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Design and Construction of a Lighting System to Illuminate a Photobioreactor

Sink, Kyle J.

Abstract Details

2011, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Mechanical Engineering (Engineering and Technology).

An internal lighting system for a photobioreactor was designed and constructed to enhance the growth of green algae. The lighting system is based on a patent for a solar collector to harness the sun as the primary light source. Fiber optic cables were fed into the reactor and connected to specially designed light plates that distributed the light throughout the reactor. The reactor contained Scenedesmus dimorphus, a microscopic green alga, in a growth media solution. By internally illuminating the reactor, the energy input cost can be reduced due to the elimination of wasted light.

A 30 liter laboratory scale bubble column reactor was designed and built to test the objectives laid out. The reactor was designed to be easily assembled and disassembled, cleaned, and maintained. It was also designed so that the lighting parts could be exchanged for different configurations if future work necessitates changes.

To design the optimal light plate, the optical simulation software TracePro was utilized. Information available in literature regarding the absorption and scattering coefficients of microscopic green algae was analyzed and discussed and the phenomena of photosynthesis was investigated. A criterion for the selection of the light plate was a minimum of 20 μEinsteins m-2 s-1 at a distance of 55 cm from the top of the reactor with a chlorophyll a concentration of 20 mg/L.

The reactor was inoculated with S. dimorphus and sparged with 1% CO2. The light intensity was tested using an underwater light sensor in an attempt to validate the simulation model. Tests also included measurements of pH, chlorophyll a, and turbidity taken three times daily to study the growth potential of the reactor. The results of the tests show that the algae grows steadily in the reactor indicating that the proposed design could be an effective method for growing algae as a petroleum substitute and for the biologic sequestration of CO2.

Greg Kremer, Dr. (Advisor)

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Sink, K. J. (2011). Design and Construction of a Lighting System to Illuminate a Photobioreactor [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1320867288

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Sink, Kyle. Design and Construction of a Lighting System to Illuminate a Photobioreactor. 2011. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1320867288.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Sink, Kyle. "Design and Construction of a Lighting System to Illuminate a Photobioreactor." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1320867288

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)