Autonomous submersible device for algae growth and collection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12084640-B2
Application number	US-202017082074-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 28, 2020
Priority date	Nov 21, 2019
Publication date	Sep 10, 2024
Grant date	Sep 10, 2024

Abstract

A submersible device submersible within an algae slurry contained within a pond of an algae bioreactor, the submersible device including a drive motor operable to actuate one or more driven devices that move the submersible device within the pond, a circulation device operable to circulate the algae slurry through the submersible device and discharge the algae slurry back into the pond from a discharge port provided on the submersible device, and a computer system that controls operation of the drive motor and the circulation device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An algae bioreactor, comprising:
a pond that contains an algae slurry comprising at least water and algae;
a submersible device submersible within the algae slurry and including:
a drive motor operable to actuate one or more driven devices that move the submersible device within the pond;
a circulation device operable to circulate the algae slurry through the submersible device and discharge the algae slurry back into the pond from a discharge port provided on the submersible device;
a computer system configured to control operation of the drive motor and the circulation device;
a sensor in communication with the computer system and configured to measure a nutrient level in the algae slurry; and
a nutrient storage container storing nutrients configured to promote growth of the algae in the pond, wherein the nutrient storage container is in communication with the computer system, and the computer system is configured to determine nutrients to be distributed into the pond in response to the nutrient level.

2. The algae bioreactor of claim 1 , wherein the submersible device is at least partially buoyant and capable of operating at any depth within the algae slurry.

3. The algae bioreactor of claim 1 , further comprising a battery contained within a body of the submersible device to provide electrical power the drive motor, the circulation device, and the computer system.

4. The algae bioreactor of claim 1 , further comprising one or more photovoltaic solar panels arranged on a housing of the submersible device to generate and provide electrical power to the drive motor, the circulation device, and the computer system.

5. The algae bioreactor of claim 1 , wherein the circulation device includes a filter that removes debris and algae from the algae slurry circulating through the submersible device.

6. The algae bioreactor of claim 1 , wherein the circulation device includes a filter and the circulation device is operable to circulate the algae slurry through the submersible device in reverse to backflush the filter.

7. The algae bioreactor of claim 1 , further comprising one or more navigation sensors in communication with the computer system to help navigate the submersible device within the pond.

8. The algae bioreactor of claim 1 , further comprising one or more environment sensors in communication with the computer system to monitor one or more parameters of the algae slurry.

9. A method, comprising:
placing a submersible device within an algae slurry contained within a pond of an algae bioreactor, the submersible device including:
a drive motor operable to actuate one or more driven devices that move the submersible device within the pond;
a circulation device operable to circulate the algae slurry through the submersible device and discharge the algae slurry back into the pond from a discharge port provided on the submersible device;
a computer system configured to control operation of the drive motor and the circulation device;
a sensor in communication with the computer system and configured to measure a nutrient level in the algae slurry; and
a nutrient storage container storing nutrients configured to promote growth of the algae in the pond, wherein the nutrient storage container is in communication with the computer system, and the computer system is configured to determine nutrients to be distributed into the pond in response to the nutrient level;
operating the drive motor to actuate one or more driven devices and thereby moving the submersible device within the pond;
circulating the algae slurry through the submersible device with the circulation device; and
discharging the algae slurry back into the pond from the discharge port provided on the submersible device.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the circulation device includes a filter and circulating the algae slurry through the submersible device comprises selectively removing debris or algae from the algae slurry with the filter as the algae slurry circulates through the submersible device.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising harvesting the algae from the filter.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising navigating the submersible device within the pond using one or more navigation sensors in communication with the computer system.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising monitoring one or more parameters of the algae slurry with one or more environment sensors in communication with the computer system.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising switching the submersible device to a collection mode when the one or more environment sensors detect a predetermined algae concentration in the algae slurry.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising switching the submersible device to a collection mode when the one or more environment sensors detect algae of a predetermined size or greater.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the one or more parameters of the algae slurry include a presence of nutrients in the algae slurry to promote efficient growth of the algae, and wherein the method further comprises:
detecting with the one or more environment sensors when a concentration of the nutrients falls below a predetermined level; and
distributing additional nutrients into the algae slurry based on signals provided by the one or more environment sensors.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising detecting an invasive species in the algae slurry with the one or more environment sensors.

Assignees

• Exxonmobil Technology & Engineering Company

Inventors

• Kovvali Anjaneya S
• O'Neal Everett J
• Hanks Patrick L
• Deimund Mark A
• CHOUDHARY Vinit
• Igci Yesim
• Brown Louis R

Classifications

• C12M27/00

  Means for mixing, agitating or circulating fluids in the vessel (by introduction of gas C12M29/06, C12M29/14, mixing in general or mixers per se B01F; mixing in apparatus for chemical or physical processes B01J) · CPC title

• A01G33/00 Primary

  Cultivation of seaweed {or algae} · CPC title

• Y02A90/40

  Monitoring or fighting invasive species · CPC title

• Y02A40/80

  in fisheries management · CPC title

• C12M1/002 Primary

  Photo bio reactors · CPC title