Patent ID: 9267102
Filing Date: 2016-02-23
CPC Classification: C12M

Claim Text:
1. A system for cultivating algae, the system comprising: a recess in a portion of earth, and wherein the recess is at least partially filed with an aqueous growth medium that is capable of sustaining algae growth, and wherein the recess includes a proximal side, a distal side, a width, a length and a bottom surface, and wherein the bottom surface is sloped such that a depth of the aqueous growth medium at the proximal side of the recess is greater than a depth of the aqueous growth medium at the distal side of the recess; a movable and floatable agitator having a length that is substantially the length of the recess, and wherein the agitator further includes an inflatable portion and deflation vents located along the length of the agitator and located along a bottom of the inflatable portion, and wherein the deflation vents are configured to allow aqueous growth medium to escape the inflatable portion of the agitator when the inflatable portion is exposed to compressed gas and configured to allow aqueous growth medium to enter the inflatable portion when compressed gas is not being pulsed into the inflatable portion, and an actuator in fluid connection with the agitator, and wherein the actuator includes a damper and a controller which controls operation of the damper, and a source of compressed gas in fluid connection with the agitator via the actuator.