Patent ID: 8940531
Filing Date: 2015-01-27
Classification: C12M,C12N

Abstract:
1. A system for culturing and recovering micro algae, comprising; a photo-bioreactor unit for culturing micro algae by a photochemical reaction to produce a micro algae precipitate; a floatation separator for separating the precipitated micro algae; a centrifugal separator for concentrating the separated micro algae; a micro bubble generator for generating process water containing micro carbon dioxide bubbles and supplying the generated process water to the photo-bioreactor unit and the floatation separator; and a culture medium regenerator for receiving waste culture medium from at least one of the photo-bioreactor unit, the floatation separator, and the centrifugal separator and regenerating the receive waste culture medium by supplementing nutrients; wherein the photo-bioreactor unit comprises a photo-bioreactor including: a culture vessel for containing therein culture medium and micro algae; and an overflow pipe longitudinally inserted into the culture vessel such that one end of the overflow pipe is positioned inside culture vessel and the other end of the overflow pipe is positioned outside the culture vessel, wherein the culture vessel includes: an inlet for receiving the regenerated culture medium from the culture medium regenerator, the water containing micro carbon dioxide bubbles from the micro bubble generator, or both: and an outlet for discharging the culture medium, micro algae, or both contained in the culture vessel, wherein the photo-bioreactor is equipped with a micro algae discharger for discharging micro algae precipitated at a lower portion of the culture vessel, the micro algae discharger comprising; a hopper for holding therein precipitated micro algae; a precipitation algae transfer pipe connected to a lower end the hopper; a sensor for measuring the height of the precipitated micro algae in the hopper; an upper separation plate provided between the culture vessel and the hopper and configured to be folded such that the culture vessel and the hopper are in communication with each other, if the height of the precipitated micro algae is less than a predetermined value and to be unfolded such that the culture vessel and the hopper are not in communication with each other, if the height of the precipitated micro algae is the same as or greater than the predetermined value; a lower separation plate provided between the hopper and the precipitation algae transfer pipe and configured to be unfolded such that the hopper and the precipitation algae transfer pipe are not in communication with each other, if the height of the precipitated micro algae is less than the predetermined value and to be folded such that the hopper and the precipitation algae transfer pipe are in communication with each other, if the height of the precipitated micro algae is the same as or greater than the predetermined value; and a separation plate controller for receiving a signal from the sensor and driving the upper and lower separation plates, respectively.