engine and roof-mounted renewable energy sources - solar modules.