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A simple algal production system designed to utilize the flashing light effect
Author(s) -
Laws E. A.,
Terry K. L.,
Wickman J.,
Chalup M. S.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.260251004
Subject(s) - flashing , flume , foil method , mixing (physics) , rotation (mathematics) , materials science , volumetric flow rate , mechanics , optics , environmental science , meteorology , marine engineering , flow (mathematics) , physics , composite material , engineering , mathematics , geometry , quantum mechanics , metallurgy
Abstract Arrays of foils similar in design to airplane wings have been placed in an algal culture flume to create systematic mixing. Vortices are produced in the culture due to the pressure differential created as water flows over and under the foils. In a flume having a flow rate of 30 cm/s, the foil arrays produced vortices with rotation rates of ca. 0.5−1.0 Hz. This rotation rate is satisfactory to take advantage of the flashing light effect if the culture is sufficiently dense. Solar energy conversion efficiencies in an experimental culture of P. tricornutum increased 2.2–2.4 fold with the foil arrays in place versus controls with no foil arrays and solar energy conversion efficiencies averaged 3.7% over a three‐month period. Five‐day running means of solar energy conversion efficiencies reached as high as 10% during the three‐month period. The use of foil arrays appears to be an effective and inexpensive way to utilize the flashing light effect in a dense algal culture system.