Novel flat-plate photobioreactors for microalgae cultivation with special mixers to promote mixing along the light gradient
Abstract
Novel flat-plate photobioreactors (PBRs) with special mixers (type-a, type-b, and type-c) were designed based on increased mixing degree along the light gradient. The hydrodynamic and light regime characteristic of the novel PBRs were investigated through computational fluid dynamics. Compared with the control reactor without mixer, the novel reactors can effectively increase liquid velocity along the light gradient, the frequency of light/dark (L/D) cycles, and the algal growth rates of Chlorella pyrenoidosa. The maximum biomass concentrations in type-a, type-b, and type-c reactors were 42.9% (1.3 g L(-1)), 31.9% (1.2 g L(-1)), and 20.9% (1.1 g L(-1)) higher than that in the control reactor (0.91 g L(-1)), respectively, at an aeration rate of 1.0 vvm. Correlation analysis of algal growth rate with the characteristics of mixing and light regime shows the key factors affecting algal photoautotrophic growth are liquid velocity along the light gradient and L/D cycles rather than the macro-mixing degree.
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By adding mixers and improving sparger performances, novel photobioreactors with efficient mixing, high rates of gas-liquid mass transfer, and well-defined fluid flow patterns can be obtained for microalgal lipid accumulation and biofuel production purposes.
“By adding mixers and improving sparger performances, novel PBRs with efficient mixing, high rates of gas–liquid mass transfer, and well-defined fluid flow patterns can be obtained for microalgal lipid accumulation and biofuel production purposes [177–180].”
From Microalgae biofuels: illuminating the path to a sustainable future amidst challenges and opportunities (2024) · cites this paper as [177]
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- Authors
- Huang, J., Li, Y., Wan, M., Yan, Y., Feng, F., Qu, X., Wang, J., Shen, G., Li, W., Fan, J., & Wang, W.
- Affiliations
- East China University of Science and Technology (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Li, Yuanguang
- Venue
- Bioresource Technology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2014-05
- Volume
- 159
- Pages
- 8-16
- ISSN
- 0960-8524 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1970740775
- Cited by
- 134
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 5
- FWCI
- 3.30
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Bioresource Technology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Algal biology and biofuel production
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Fluid Dynamics and Mixing
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
- Keywords
- flat panel photobioreactor, microalgae cultivation, Chlorella pyrenoidosa, mixer design, light gradient, mixing, light-dark cycle, algal growth rate, hydrodynamics, computational fluid dynamics, biomass concentration, aeration
- MeSH terms
- Aerobiosis, Chlorella, Kinetics, Light, Probability, Rheology, Photoperiod, Biomass, Cell Culture Techniques, Autotrophic Processes, Hydrodynamics, Microalgae, Photobioreactors
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