Modular kit for integration and installation of one or more bioreactors for microalgae cultivation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12134756-B2
Application number	US-202017426778-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 24, 2020
Priority date	Feb 25, 2019
Publication date	Nov 5, 2024
Grant date	Nov 5, 2024

Abstract

A modular kit for integration and installation of one or more bioreactors for microalgae cultivation includes: —at least one bioreactor for microalgae cultivation, in the form of a vertically arranged transparent tubular column; —a supporting structure adapted to integrate and support the base of the at least one bioreactor, and also adapted to internally house a first connection to a system for loading and unloading a cultivation vector fluid into/from the at least one bioreactor, and a second connection to a system for supplying CO2-supplemented air into the at least one bioreactor; —multiple modules forming respective frames with internal empty spaces and adapted to be connected to one another to house, in the empty spaces, the at least one bioreactor; the multiple modules being also so shaped as to convey filtered light into the at least one bioreactor.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A modular kit for integration and installation of one or more bioreactors for microalgae cultivation, said kit comprising:
at least one bioreactor for microalgae cultivation, in the form of a vertically arranged transparent tubular column;
a supporting structure adapted to integrate and support the base of said at least one bioreactor, and also adapted to internally house a first connection to a system for loading and unloading a cultivation vector fluid into/from said at least one bioreactor, and a second connection to a system for supplying CO2-supplemented air into said at least one bioreactor,
multiple modules forming respective frames with internal empty spaces and adapted to be connected to one another to house, in said empty spaces, said at least one bioreactor; said multiple modules being also shaped so as to convey light into said at least one bioreactor,
wherein each one of said modules comprises:
two lozenge-shaped elements in the form of internally empty frames, and two trapezoid elements;
said two lozenge-shaped elements being connected to each other perpendicularly, so as to form said internal empty space;
said two trapezoid elements being located at two opposite ends of said two lozenge-shaped elements connected to each other.

2. The modular kit according to claim 1 , wherein said lozenge-shaped elements have slots at the edges adapted to allow for a join connection between said two lozenge-shaped elements.

3. The modular kit according to claim 1 , wherein said multiple modules are connected together side-by-side and/or stacked in a one-dimensional or two-dimensional manner, being able to house in said respective internal empty spaces multiple parallel bioreactors arranged side-by-side in a column along a straight or curved line, or in multiple parallel columns arranged in a matrix.

4. The modular kit according to claim 1 , wherein said multiple modules are made up of opal methacrylate plates having a diversified transparency gradient, in order to control colour saturation and transparency.

5. The modular kit according to claim 1 , wherein said transparent tubular column of the bioreactor is open or comprises a wire cap in its top part, so that the oxygen produced by photosynthesis during the microalgae cultivation process is released into the environment, and CO2 emission is reduced.

Assignees

• Milano Politecnico

Inventors

• Spadafora Saverio Pasquale
• Paoletti Ingrid

Classifications

• C12M31/06

  Lenses · CPC title

• F24S23/12

  Light guides · CPC title

• F24S23/10

  Prisms · CPC title

• F24S23/70

  with reflectors · CPC title

• C12M31/04

  Mirrors · CPC title