Bioreactor System and Related Bio-Stimulation Methods

Abstract

A bioreactor system for growing commercial volumes of algae or other biomass in an enclosed, biosecure reactor vessel, the system having internal artificial growth light production as well as exterior solar energy capturing devices or the like designed to facilitate enhanced sunlight exposure for photosynthesis organism production. Magnetic and electromagnetic field generation systems and/or millimeter wave generating devices are integrated with the bioreactor system and its operation to substantially enhance growth rate and overall productivity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bioreactor system, comprising:
 a containment vessel having a wall having inner and outer sides forming an interior having an inner diameter, lower and upper ends, and a medial area therebetween; and   a generally vertically oriented flow tube positioned in said interior of said containment vessel, said flow tube forming a longitudinal passage having a bottom, a top, and a medial area therebetween; wherein said containment vessel and said flow tube are collectively structured to facilitate the circulation of fluid biomass between said interior of said containment vessel and said longitudinal passage of said flow tube.   
     
     
         2 . The bioreactor system of  claim 1 , wherein said flow tube has laterally formed therethrough, in the vicinity of said medial area of said longitudinal passage, a medial flow passage; and a gate valve configured to slidably engage said wall of said flow tube so as to selectively block flow through said medial flow passage upon said interior of said containment vessel being filled to a predetermined fluid level. 
     
     
         3 . The bioreactor system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one auxiliary vessel in fluid communication with said containment vessel, said auxiliary vessel having first and second panels mounted in a spaced fashion to define an enclosure therebetween, at least said first panel formed of light permeable material;
 wherein said enclosure is configured to receive a flow of fluid biomass from said containment vessel, and said auxiliary vessel is configured to facilitate the passage of the flow of fluid biomass through said enclosure so as to receive light energy radiating therein.   
     
     
         4 . The bioreactor system of  claim 3 , wherein said auxiliary vessel further comprises a diffuser in communication therewith for facilitating the flow of the fluid biomass from said enclosure to said containment vessel. 
     
     
         5 . The bioreactor system of  claim 3 , further comprising an artificial light source disposed to project light through at least one of said first and second panels into said enclosure, so as to radiate light energy into said enclosure. 
     
     
         6 . The bioreactor system of  claim 3 , further comprising a pump configured to facilitate flow of fluid biomass between said containment vessel and said auxiliary vessel. 
     
     
         7 . The bioreactor system of  claim 3 , further comprising at least one linkage tube in fluid communication with said containment vessel and said flat panel enclosure. 
     
     
         8 . The bioreactor system of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one linkage tube further comprises a plurality of magnetic rings concentrically mounted thereon, said magnetic rings mounted in spaced fashion along a length of said linkage tube to selectively provide a tunable magnetic field within said linkage tube. 
     
     
         9 . The bioreactor system of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one linkage tube further comprises a solenoid coil concentrically mounted thereon to selectively provide a tunable magnetic field within said linkage tube. 
     
     
         10 . The bioreactor system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one bio-stimulation conduit containing a first conduit portion and a second conduit portion, said first and second conduit portions in fluid communication with said containment vessel to form a closed loop, said bio-stimulation conduit further including a plurality of magnetic rings concentrically mounted thereon, said plurality of magnetic rings mounted in spaced fashion along a length of said bio-stimulation conduit to selectively provide a tunable magnetic field within said bio-stimulation conduit. 
     
     
         11 . The bioreactor system of  claim 1 , wherein said flow tube has attached thereto a lower stop positioned below said medial flow passage to support said sliding gate valve in a position such that fluid passes through said medial flow passage of said flow tube. 
     
     
         12 . The bioreactor system of  claim 1 , wherein said flow tube has attached thereto an upper stop positioned above said medial flow passage to stop upward migration of said sliding gate valve and position said sliding gate valve to block said medial flow passage formed in said flow tube, so as to substantially prevent the passage of fluid therethrough. 
     
     
         13 . The bioreactor system of  claim 1 , further comprising a lower airlift in said flow tube positioned below said medial area of said flow tube, said lower airlift formed to provide a pressure gradient to provide fluid lift in said flow tube. 
     
     
         14 . The bioreactor system of  claim 1 , further comprising an upper airlift in said flow tube above said medial area of said flow tube, said upper airlift formed to provide a pressure gradient so as to provide fluid lift in said flow tube. 
     
     
         15 . The bioreactor system of  claim 1 , further comprising first and second coils concentrically mounted to said flow tube, said first and second coils mounted in spaced fashion along a length of said flow tube to selectively provide a tunable electromagnetic field within and about said flow tube. 
     
     
         16 . The bioreactor system of  claim 15 , wherein said first and second coils comprise a Helmholtz coil. 
     
     
         17 . The bioreactor system of  claim 1 , further comprising a top portion disposed at said upper end of said containment vessel, said top portion being transparent to light and defining a headspace above said top of said flow tube whereby fluid biomass flowing from said top of said flow tube is exposed to light. 
     
     
         18 . The bioreactor system of  claim 1 , further comprising a millimeter wave emitter disposed at the upper end of the containment vessel and configured to project millimeter waves into said containment vessel such that flow from said top of said flow tube is exposed to the millimeter waves. 
     
     
         19 . The bioreactor system of  claim 1 , further comprising a carbon dioxide infusion array in communication with said flow tube for infusing carbon dioxide into said flow tube. 
     
     
         20 . The bioreactor system of  claim 1 , wherein said wall of said containment vessel has ports formed therethrough, each of said ports covered via a port cover formed of fluid impermeable, light transmissive material. 
     
     
         21 . The bioreactor system of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of said ports further comprises an artificial light source mounted so as to project light into said interior of said containment vessel. 
     
     
         22 . The bioreactor system of  claim 1 , wherein the inner diameter of said interior of said containment vessel at said lower and upper ends is less than the inner diameter of said containment vessel at said medial area, such that longitudinal flow of matter between said inner walls of said containment vessel and said flow tube encounter an increase in turbulence. 
     
     
         23 . A bioreactor system having a top side and underside, comprising:
 first and second panels configured in a spaced fashion onto a frame so as to define an enclosure therein, said enclosure having first and second ends, said first panel defining the top side, said second panel defining the underside;   a first tube configured with apertures along its length to disperse fluid biomass into said enclosure, said first tube disposed along said first end of said enclosure;   a second tube configured with apertures along its length to disperse gas into said enclosure, said second tube disposed proximal to said first tube;   wherein said enclosure is configured to facilitate the flow of fluid biomass within said enclosure so as to receive light energy radiating therein.   
     
     
         24 . A method of cultivating one or more organism in a biomass, comprising the steps of:
 filling a bioreactor with a starter culture of a biomass suspended in a fluid; the bioreactor comprising:   a containment vessel having a wall having inner and outer sides forming an interior having an inner diameter, lower and upper ends, and a medial area therebetween;   a generally vertically oriented flow tube positioned in said interior of said containment vessel, said flow tube forming a longitudinal passage having a bottom, a top, and a medial area therebetween;   said flow tube having laterally formed therethrough, in the vicinity of said medial area of said longitudinal passage, a medial flow passage;   a gate valve configured to slidably engage said wall of said flow tube so as to selectively block flow through said medial flow passage upon said interior of said containment vessel being filled to a predetermined fluid level; wherein the starter culture is filled to about the medial flow passage;   effectuating flow of gas in the flow tube at least below the medial flow passage, so as to provide an upward flow such that the upward flow facilitates the flow of fluid through the medial flow passage, out of the flow tube, down the exterior of the flow tube, and back into the bottom of the flow tube in a looped fashion;   monitoring the biomass for growth;   filling the bioreactor to about the top of the flow tube, causing movement of the gate valve into a position so as to block the medial flow passage and urge the flow through the top of the flow tube, down the exterior of the flow tube, and back in through the bottom of the flow tube in a looped fashion.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising effectuating a flow of gas in the flow tube above the medial flow passage, so as to provide upward flow. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising exposing the interior of the containment vessel to one or more magnetic field, so as to stimulate cellular mitosis in the biomass flowing therethrough. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising exposing the interior of the containment vessel to millimeter waves to stimulate cellular mitosis in the biomass flowing therethrough. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising creating an acidic condition in the containment vessel so as to weaken the cellular body of the biomass. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising exposing the interior of the containment vessel to one or more pulsed magnetic field, so as to break the cellular wall of the biomass to separate lipid oil content therein from the cellular body of the biomass. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising exposing the biomass to millimeter waves tuned so as to provide a pulsed field at a frequency and field strength to break the cellular wall of the biomass to separate lipid oil content therein from the cellular body of the biomass.