Patent ID: 8852924

Claim:
A dual component closed system photobioreactor for cultivation of photosynthetic organisms in liquid culture comprising: a transparent hollow hemi-ellipsoid gasless domed growth chamber having a rigid base for containing the liquid culture for cultivating the photosynthetic organisms; the growth chamber includes a rigid internal disk positioned therein defining an upper volume above the disk and a lower volume below the disk and a flow annulus between an outer edge of the disk and an internal surface of the growth chamber, the disk includes a central opening extending therethrough; the growth chamber further includes two ports that permit liquid culture flow into and out of the growth chamber; a separate trayed column connected to the growth chamber supporting spaced trays attached to and extending from an inside surface of the trayed column for aerating and separating the liquid culture; the trayed column is a transparent hollow cylindrical or polyhedron shell having a detachable lid forming an internal volume in which the trays are located and a reservoir is positioned at a bottom of the volume below the trays; the trayed column further includes four ports that permit flow of liquid culture and introduced gas into and out of the trayed column; means for agitating the liquid culture in the growth chamber between the lower volume and the upper volume through any disk; and means for circulation of liquid culture between the growth chamber and the trayed column.