A New Photobioreactor for Continuous Microalgal Production in Hatcheries Based on External-Loop Airlift and Swirling Flow

Type Article
Date 2009
Language English
Author(s) Loubiere K1, Olivo Erell2, Bougaran GaelORCID2, Pruvost J1, Robert ReneORCID3, Legrand Jack1
Affiliation(s) 1 : CRTT, CNRS, UMR 6144, Lab GEPEA, F-44602 St Nazaire, France.
2 : IFREMER, Ctr Nantes, Lab Physiol & Biotechnol Algues, Nantes, France.
3 : IFREMER, Stn Expt Argenton Presquile Vivier, Lab Physiol Invertebres, Argenton En Landunvez, France.
Source Biotechnology and Bioengineering (0006-3592) (John Wiley & Sons), 2009 , Vol. 102 , N. 1 , P. 132-147
DOI 10.1002/bit.22035
WOS© Times Cited 51
Keyword(s) Isochrysis affinis galbana, Swirling flow, Airlift, Hatchery, Continuous photobioreactor
Abstract This study deals with the scale of a new photobioreactor for continuous microalgal production in hatcheries. The combination of the state-of-art with the constraints inherent to hatcheries has turned the design into a closed, artificially illuminated and external-loop airlift configuration based on a succession of elementary modules, each one being composed of two transparent vertical interconnected columns. The liquid circulation is ensured pneumatically (air injections) with respect to a swirling motion (tangential inlets). A single module of the whole photobioreactor was built-up to scale its geometry (diameter and length) and to optimize its design (air sparger, tangential inlets). The volumetric productivities were predicted by modeling radiative transfer and growth of Isochrysis affinis galbana (clone Tahiti). The hydrodynamics of the liquid phase was modeled in terms of global flow behavior (circulation and mixing times, Peclet number) and of swirling motion decay along the column (Particle Image Velocimetry). The aeration performances were determined by overall volumetric mass transfer measurements. Continuous cultures of Isochrysis affinis galbana (clone Tahiti) were run in two geometrical configurations, generating either an axial or a swirling flow. Lastly, the definitive options of design arc presented as well as a 120-L prototype, currently implemented in a French mollusk hatchery and commercialized. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009;102: 132-147. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Loubiere K, Olivo Erell, Bougaran Gael, Pruvost J, Robert Rene, Legrand Jack (2009). A New Photobioreactor for Continuous Microalgal Production in Hatcheries Based on External-Loop Airlift and Swirling Flow. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 102(1), 132-147. Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.22035 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/5288/