Patent ID: 9011699
Filing Date: 2015-04-21
Classification: B06B,C12M

Abstract:
1. A system comprising: a primary flow channel through which is flowed a mixture of a host fluid and microorganisms, the primary flow channel having an inlet and extending to a terminus; a first outlet channel extending from the primary flow channel to a settling tank, said first outlet channel beginning at a point between the inlet and the terminus; a second outlet channel extending from the terminus of the primary flow channel at the terminus to the settling tank, wherein the primary flow channel terminates at the second outlet channel; a first array of transducers disposed within the primary flow channel between the inlet and the first outlet channel for acoustically agglomerating the microorganisms; and a second array of transducers disposed within the primary flow channel between the first outlet channel and the terminus for further acoustically agglomerating the microorganisms; a third array of transducers disposed within the first outlet channel for further acoustically agglomerating the algae; wherein the settling tank collects the host fluid and the microorganisms after agglomeration by at least one of the first and second arrays of transducers, the settling tank including at least one host fluid outlet through which the host fluid is removed after the microorganisms has settled and at least one microorganisms outlet to facilitate removal of the microorganisms.