Device and method for photosynthetic culture

Abstract

A device and system for growing a photosynthetic culture is provided which employs one or a plurality of vertically disposed photopanels having interior cavities configured for holding liquid and the photosynthetic culture such as algae. The inner chamber of the photopanels may have a shape that is structurally supported by bridging elements. The bridging elements may be formed as stepped cones that may function as light guides to the interior chamber.

1 . An apparatus configured to contain a light dependent chemical process comprising an enclosure defining an inner chamber to hold a liquid medium, whereby the shape of the inner chamber is structurally stabilized and defined in part or in full by bridging elements. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure and the inner chamber form a photobioreactor. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprises transparent PET. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the bridging elements increase a surface area to volume ratio of the inner chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the bridging elements are configured to distribute light to an enlarged inner chamber surface area. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the bridging elements form one or more light guides. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the enclosure is formed of a plastic film or sheet material that is less than 0.25 inches thick that would otherwise require greater thickness or additional support without the structural strength provided by the bridging elements. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the bridging elements are thermoformed with recyclable PET plastic that is less than 0.125 inches thick. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein at least some bridging elements comprise hollow cones with a base open to the outside of the enclosure. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the enclosure has a sufficiently large vertical height and sufficiently small horizontal cross sectional area when vertically disposed and containing a dense cell culture therein to establish a nutrient gradient when a nutrient is applied in one end of the inner chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the diffusion of a nutrient is reduced by the presence of the bridging elements, which further decreases or limits the horizontal cross sectional area. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising an apparatus for collecting cells, particles, or compositions of matter at one end of the inner chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the enclosure has an overall outer shape of a relatively tall, narrow and thin vertically disposed rectangular photopanel, wherein the enclosure is formed from one or more vertically extending sections, and wherein the inner chamber contains algae, and wherein the walls of the enclosure are formed of transparent plastic less than 0.125 inches thick. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the walls of the enclosure are thermoformed with transparent recyclable PET. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein a plurality of hollow cones are thermoformed to the opposing walls of the enclosure as bridging elements. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the hollow conal bridging elements increase the surface area of the inner chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the hollow conal bridging elements distribute light over the enlarged surface area, and wherein the hollow conal bridging elements comprise smooth or stepped sides. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , comprising side-lit LED panels applied to one or both sides of the photopanel. 
     
     
         19 . A photobioreactor deployment system comprising one or more supports along which a plurality of photobioreactors can independently translate, wherein the plurality of photobioreactors can translate from a first photobioreactor density configuration to a second, lower photobioreactor density configuration allowing a more uniform solar illumination. 
     
     
         20 . A photobioreactor deployment system according to  claim 19 , wherein the one or more supports also allow rotation of the plurality of photobioreactors to control the amount of solar irradiation exposed to the photobioreactors.