• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.26 no.7
• /
• pp.1285-1289
• /
• 2016

A split-column photobioreactor (SC-PBR), consisting of two bubble columns with different sizes, was developed to enhance the photon utilization efficiency in an astaxanthin production process from Haematococcus lacustris. Among the two columns, only the smaller column of SC-PBR was illuminated. Astaxanthin productivities and photon efficiencies of the SC-PBRs were compared with a standard bubble-column PBR (BC-PBR). Astaxanthin productivity of SC-PBR was improved by 28%, and the photon utilization efficiencies were 28-366% higher than the original BC-PBR. The results clearly show that the effective light regime of SC-PBR could enhance the production of astaxanthin.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.48-56
• /
• 2018

Due to the growing concerns of energy resource depletion and environmental destruction, the mass production of microalgae has been studied. The scale-up of a photobioreactor (PBR) is required for the mass production of biomass. In this paper, the geometric parameters and oxygen transfer rate (OTR) are considered, to scale up a flat panel photobioreactor (FP PBR). The PBR is designed using the goal-driven optimization (GDO) method to accomplish the scale-up. The local sensitivity of each output parameter with respect to the input parameter is analyzed through the design of experiment (DOE), and the design candidates are evaluated with the screening sampling method. The volumetric mass transfer coefficient is measured by the dynamic method.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.237-243
• /
• 2016

Recently, technologies that produce biofuels from microalgae are being studied worldwide. It is necessary to significantly reduce the production costs of biofuels from microalgae for economic reasons. In this study, the growth curve of the microalgae was obtained using the batch-culture method, and the specific growth rate was predicted using the regression method. Based on the culture conditions of the estimated specific growth rate, the turbidity of the microalgae in the flat panel photobioreactor (PBR) was measured. Furthermore, an on-off control scheme was applied to the flat panel PBR in order to culture the microalgae continuously on the basis of turbidity. The parameters of the on-off control system were displayed by LabView. The on-off scheme of peristaltic pump was controlled based on the turbidity in the PBR. In addition, the turbidity values of growth curves were compared and analyzed in the continuous culture process using the on-off controller.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.154-163
• /
• 2013

Adhesive bonding and plastic welding have been widely used to join two plastic materials together. The goal of this paper is to determine a proper joining technology of a pair of flat panel (FP) photobioreactor (PBR) case. The material of the FP PBR case is polycarbonate (PC) plate. Two types of adhesion, including acryl adhesive and two-part epoxy adhesive, as well as two types of plastic welding technology, including ultrasonic welding and thermal welding, are employed for joining of PC plates. In order to influence of the adhesion and welding conditions on the joining characteristics of the PC plates in operational conditions of the FP PBR case, the morphology in the vicinity of the joined region as well as the water and pressure resistance characteristic are investigated. In addition, the variation of the bonding strength of the joined region and deformation behaviors in the vicinity of the joined region according to the adhesion and welding conditions is examined via the lap-shear test. From the results of basic experiments, proper joining technologies are chosen. Using the chosen joining technologies, the FP PBR case are fabricated to perform full-scale durability experiment. The results of the full-scale durability experiment have been shown that the chosen joining technologies can be applicable to fabricate the FP PBR case.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
• /
• v.51 no.5
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2009

Photobioreactor (PBR) that houses and cultivates microalgae providing a suitable environment for its growth, such as light, nutrients, CO2, heat, etc. is now getting more popular in the last decade. Among the many types of PBRs, the bubble column type is very attractive because of its simple construction and easy operation. However, despite the availability of these PBRs, only a few of them can be practically used for mass production. Many limitations still holdback their use especially during their scale-up. To enlarge the culture volume and productivity while supplying optimum environmental conditions, various PBR structures and process control are needed to be investigated. In this study, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was economically used to design a bubble-column type PBR taking the place of field experiments. CFD is a promising technique which can simulate the growth and production of microalgae in the PBR. To study bubble column PBR with CFD, the most important factor is the possibility of realizing bubble. In this study, multi-phase models which are generally used to realize bubbles were compared by theoretical approaches and comparing in a 2D simulation. As a result, the VOF (volume of fluid) model was found to be the most effective model to realize the bubbles shape as well as the flow inside PBR which may be induced by bubble injection. Considering the accuracy and economical efficiency, 0.005 second time step size was chosen for 2.5 mm mesh size. These results will be used as criteria for scale-up in the PBR simulation.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
• /
• v.6 no.5
• /
• pp.352-358
• /
• 2001

Because algal cells are so efficient at absorbing incoming light energy, providing more light energy to photobioreactors would simply decrease energy conversion efficiency. Furthermore, the algal biomass productivity in photobioreactor is always proportional to the total photosynthetic rate. In order to optimize the productivity of algal photobioreactors (PBRs), the oxygen production rate should be estimated. Based on a simple model of light penetration depth and algal photosynthesis, the oxygen production rate in high-density microalgal cultures could be calculated. The estimated values and profiles of oxygen production rate by this model were found to be in accordance with the experimental data. Optimal parameters for PBR operations were also calculated using the model.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.477-482
• /
• 1998

In the aquaculture industry, a photobioreactor (Pbr) with high productivity is a prerequisite for mass production of Chlorella sp., a feeding fry for Rotifer (Brachinous plicatilis). To enhance the productivity of Chlorella sp., model Pbrs such as Cylinder type, Spherical surface type, Half-spherical surface type, Plate type, Raceway pond type and Water-wheel type Pbr with different values of surface area exposed to light/culture volume (S/V) were manufactured, and the maximum specific growth rate (${\mu}_{max}$) and productivity of Chlorella vulgaris 211-11b at $25^{\circ}C$, pH 7.0 and 12,000 lux were compared each other. The ${\mu}_{max}$ and productivity were not proportional to S/V. Among the 6 model Pbrs, Half-spherical surface type Pbr showed the highest ${\mu}_{max}$ and productivity as 2.206 ($day^{-1}$) and 0.247($g^{{\ell}-1}day^{-1}$).

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.139-142
• /
• 1998

To obtain informations for construction of a mass culture system, factors affecting on the specific growth rate of marine Chlorella sp. purchased from the Chungmu Laboratory of the South Sea Fisheries Institute, the National Fisheries Research and Development Agency were investigated using a vertical tubular photobioreactor (VT-PBR) system. Optimal temperature, illumination intensity, air- and $CO_{2-}$ flow rate for Chlorella sp. were $20^{\circ}C$, 6,000 lux, 0,56 vvm and 0.028 vvm, respectively.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.52-57
• /
• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate a relationship between ultraviolet radiation and initial cell density (ICD) of microalgae using a floating marine photobioreactor (PBR). To examine the effect of ultraviolet (UV) radiation in sunlight on biomass productivity as a function of ICD, 0.5-L floating PBRs covered with or without UV cut-off film were placed in an outdoor rectangular tank containing 200 L of water. At the lower ICDs, 0.01 and 0.05 g/L, biomass productivities in the PBRs without UV cut-off film decreased by $278{\pm}21%$ and $222{\pm}3%$ compared with those with the film, respectively. In contrast, the presence of UV cut-off film did not have a significant effect on biomass productivities at the higher ICDs, 0.25 and 1.25 g/L. When the differences in biomass productivity made by the UV cut-off film were plotted against the sum of cell projection area per light receiving area of the PBR, the results revealed that the inhibitory effect of UV on biomass productivity can be negligible when the sum of cell projection area is equal to the light receiving area of the PBR. These results show that photoinhibition caused by UV radiation could be eliminated via operating the PBR with a proper ICD.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.21-28
• /
• 2014

Recently, several researchers made their endeavor to manufacture the photobioreactor(PBR) with characteristic shapes form vacuum and blow forming process. Hence, behaviors of the transparent polycarbonate(PC) plate in the high temperature region should be examined to obtain the desired PBR case via vacuum and blow forming processes. The aim of this paper is to investigate tensile behavior of PC plate in the high temperature. Various tensile tests were performed using high temperature tensile testing machine. The influence of tensile speed, thickness and ambient temperature on tensile behavior in the high temperature was examined. The flow stress and tensile strength augmented when the tensile speed increased. In order to obtain proper flow curves with strain rate effects for different temperature of specimen, G'sell-Jonas model was adopted. The material constants of the G'sell-Jonas model were estimated. The flow curves of the PC plate considering the tensile speed, specimen thickness and temperature were obtained.