Photobioreactor and Method for Processing Polluted Air

Abstract

A photobioreactor ( 100 ) for use in treating polluted air and producing biomass may comprise, at least in part, a generally vertical tube or fluidic pathway ( 102 ), a generally vertical helical tube or fluidic pathway ( 104 ) having a light source ( 106 ) partially positioned within the helical fluidic pathway ( 104 ), a head cap assembly ( 108 ), and a base assembly ( 110 ). In one illustrative example, the light source ( 106 ) may be a light emitting diode (LED) or a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs). By one approach, a gas diffusion apparatus ( 112 ) is located at the base assembly ( 110 ) adjacent the generally vertical fluidic pathway ( 102 ).

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A photobioreactor comprising: a fluidly interconnected circuit having a generally straight portion with a primary axis oriented substantially vertically and a generally helical portion with a primary axis oriented substantially vertically; a head cap assembly and a base assembly fluidly connecting the generally straight portion and the generally helical portion; and a light source comprising a light emitting diode that is disposed proximal to the generally helical portion to provide a photosynthetic light source to biological material that flows through the generally helical portion. 
     
     
         15 . The photobioreactor of  claim 14  wherein the light emitting diode comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes emitting having wavelengths between approximately 445 nm and 680 nm. 
     
     
         16 . A method of producing biomass comprising: providing a photobioreactor that comprises: a pair of generally vertical fluidic pathways, one of the fluidic pathways being generally helical; a head cap assembly fluidly connects the pair of generally vertical fluidic pathways at a first end; and a base assembly fluidly connects the pair of generally vertical fluidic pathways at a second end, forming a fluidly interconnected circuit having a fluid path that has at least one straight portion and at least one helical portion; disposing at least one photosynthetic organism in a fluid medium in the photobioreactor; providing a carbon dioxide-containing gas to the fluid medium in the photobioreactor containing the at least one photosynthetic organism; providing radiation with a wavelength in the range of about 400 nm to about 700 nm; generating turbidity in the fluid medium to generate contact between the carbon dioxide-containing gas fluid medium with the at least one photosynthetic organism. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the photosynthetic organism comprises algae. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the biomass comprises algae. 
     
     
         19 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method of carbon sequestration comprising: providing a fluid medium having at least one photosynthetic organism, the fluid medium flowing within a photobioreactor that comprises a pair of columns, wherein one of the columns has a helical portion and wherein the pair of columns fluidly connect through a base connector and a top connector; injecting a carbon dioxide-containing gas at the base connector; providing a light source emitting wavelengths between about 400 nm and about 700 nm, at least a portion of the light source being positioned inside at least a portion of the column having a helical portion. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the at least one photosynthetic organism comprises at least  Chlorella Pyrenoidosa  Algae. 
     
     
         24 . The photobioreactor of  claim 23  wherein said light source comprises at least one LED for irradiating at least one of the columns, and the fluid medium flowing downward through the one column having the helical portion creates a Dean flow for mixing the at least one photosynthetic organism in the fluid medium. 
     
     
         25 . A photobioreactor comprising: a generally vertical fluidic pathway; a generally vertical helically shaped fluidic pathway adjacent to the generally vertical fluidic pathway; a head cap assembly fluidly connecting a first end of the generally vertical fluidic pathway with a first end of the generally vertical helically shaped fluidic pathway; a base assembly fluidly connecting a second end of the generally vertical fluidic pathway with a second end of the generally vertical helically shaped fluidic pathway to permit a biologically active material to move fluidly, without substantial impediment, back and forth between the generally vertical fluidic pathway and the generally vertical helically shaped fluidic pathway; and a gas diffusion apparatus located at the second end of the generally vertical fluidic pathway, wherein the gas diffusion apparatus injects gas at the base assembly and wherein the injected gas creates a fluid movement within the photobioreactor that moves upward through the generally vertical fluidic pathway and downward through the generally vertical helically shaped fluidic pathway. 
     
     
         26 . The photobioreactor of  claim 25  wherein the downward fluid movement through the generally vertical helically shaped fluidic pathway creates a Dean flow. 
     
     
         27 . The photobioreactor of  claim 25 , wherein the gas diffusion apparatus comprises a sparger. 
     
     
         28 . The photobioreactor of  claim 25 , wherein said photobioreactor further comprises a light source for irradiating the fluid moving through at least one of fluidic pathways. 
     
     
         29 . A photobioreactor comprising: a generally vertical fluidic pathway; a generally vertical helically shaped fluidic pathway adjacent to the generally vertical fluidic pathway; a head cap assembly fluidly connecting a first end of the generally vertical fluidic pathway with a first end of the generally vertical helically shaped fluidic pathway; and a base assembly fluidly connecting a second end of the generally vertical fluidic pathway with a second end of the generally vertical helically shaped fluidic pathway to permit a biologically active material to move fluidly, without substantial impediment, back and forth between the generally vertical fluidic pathway and the generally vertical helically shaped fluidic pathway and wherein the generally vertical helically shaped fluidic pathway has a helix angle between about 15 degrees to about 30 degrees. 
     
     
         30 . The photobioreactor of  claim 29  wherein the helix angle is approximately 16 degrees.