WO2010116946A1

WO2010116946A1 - Microalgae cultivation device

Info

Publication number: WO2010116946A1
Application number: PCT/JP2010/056008
Authority: WO
Inventors: 久人貞松
Original assignee: マイクロリソース株式会社
Priority date: 2009-04-06
Filing date: 2010-04-01
Publication date: 2010-10-14
Also published as: JPWO2010116946A1

Abstract

Provided is a microalgae cultivation device wherein the light sources of an illumination device for irradiating the interior of a cultivation tank with light are disposed on the exterior of the cultivation tank in a manner such that it is easy to inspect or replace the light sources, it is possible to suppress increases in the temperature of the cultivation medium within the cultivation tank due to the heat emitted by the light sources, and it is possible to irradiate all of the interior of the cultivation tank with a sufficient amount of light even though the light sources are disposed on the exterior of the cultivation tank. The light sources (6) of the illumination device for irradiating the interior of a cultivation tank (1) with light are not disposed in the interior of the cultivation tank (1), but instead are removably inserted into the interior of translucent pipes (4, 4...) that traverse the tank body (2) in the horizontal direction, and are positioned on the exterior of the cultivation tank.

Description

Microalgae culture equipment

The present invention relates to a microalgae culturing apparatus comprising a culture tank for culturing microalgae and a lighting device for irradiating light in the tank.

Examples of microalgae that are commercially mass-cultured by this type of culture apparatus include Haematococcus pluvialis, which is a kind of freshwater single-cell green algae. Haematococcus algae is a fine phytoplankton with two flagellas and a diameter of about 20 μm. In its growth phase, it has a high content of chlorophyll responsible for photosynthesis and its body color is green. Then, astaxanthin (astaxanthine), a red natural pigment, is produced and accumulated in the body, and the body color changes from green to brown, and further to red.

The dried processed product of Haematococcus algae that accumulates the red pigment astaxanthin is used as a color deepening agent for red cultured fish such as red sea bream and egg yolk coloring agent for chicken eggs and added to cultured fish and chicken feed. In addition, astaxanthin extracted from Haematococcus algae suppresses active oxygen generated in the body of living organisms and is superior in antioxidant power to protect the body from ultraviolet rays and lipid peroxidation. It is used for beverages and the like, and its demand has increased remarkably in recent years.

With the increasing demand for astaxanthin, development of a culture apparatus capable of efficiently mass-culturing high-quality Haematococcus algae has been promoted. Conventional devices for cultivating microalgae include an outdoor type (open pond method) that irradiates sunlight in an open culture tank installed outdoors and promotes photosynthesis of microalgae, and a sealed type installed indoors. There is an indoor type that promotes photosynthesis of microalgae by irradiating artificial light in the culture tank.

However, outdoor-type culture devices that rely on sunlight have the problem that the quality and production of microalgae are not constant because the photosynthesis of microalgae depends on the sunshine hours, and the sunshine hours vary significantly depending on the season and weather. Furthermore, there is a problem that there is a high risk that the culture solution is contaminated by foreign matters entering the culture tank due to external factors such as rain, wind and wildlife.

In contrast, an indoor culture device that irradiates artificial illumination light in a closed culture tank does not change the irradiation time of light that promotes photosynthesis of microalgae due to changes in seasons and weather, and the irradiation time Therefore, there is an advantage that the quality and production amount of microalgae are stabilized, and the risk that the culture solution in the culture tank is contaminated by external factors is small.

As this indoor culture apparatus, there are an external irradiation type in which light is irradiated into the tank from the outside of the culture tank, and an internal irradiation type in which light is irradiated from the inside of the culture tank. The external irradiation type culturing device is an illuminating device comprising a fluorescent lamp, a sodium lamp, etc. so that the tank body of the culture tank is formed of a light transmissive material such as transparent plastic or transparent glass and surrounds the tank body. In general, a large number of light sources are arranged (see Patent Document 1). In addition, the internal irradiation type culture apparatus is a tank in which a plurality of elongated transparent cases containing a light source of a lighting device or a light emitter that emits light transmitted from the light source through an optical fiber seals the culture tank. In general, it is attached to and supported by the upper lid of the culture tank and is arranged so as to hang down at regular intervals within the tank body of the culture tank filled with the culture solution (see

Patent Documents

2, 3 and 4).

However, when the culture concentration of microalgae with a green body color is increased and the light transmission loss in the culture medium is increased, the external irradiation type culture device reaches the middle of the tank with the light irradiated from the outside of the culture tank. Since there is a risk that the photosynthesis of microalgae may be reduced, it is difficult to perform high-concentration culture / mass culture of microalgae using a large-capacity culture tank.

On the other hand, the internal irradiation type culture apparatus, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, has a number of elongated light emitting carriers (light emitters) 42, 42 that emit light transmitted from the light source of the illumination apparatus through the optical fiber 41. Are arranged so as to hang vertically from the upper lid 44 of the tank that seals the inside of the culture tank 43 into the tank body 45 filled with the culture solution, and light is transmitted from the inside of the tank body 45 into the culture solution. Since it is configured to irradiate, even if the tank body 45 has a large capacity, it is possible to irradiate light substantially uniformly from the middle to the body 45a side (FIG. 1 of Patent Document 2). reference).

In the internal irradiation type culture apparatus shown in FIG. 6, the culture tank 61 is formed of a polycarbonate resin tank main body 62 and a plastic or metal upper lid 63, and the upper lid 63 is transparent. A large number of elongated cylindrical light

source storage cases

64, 64... Made of acrylic resin are attached so as to hang vertically at equal intervals. And in each of these cases 64, many light emitting diodes (LED) used as the light source of an illuminating device are accommodated in the state where they were connected in series and arranged in the longitudinal direction of the case 64. . Moreover, the control apparatus 65 which lights the LED light source accommodated in light

source accommodation case

64,64 ... is installed in the upper surface of the upper cover 63 (refer FIG. 3 of patent document 3).

The culture apparatus of FIG. 6 configured as described above has a large number of light

source storage cases

64 and 64 attached so as to close the upper cover 63 of the culture tank 61 and hang down from the upper cover 63 as shown in FIG. Are arranged in the culture medium in the tank main body 62, and the tank main body 62 is irradiated with light emitted from the LED light source of the lighting device housed in the

cases

64, 64.

However, since the

cases

64, 64,... For housing the LED light sources are elongated cylindrical cases, the light emission area of the lower end portion 64b is significantly smaller than the light emission area of the cylindrical portion 64a. Therefore, the amount of light irradiated from the lower end portion 64b of the light source storage case 64 toward the bottom portion 62b of the tank body 62 is larger than the amount of light irradiated from the cylindrical portion 64a of the light source storage case 64 toward the body portion 62a of the tank body 62. Since the light irradiation density in the tank main body 62 cannot be made uniform as a whole because the number is extremely small, the zone on the bottom 62b side of the tank main body 62 has a light irradiation density lower than other zones. There is.

Further, when performing replacement work or maintenance inspection work of the light sources stored in the light

source storage cases

64, 64..., The upper lid 63 of the culture tank 61 is detached from the tank main body 62 as shown in FIG. The large number of light

source storage cases

64, 64... Attached to the upper lid 63 must be taken out from the tank main body 62 at a time. . In particular, when the capacity of the culture tank 61 is increased in order to cultivate microalgae in large quantities, the upper lid 63 increases in size, and at the same time, the number of light source storage cases 64 attached to the upper lid 63 increases. Since it becomes heavier, the burden of labor required for light source replacement work and maintenance inspection work is significantly increased.

Further, since the upper lid 63 of the culture tank 61 is opened during the light source replacement work and the maintenance check work, harmful microorganisms and harmful bacteria that inhibit the growth of microalgae in the tank. Etc. may invade the culture medium. Further, foreign matter such as dust, dirt, and dirt adheres to the surface of the light source storage cases 64 taken out of the culture tank 61, and the foreign matter puts the light

source storage cases

64, 64 ... in the culture tank 61. There is also a possibility that the culture solution is contaminated by being brought into the tank main body 62 when being re-installed.

For example, the culture temperature suitable for the growth of Haematococcus algae is about 15 to 25 ° C., but the

cases

64, 64... In which the light source of the lighting device is housed in the culture tank 61 sealed with the upper lid 63. If the inside is arranged, the heat emitted from the light source is trapped inside the culture tank 61, and the temperature of the culture solution may rise remarkably, so the load of the cooling device that keeps the temperature of the culture solution at an appropriate temperature. However, there is a disadvantage that the cooling cost increases.

Note that the above-described drawbacks of the culture apparatus of FIG. 6 are common to the internal irradiation type conventional apparatus, and the culture apparatus of FIG. 5 has the same drawbacks. In addition, the internal irradiation type culture device irradiates light into the culture solution from the inside of the culture tank. If the culture solution is stagnant, the light is not uniformly applied to the microalgae.・ It needs to flow. Therefore, conventionally, in order to stir and flow the culture solution in the culture tank, a part of the culture solution is extracted from the culture tank with a pump and circulated so as to return to the culture tank, or for photosynthesis of microalgae. For example, a method in which a gas containing necessary carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) is passed through the culture tank to generate bubbles in the culture solution, or a method in which a rotor blade is provided in the culture tank is used.

For example, in the culture apparatus of FIG. 5, a gas containing CO ₂ supplied by a blower 47 is vented into the culture solution below the luminescent carriers (light emitters) 42, 42. A vent pipe 48 is installed, and gas bubbles released from the

nozzles

49, 49... Of the vent pipe 48 rise in the culture solution to stir the culture solution.

However, when the microalgae grow and the culture concentration increases, the fluidity of the culture solution decreases. Therefore, it is not possible to obtain a necessary and sufficient stirring effect only by raising air bubbles in the culture solution. If the amount of bubbles generated is increased, the agitation effect of the culture solution is improved, but if the gas that is the source of bubbles is excessively ventilated, there is a risk that the growth of microalgae may be obstructed, so that It is not preferable to generate a large amount of bubbles.

Further, the culture apparatus of FIG. 5 includes a culture medium extraction pump 50 for extracting the culture medium in the culture tank 43 from a drain port 46 provided at the bottom 45b of the tank body 45, and the culture medium extracted by the pump. A solid-liquid separator 51 that separates microalgae from the liquid and discharges the algal bodies to the outside, a culture medium adjustment tank 52 that replenishes the culture medium from which the microalgae have been separated by the solid-liquid separator, and a culture thereof A culture fluid circulation path 54 provided with a culture fluid supply pump 53 for supplying the culture fluid into the culture tank 43 is provided. The culture fluid supplied to the culture tank 43 through the circulation pathway 54 is stored in the culture tank 43. Since it is only dropped into the tank main body 45 from the supply port 55 opened at the upper part, the culture liquid filled in the tank main body 45 of the culture tank 43 is caused to flow entirely by the culture liquid. It is a flame.

In addition, the method of stirring and flowing the culture solution with the above-described rotor blade may damage microalgae in the culture solution with the rotor blade, and at the same time, the structure of the culture tank in which the rotor blade is installed becomes complicated. The disadvantage is that the equipment is also bulky.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-275994 JP-A-10-108565 JP 2001-352968 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-256

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of the external irradiation type and internal irradiation type culture apparatuses at once, and in order to achieve the object, the light source of the illumination apparatus that irradiates the culture tank with light. (Or a light emitter) is arranged outside the culture tank so that the culture tank can be kept in a sealed state so that the light source can be replaced and maintained and inspected quickly and easily. The temperature of the culture solution in the culture tank is prevented from rising due to the heat generated, and even if the light source is arranged outside the culture tank, a sufficient amount of light is irradiated over the entire inside of the culture tank. The main technical challenge is to be able to

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a microalgae culture apparatus comprising a culture tank for culturing microalgae and an illumination device for irradiating light in the tank. A plurality of translucent pipes penetrating horizontally in the horizontal direction are provided so as to be lined up and down and left and right at intervals, and the light source or the light emitter of the illuminating device is disposed from the open end of the translucent pipe to the inside thereof. It is characterized in that it is inserted in and out freely.

According to the present invention, the light source or the light emitter of the lighting device that irradiates light into the culture tank is provided so as to penetrate the tank body of the culture tank in the horizontal direction without being arranged inside the culture tank. The light-transmitting pipe is inserted into the inside of the translucent pipe so that it can be inserted and removed freely, and is placed outside the culture tank. Therefore, the light source or light emitter can be replaced or maintained while the culture tank is kept sealed. The inspection work can be performed quickly and easily, and at the same time, when the work is performed, it is possible to prevent harmful microorganisms or foreign substances from entering the culture tank and contaminating the culture solution. In addition, a part of the heat emitted from the light source or the light emitter can be released into the atmosphere from the open end of the translucent pipe, and the temperature rise of the culture solution due to the heat can be suppressed.

Further, even if the light source or the light emitter is disposed outside the culture tank, the light emitted from the light source or the light radiator is provided so as to penetrate the tank body of the culture tank in the horizontal direction. Since it is omnidirectionally radiated from the outer peripheral part of each translucent pipe along the circumferential direction, even if the culture concentration of microalgae in the culture solution in the culture tank is high, it is necessary and sufficient over the entire interior. An amount of light can be irradiated. Therefore, there is an excellent effect that high-quality microalgae can be cultured in large quantities with high efficiency and high concentration using a large-capacity culture tank.

Further, according to the present invention, even if the tank body of the culture tank is made of an opaque material, the inside of the tank body can be irradiated with light from the outside, so that the molding process is easy and the material An inexpensive culture tank made of a metal plate such as a stainless steel plate that is inexpensive can be used. In addition, if the tank body of the culture tank is made of a metal plate such as a stainless steel plate having a light reflecting surface, the light irradiated to the inside of the tank body is reflected on the inner surface, and light irradiation in the tank body is performed. There is also an effect that the density is uniformized as a whole.

The figure which shows roughly the culture solution circulation path which circulates the culture solution in the culture tank in the culture tank which comprises the culture tank which comprises the culture apparatus which concerns on the Example of this invention from the front. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which looked at the culture tank of FIG. 1 from the side. The top view in the state where the upper cover of the culture tank of Drawing 1 was opened. The top view which shows the mechanism in which the culture solution with which the culture tank of FIG. 1 was filled was made to flow and stir. The figure which shows the conventional culture apparatus. The figure which shows the conventional culture apparatus.

An embodiment of a culture apparatus according to the present invention includes a culture tank for culturing microalgae such as Haematococcus algae, and an illumination device for irradiating light into the tank, and the culture tank has its tank body in a horizontal direction. A large number of translucent pipes penetrating through the light source are arranged so as to be lined up and down and left and right, and the light source of the illumination device that irradiates light into the culture tank (or the light transmitted from the light source through an optical fiber or the like) A radiating light radiator) is detachably inserted into the inside from the open end of each of the translucent pipes.

The translucent pipe that penetrates the tank body of the culture tank in the horizontal direction is provided in a state in which both ends thereof protrude outward from the tank body. In addition, the pipe is formed into a cylindrical pipe with polymethyl methacrylate having excellent light transmittance and excellent mechanical strength and heat resistance, and transparent plastic such as polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene. And the light source of the illuminating device inserted in the inside of the translucent pipe shape | molded by the cylindrical pipe is formed with the straight tube | pipe type fluorescent lamp.

The culture tank is composed of a tank body having a square tubular body and a square funnel-shaped bottom provided with a drain, and an upper lid for sealing the inside of the tank body. The translucent pipes are provided so as to penetrate one surface of the body portion and the opposite surface, and the through portion is sealed with a sealing material such as packing.

In addition, the culture tank is provided with a culture solution circulation path for extracting a part of the culture solution from a drain port provided at the bottom of the tank body with a circulation pump and returning it to the tank body again. At least a pair of culture solution discharge nozzles for discharging the refluxed culture solution from the trunk side of the tank body into the culture solution in the tank body are disposed so as to face each other and discharge the culture solution in a passing direction, It is attached to the body of the tank body.

Further, the culture medium discharge nozzle is disposed at least one pair on the upper side and the lower side across the installation zone of the translucent pipe provided so that a large number of translucent pipes are arranged vertically and horizontally, The tip of the culture solution discharge nozzle disposed on the lower side is directed to the bottom side of the tank body.

The culture apparatus of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 includes a tank body 2 in which a culture tank 1 for culturing microalgae such as Haematococcus algae has a rectangular tube-shaped trunk portion 2a and a rectangular funnel-shaped bottom portion 2b. And an upper lid 3 that seals the inside of the tank body 2. The tank body 2 and the upper lid 3 are made of a metal plate such as a stainless steel plate that is easier to form and cheaper than plastic, and the tank body 2 is curved at the corners of the body 2a and the bottom 2b. By forming on the surface, the microalgae are prevented from stagnating at the corners.

The culture tank 1 is provided with a large number of

translucent pipes

4, 4... Penetrating the tank body 2 in the horizontal direction so as to be lined up, down, left, and right at regular intervals. The translucent pipe 4 is formed into a cylindrical pipe by a high-strength acrylic resin excellent in light transmissibility and heat resistance, and penetrates one surface of the rectangular tubular body 2a of the tank body 2 and its opposing surface. It is provided and the penetration part is sealed by sealing materials (not shown), such as packing. Further, the translucent pipe 4 is formed so that its length is longer than the width of the rectangular tubular body 2 a of the tank body 2, and both ends of the pipe protrude outwardly from the tank body 2 by a certain length. It has been.

The illuminating device 5 for irradiating light into the tank body 2 of the culture tank 1 can be inserted into and removed from the open ends of the

translucent pipes

4, 4... Provided so as to penetrate the tank body 2 in the horizontal direction. Are composed of

light sources

6, 6... Composed of straight tube type fluorescent lamps to be inserted, and a lighting control device 7 that controls the

light sources

6, 6. The number of light sources can be adjusted according to the breeding situation.

Further, the culture tank 1 has a culture solution circulation path 10 for extracting a part of the culture solution W in the tank body 2 from the drain port 8 provided in the bottom 2b by the circulation pump 9 and returning it to the tank body 2 again. Is provided.

In the culture medium circulation path 10, a pipe 10 a that forms the path 10 and a drain pipe 11 that discharges the culture medium W in the tank body 2 to the outside are connected to a drain port 8 provided in the bottom 2 a of the tank body 2. An electromagnetic three-way valve 12 to be switched and connected, a temperature regulator 14 for adjusting the temperature of the culture solution based on a temperature detection signal output from an electronic thermometer 13 for detecting the temperature of the culture solution W in the tank body 2, A medium supply device 15 for supplying nutrients such as CO ₂ necessary for photosynthesis of microalgae and nitrogen necessary for growth and reproduction of microalgae into the culture solution and a circulation pump 9 comprising a reciprocating pump such as a diaphragm pump are provided. Has been.

Then, a pair of culture medium discharges for discharging the culture solution refluxed through the culture solution circulation path 10 into the culture solution W in the tank body 2 from the body portion 2a side of the tank body 2 to the tank body 2 of the culture tank 1 As shown in FIG. 4, the

nozzles

16R, 16L and 17R, 17L are arranged so as to face each other so that the culture solution can be discharged in the passing direction, and are attached to the body 2a of the tank body 2.

The culture

solution discharge nozzles

16R and 16L are arranged above the zone where the

translucent pipes

4, 4... Are installed, and the culture

solution discharge nozzles

17R and 17L are arranged below the zone. In addition, the culture

liquid discharge nozzles

17R and 17L have their front ends directed toward the bottom 2b of the tank body 2.

In the case where the culture tank 1 is a metal tank having good thermal conductivity as in the embodiment, instead of the temperature controller 14 provided in the culture solution circulation path 10, as shown in FIG. A cooling jacket 18 may be attached to one tank body 2, and the culture medium W in the tank body 2 may be directly cooled by the cooling jacket 18.

In the culture apparatus of the embodiment configured as described above, the

light sources

6, 6... Of the illuminating device 5 that irradiates light into the tank body 2 of the culture tank 1 are not disposed inside the tank body 2, Since the

translucent pipes

4, 4... Provided so as to penetrate the main body 2 in the horizontal direction are inserted into the inside of the translucent pipes so as to be freely inserted and removed, and are arranged outside the culture tank 1. When the upper lid 3 is closed and the inside of the tank body 2 is sealed, the

light source

6, 6... Can be exchanged and maintained and inspected from the outside of the culture tank 1 quickly and easily. In addition, there is no possibility that harmful microorganisms or foreign substances enter the culture tank 1 to contaminate the culture solution W in the tank body 2.

Moreover, a part of the heat emitted from the light source 6 inserted into the translucent pipe 4 is dissipated into the atmosphere from the open end of the translucent pipe 4, and the temperature of the culture solution is increased by the heat. Therefore, the load on the temperature controller 14 and the cooling jacket 18 for cooling the culture solution is reduced. Moreover, when the both ends of the translucent pipe 4 are protruded outward from the tank body 2 as in the embodiment, the heat dissipation effect is enhanced and the effect of suppressing the temperature rise of the culture solution is also enhanced.

The light emitted from the light source 6 is omnidirectionally radiated along the circumferential direction from the outer peripheral portion of each translucent pipe 4 provided so as to penetrate the tank body 2 of the culture tank 1 in the horizontal direction. Therefore, light is irradiated substantially uniformly from the middle of the tank body 2 toward the body 2a side, the bottom 2b side, and the liquid surface side.

Further, since the tank body 2 is made of a metal plate such as a stainless steel plate having a light reflecting surface, the light irradiated on the inside of the tank body 2 is reflected, and the light irradiation density in the tank body 2 is overall. To equalize. Therefore, even if the culture concentration of the microalgae in the culture solution W in the tank body 2 is high, the necessary and sufficient amount of light can be uniformly irradiated over the entire interior.

Furthermore, the culture medium W in the tank body 2 is not only circulated through the culture medium circulation path 10, but also the culture liquids refluxed into the culture medium W in the tank body 2 through the circulation path 10 face each other. By being discharged from the arranged culture

medium discharge nozzles

16R, 16L (17R, 17L) in the passing direction as indicated by the solid line arrows in FIG. 4, the broken line in FIG. Since the swirling flow or vortex flow shown in the figure is generated and the culture medium W is stirred and fluidized as a whole, light can be uniformly applied to the microalgae in the culture medium W.

In addition, the tank body 2 is formed such that the corners of the body 2a and the bottom 2b are curved surfaces, and microalgae are prevented from staying in the corners, and at the same time, the culture

solution discharge nozzles

17R and 17L. By the flow of the culture solution discharged from the tank body 2 to the bottom 2b side, the microalgae are also prevented from being settled and deposited on the bottom 2b.

Further, the conventional method of stirring and flowing the culture solution with the rotor blades may damage microalgae in the culture solution with the rotor blades, but as in the examples, the culture

solution discharge nozzles

16R, 16L (17R, 17L), there is no possibility of damaging microalgae by the method of stirring and flowing by swirling flow or vortex generated by discharging the culture solution. Moreover, if a rotary pump is used as a pump for circulating the culture solution, there is a risk of damaging microalgae. However, since the circulation pump 9 of the embodiment uses a reciprocating pump such as a diaphragm pump, the microalgae is damaged. Is less likely to give

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to culture a large amount of high-quality microalgae with high efficiency and high concentration using a large-capacity culture tank.

In the culture apparatus of the embodiment, the light source 6 inserted into the translucent pipe 4 is a straight tube type fluorescent lamp. However, the light source 6 is not limited to this, and for example, a large number of light-emitting diodes are formed on the translucent pipe 4. It may be an LED lamp connected in series along the length direction of an elongated wiring board that can be freely inserted into and removed from the inside. In the embodiment, the light source 6 is inserted into the translucent pipe 4. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, light transmitted through an optical fiber is emitted from a high-intensity light source such as a metal vapor discharge lamp. A light emitter may be inserted. The translucent pipe 4 is not limited to a plastic pipe, and a glass pipe can also be used. The culture tank 1 is not limited to a metal one, and may be a plastic one.

The present invention provides a culture apparatus capable of mass-culturing high-quality microalgae with high efficiency and high concentration.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Culture tank 2 ... Tank main body 2a ... Body of tank main body 2b ... Bottom of tank main body 3 ... Upper lid 4 ... Translucent pipe 5 ... Illuminating device 6 ... Light source 8 ... Drain outlet of tank main body 9 ... Circulation pump 10 ... Culture fluid circulation path W ...

Culture fluid

16R, 16L ... Pair of culture

fluid discharge nozzles

17R, 17L ... Pair of culture fluid discharge nozzles

Claims

In a microalgae culture apparatus comprising a culture tank for culturing microalgae and a lighting device for irradiating light in the tank, a large number of translucency penetrating the culture tank horizontally through the tank body The pipes are provided so as to be lined up and down and left and right at intervals, and the light source or light emitter of the lighting device is inserted into the inside of the translucent pipe so as to be freely inserted and removed. Microalgae culture device.
The culture apparatus according to claim 1, wherein both ends of the translucent pipe protrude outward from the tank body.
The culture tank is composed of a tank body having a square tubular body and a square funnel-shaped bottom provided with a drain, and an upper lid for sealing the inside of the tank body. The culture apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the translucent pipe is provided so as to penetrate one surface of the body portion and an opposite surface thereof.
The culture apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the translucent pipe is a cylindrical pipe formed of a transparent plastic, and the light source of the lighting apparatus is a straight tube type fluorescent lamp.
The culture tank is provided with a culture solution circulation path for extracting a part of the culture solution from a drain port provided at the bottom of the tank body with a circulation pump and refluxing it again into the tank body, and the culture tank is refluxed through the circulation path. At least a pair of culture solution discharge nozzles that discharge the culture solution from the trunk side of the tank body into the culture solution in the tank body are arranged so as to face each other and discharge the culture solution in a passing direction, The culture apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, which is attached to a body part of the tank body.
The culture solution discharge nozzles are disposed at least one pair above and below the translucent pipe installation zone, and the tip of the culture solution discharge nozzle disposed on the lower side is the bottom of the tank body. 6. The culture device according to claim 5, which is directed to the side.