Algae growth system

Abstract

A bioreactor system for growing a photosynthetic culture includes a vessel containing an aqueous liquid and a lighting system to irradiate the photosynthetic culture. The lighting system includes at least one lighting panel.

1 .- 93 . (canceled) 
     
     
         94 . A photo bioreactor system for growing a photosynthetic culture in an aqueous liquid, the photo bioreactor system comprising:
 a vessel arranged to contain the aqueous liquid and comprising a lighting system arranged to irradiate the photosynthetic culture below the surface of the aqueous liquid,   wherein the lighting system comprises lighting panels having coupling means to enable coupling of the lighting panels to each other to form at least a section of a wall that defines canal sections in the vessel.   
     
     
         95 . The photo bioreactor system according to  claim 94 , wherein the photo bioreactor system comprises a greenhouse enclosing the vessel. 
     
     
         96 . The photo bioreactor system according to  claim 94 , wherein each lighting panel comprises transparent sidewalls forming a compartment, the compartment containing a light source arranged to irradiate the photosynthetic culture below the surface of the aqueous liquid, the lighting panel being free of an air gap between the sidewalls and the light source. 
     
     
         97 . The photo bioreactor system according to  claim 96 , wherein the lighting system comprises a reflector arranged to reflect light of the light source below the surface of the aqueous liquid into the aqueous liquid. 
     
     
         98 . The photo bioreactor system according to  claim 97 , wherein the lighting system comprises a reflector at the top of a lighting panel and/or at the bottom of a lighting panel. 
     
     
         99 . The photo bioreactor system according to  claim 94 , wherein the lighting panels are being arranged in the vessel to be at least partially submerged in the aqueous liquid. 
     
     
         100 . The photo bioreactor system according to  claim 94 , wherein the lighting panel is provided on top with a rail arranged to guide a harvester system of the photo bioreactor system. 
     
     
         101 . The photo bioreactor system according to  claim 100 , wherein the harvesting system comprises a cleaning unit arranged to clean the lighting system. 
     
     
         102 . The photo bioreactor system according to  claim 96 , wherein the light source is arranged to substantially emit light having a wavelength selected from the range of about 62.0 to 665 nm. 
     
     
         103 . The photo bioreactor system according to  claim 96 , wherein the light source is selected from one or more of the group consisting of incandescent lamps, LEDs and fluorescent lamps. 
     
     
         104 . The photo bioreactor system according to  claim 98 , wherein the reflector is rotatable connected with respect to the lighting panel to rotate during use of the photo bioreactor system. 
     
     
         105 . The photo bioreactor system according to  claim 94 , the lighting system comprising coupled lighting panels wherein said coupled lighting panels are arranged end-to-end to form at least a section of a wall that defines canal sections in the vessel. 
     
     
         106 . The photo bioreactor system according to  claim 105 , wherein the lighting panels are arranged end-to-end with the interface between the panels forming a smooth surface of the at least section of the wall to avoid impeding the flow of the liquid in the vessel along the length of the at least section of the wall formed by the panels. 
     
     
         107 . The photo bioreactor system according to  claim 94 , wherein the lighting panels comprise flanges as coupling means to couple the lighting panels together with the interface between the panels forming a smooth surface. 
     
     
         108 . The photo bioreactor system according to  claim 94 , wherein the vessel is a pond and the canal sections are raceways for the flow of the liquid. 
     
     
         109 . The photo bioreactor system according to  claim 96 , wherein the lighting panel is waterproof, so that an interior cavity is formed in the lighting panel, separated from the aqueous liquid in the bioreactor when the lighting panel is placed into said aqueous liquid. 
     
     
         110 . The photo bioreactor system according to  claim 109 , wherein the interior cavity is free of an air gap between the sidewalls and a light source. 
     
     
         111 . The photo bioreactor system according to  claim 109 , wherein the interior cavity is free of the aqueous liquid. 
     
     
         112 . The photo bioreactor system according to  claim 109 , wherein the interior cavity houses a liquid. 
     
     
         113 . The photo bioreactor system according to  claim 112 , wherein said liquid housed in the interior cavity is a cooling liquid. 
     
     
         114 . The photo bioreactor system according to  claim 113 , wherein said cooling liquid is circulated in the interior cavity. 
     
     
         115 . Lighting panel as used in a photo bioreactor system according to  claim 94 , the lighting panel comprising coupling means to enable coupling of the lighting panel to another lighting panel.