RU2485174C1 - Plant for growing planktonic algae - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: biotechnology.

SUBSTANCE: plant comprises a frame with a container for suspension of microalgae mounted on it, light fittings each of which is designed in the form of a glass pipe with lamps placed in it and has a ventilator installed under the glass pipe, pipelines for supplying nutrient medium, solution of carbon dioxide, discharge of the finished suspension, temperature and pH sensors, the service system of the plant. The additional containers for the suspension are mounted on the frame. Each of the containers is formed with an aquarium having a vortex turbine and made in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped of translucent glass with one opening on the lower plane for drainage of the finished suspension and its discharge through the pipeline to the container for storage of suspension, and with at least three openings in the upper plane for location of the sensors inside the aquarium, installation of pipelines to supply nutrient medium, discharge of oxygen and sanitation. The light fittings are mounted vertically between the aquariums equidistant from each other with the ability of their free displacement or removal when transition to solar illumination and have reinforced in the upper part of each light fitting plates with protruding ends to be placed between the aquariums and with the ability to rest on them. The service system is made with the ability to operate in an automatic mode and comprises pumps-dispensers, automatic system of dosing, a hot-water boiler with a predetermined temperature, temperature and pH sensors, chlorella. The PH sensor is mounted in each aquarium lower than the level of suspension, the timer relay for switching on and off the lamps.

EFFECT: increased productivity of growth, ease of use and safety in operation.

4 dwg

Description

The invention relates to biotechnology, and in particular to a technology for growing unicellular algae, mainly planktonic, for example, chlorella.

A bioreactor is known for promoting the growth of plant material, such as aquatic plants. The bioreactor consists of a rack and elongated containers with a translucent wall. The light source is installed on the shelf or between containers for lighting the latter (RU 2403279, publ. 10.11.2010). The bioreactor is designed to grow aquatic plants that grow on the surface of liquids, such as duckweed, water moss, water hyacinth, etc., and cannot be used to grow microalgae.

A device for the cultivation of microalgae, which includes a housing with a lid, the side walls of which have reflective surfaces, and located in the housing of the tank for the cultivation of microalgae, mounted on a grid and interconnected incandescent lamps (RU 2315805, publ. 27.01.2008). The disadvantage of this device is the need to use heavy and unsafe manual labor when replacing containers with a suspension of chlorella with new ones. The design of the device does not allow the use of sunlight, which increases the cost of electricity.

A known installation (prototype) for growing microalgae, in particular, chlorella, including placed on the frame capacity for the cultivation of microalgae, in which vertically mounted cylindrical glass shells with stationary lamps located in them. The tank is equipped with fans installed under the shells and used to supply air into the latter when the suspension temperature is exceeded at the optimum cultivation temperature (RU No. 2268923, published on January 27, 2006).

The disadvantage of this installation is that on the outer side of the glass shells, scale forms on the level of the stationary lamps, due to the fact that the shells with lamps are located inside the container with a suspension of chlorella. Chlorella cells are deposited on the scum, which reduces the transmission of light into the culture, as a result, the productivity of the installation decreases and the quality of the products produced deteriorates.

A significant drawback is the complexity of the design and the complexity of its implementation. The design of the installation does not allow the use of sunlight.

The technical result of the invention is to increase the productivity of cultivation, ease of use and safety.

In a comparative analysis of the claimed invention and known according to RU 2268923 C1, 01/27/2006, in difference, the following essential features can be derived:

- the presence of additional containers installed on the suspension, each of which is formed by an aquarium made in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped made of transparent glass, with one hole in the lower plane for draining the finished suspension and draining it through the pipeline into a container for storing the suspension and, at least, three holes on the upper plane for placement of sensors inside the aquarium, installation of pipelines for supplying a nutrient medium, oxygen removal and sanitary maintenance;

- lamps in the form of glass pipes with lamps placed in them are mounted vertically between the aquariums at an equidistant distance from each other with the possibility of their free movement or removal when switching to solar lighting and have plates with protruding ends fixed to the top of each lamp for placement between the aquariums and reliance on them;

- a pH sensor and a vortex turbine for periodically mixing the suspension are installed inside each aquarium;

- the service system is configured to work in automatic mode and contains metering pumps, an automatic metering system, a water heater with a set temperature, temperature sensors and pH of the chlorella suspension, the latter is installed below the level of the suspension, a time relay for turning on and off the lamps.

The presence of the above distinguishing features in combination with features that are common to the known and claimed technical solutions is sufficient and necessary to achieve the above technical result when implementing the claimed invention.

The invention is illustrated by drawings, in which figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a General view of the installation, Figure 2 is a top view of the installation, Figure 3 is an end view of the installation, Figure 4 is a lamp.

Installation for growing planktonic algae - figure 1, includes placed on the frame 1 aquariums 2. Between the aquariums 2 there are lamps 3 located at an equidistant distance from each other with the possibility of their free movement or removal.

Automatic installation maintenance system - figure 2, is supported by metering pumps 4, an automatic dosing system 17, a water heater with a set temperature of 18, temperature and pH sensors of chlorella suspension 5 (figure 1) introduced through openings 21. Sensors 5 are located below the level of suspension 15 ( figures 1 and 3). Turning the lamps on and off is performed by the time relay 6. For periodic mixing of the suspension inside the aquariums 2, vortex turbines 10 are installed (figure 1).

The supply of solutions is carried out through pipelines 7 from containers for a nutrient medium 8 and a solution of carbon dioxide 9. The finished suspension through a pipe 20 is discharged into a container for storing the suspension 16 (figure 1).

Lamps 11 - figure 4, in the lamp 3 are located in a glass pipe 12 and connected to a power source 19 (figure 3). The lamp 3 is equipped with a fan 13 mounted under the glass pipe 12 or above it. The upper part of the lamp 3 is equipped with plates 14 for placing the lamp 3 between the aquariums 2 (figure 1), which are supported on them by the plates 14.

Installation works as follows. The nutrient medium containing the necessary components is poured into aquariums and a suspension of chlorella is introduced into it in order to achieve the necessary initial optical density of the culture of 0.5-0.7 D (440).

Lamps create the necessary illumination of the chlorella suspension, in which planktonic algae are grown. During cultivation in aquariums, the temperature is maintained at 28-30 ° C by blowing out the lamps and releasing warm air into the room in which the aquariums are installed, and in winter, fans are installed above the glass pipe and warm air is supplied under the aquariums, and in the summer under pipe and warm air is thrown up to protect the aquarium from overheating. The result is air conditioning around the aquariums to maintain optimum temperature in them. The daily illumination of the suspension is 10-12 hours.

The location of the lamps between the aquariums eliminates the formation of scale and provides unhindered passage of light into the culture, and also allows you to safely maintain the installation. During the cultivation process, the culture reaches the required optical density of cells - 1.4-1.8 D (440).

The invention provides for the cultivation of planktonic algae in both artificial and natural light, which reduces the energy consumption for the process of growing chlorella. The autonomous arrangement of the luminaires provides safety precautions when working with the aquatic environment.

The proposed plant for growing planktonic algae allows for high productivity due to optimal lighting with both artificial and natural light and the creation of favorable temperature conditions for the cultivation of chlorella.

Claims (1)

Plant for growing planktonic algae, mainly chlorella, including a frame with a container for microalgae suspension installed on it, lamps, each of which is made in the form of a glass pipe with lamps placed in it and has a fan installed under the glass pipe, pipelines for supplying a nutrient medium, carbonic acid solution gas, removal of the finished suspension, temperature and pH sensors, the installation service system, it is equipped with additional containers for the suspension mounted on the frame, In fact, each of the containers is formed by an aquarium with a vortex turbine and made in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped of transparent glass with one hole in the lower plane for draining the finished suspension and draining it through the pipeline into the container for storing the suspension and at least with three holes on the top planes for placement of sensors inside the aquarium, installation of pipelines for supplying a nutrient medium, oxygen removal and sanitary maintenance; lamps are installed vertically between aquariums remote distance from each other with the possibility of their free movement or removal when switching to solar lighting and have plates fixed at the top of each lamp with protruding ends for placement between aquariums and with the possibility of support on them, while the service system is configured to work in automatic mode and contains dosing pumps, an automatic dosing system, a water heater with a set temperature, temperature sensors and chlorella pH, the latter being installed in each house aquarium below the suspension level, time switch for turning on and off the lamps.

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