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Algae Biodiesel Photo Bioreactors and Algae Harvesting |
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We have developed algae production and algae harvesting systems and equipment that properly function for growing algae and harvesting the algae in a very efficient manner.
Like other plants, algae stores energy in the form of lipids. Growing algae has potential for oil production both because of its fast growth rate and the high oil content of some varieties. Some species of algae are so rich in oil that it accounts for over 50% of their mass, which means not counting the water, which is over 90% of the algae. It is believed that the majority of oil and natural gas originates from algae in ancient oceans.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has identified approximately 300 species of algae, as varied as the diatoms (genera Amphora, Cymbella, Nitzschia) and green algae (genera Chlorella in particular) as potentially good sources of oil from algae. Diatoms, or Bacillariophytes, are unicellular, microscopic algae. These organisms are widespread in salt water where they constitute the largest portion of phytoplankton biomass. There exist approximately 100,000 known species around the world. More than 400 new specimens are described each year.
Properly engineered algae systems could produce annually between 2,000-20,000 gallons of biodiesel-worthy plant oil per acre. Algae stands as the great green hope of the clean fuels biofuel revolution. For comparison, biodiesel produced from soybeans produces 50 gals/acre/yr. Biodiesel from palm oil yields 600 gals/acre/yr.
Our algae harvesting system retails for $195,000 US dollars. It can process one gallon of algae per minute.
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