Symbiotic - Model Mac-B - Algae Cultivation Technology
Growing microalgae year round north of the 45th parallel, outside in the elements, using conventional methods poses a formidable challenge eight months of the year. Drawing on a lifetime of experience gained from working in the heavy equipment and oilfield equipment development field, Symbiotic’s founder, Art Deane enthusiastically embraced the challenge to devise a solution. After several months of basic research followed by a year of in-depth applied research and testing of various prototypes, Deane unveiled a concept prototype. He then enlisted the help of experts from relevant disciplines and from combined efforts, the Modular Algae Cultivation Biofield (Mac-B) system was born.
Technology Details
The Mac-B™ system was designed for cultivating algae in regions around the globe where it is the prevailing belief that erratic climate and various other prohibitive factors would make these regions unfavorable for algae cultivation. The system utilizes wastewater, waste heat, CO2 and other waste streams emitted from present day industrial and agricultural processes as inputs, towards the goal of achieving a net neutral carbon demand.
The Company engineered the system of easily deployable photobioreactor modules, that utilize both solar and artificial light. It incorporates a one-of-a-kind media agitation system and a gas mixing and delivery system for delivering specially formulated nutrients, developed specifically for the Mac-B™ to most effectively accelerate algal growth.
The Mac-B™ overcomes the limitations of first generation photobioreactor technologies, unlocking the ability to co-locate algae cultivation activities, in extremely hot, moderate or cold climates, in close proximity to waste emitters regardless of their geographic local. The Mac-B™ effectively enables utilization and “monetization” of non-productive waste in the process of growing algal biomass.
The Mac-B™ takes advantage of algae’s ability to quickly utilize non-productive waste streams, transforming them into biomass that in-turn is used in the production of multiple output products, where all these output products have significant commercial value and well recognized market demand. Further extraction and fractioning of the oils from the algal biomass and follow-on refining represents an endless opportunity for sustainable value-added economic activities into perpetuity.
Technology Overview
Graphic illustration of Industrial and Agricultural processes where the Mac-B system can be deployed:
Grow Algae In Any Climate
The bioreactor modules are insulated and combines natural and artificial light to maximize algae production 24/7. They are portable and scalable by multiples of two, making it possible to size the cultivation biofield to match available wastewater and CO2 waste streams, emanating from any agricultural or industrial industries, anywhere, in any climate.
Scalability
Scaling is achieved by simply adding or subtracting the inter-connectable bioreactor modules. The Mac-B system consist of eight commercial scale (106,000 liters) (28,000 gallon), left-and-right modular components, that are coupled together and linked end-to-end to form production cells. Each module is engineered to minimize water loss due to evaporation and when coupled together, they provide significant wet growth media capacity in a relatively small footprint.
One production cell has a wet growth media capacity of 848,000 liters. Eight production cells are configured to form a commercial cultivation biofield, that fits easily on a two-acre lot with more than adequate room for laneways through and around the biofield. The 64 modules biofield configuration (see 3D graphic illustration below) has a wet growing capacity of 6,784,000 liters. The production cells are controlled by a common Head Control Unit (HCU) which houses the nutrient feed, Water-Gas-Mixing system, circulation pump and Process Logic Controls. One HCU controls one production cell.
Graphic illustration of a 64 module biofield:
Deployable
A flat, solid foundation is all that is required to support the bioreactor modules. No permanent structures, footings or extensive ground work are required. Modules can be delivered by truck and spotted near the waste source, on minimal space.
Submersible Lighting
Each module is equipped with supplemental, submersible LED lighting, designed exclusively for use with the Mac-B™ system. The LED’s operational, spectral and irradiance profile are tailored to optimize photosynthetic saturation levels throughout the reactor trough so to effectively accelerate cell growth. The spectrum, intensity and duty cycle are programmable and can be programmed to accommodate the different growth characteristics of different algae strains. The submersible fixtures can be configured so that a percentage of heat load given off by the light elements are unloaded directly into the growth media. Water cooled versions allow the head load to be removed and utilized in other areas of the process. The fixtures are available in either a flat panel or tube design.
Mixing
The Mac-B system uses an innovative approach for agitating the growth media. The design incorporates a unique mechanical propulsion system to physically stir up and move the large volume of growth media without sheer damage to the growing algae cells.
De-fouling
The modules are large enough to allow easy access to the inside of the reactor trough for de-fouling and general cleaning.
Growth Environment
The outer hull and the reactor trough are fully enclosed to reduce contamination risks from the outside, while maintaining an un-corruptible, internal growth environment at ideal thermal levels (heating and cooling) for optimally supporting algae growth. The modules can be configured so that the reactor troughs are isolated from each other to reduce the risk of cross contamination from within, or to limit propagation in the event of catastrophic internal bacterial infection. Each module can also selectively be taken offline for routine maintenance without shutting down the other modules in the biofield™.
Versatility
The system is ideal where space is limited. The modules can be assembled in a multiple of outdoor biofield™ configurations. In applications where assembling the biofield™ inside a building makes good economic sense, the outer weather protection hull can be eliminated so that the bioreactor troughs can be stacked on a suitable substructure, inside the building.
The Mac-B system is designed for overall sustainable performance. It is a commercially scalable, industrially robust system, made of steel and durable polycarbonate materials for maximum operational usage and long service life.
Individual Systems ACS-2K, 2m3 Module
ACS-2K Portable Lab:is a (2m3), (528-gallon) single module designed for in-the-field applied research and small scale experimentation. It is also used for scaling culture development to incrementally build larger volumes of inoculums (seeds) for populating commercial scale production system.
ACS-26K Trainer:is a 26m3 (6868-gallon) single module, designed for large volume in-the-field pilot demonstration, project feasability study and training. It to can be used for scaling culture development to incrementally build larger volumes of inoculums for populating commercial scale production system.
3 Module
ACS-26K Trainer: is a 26m3 (6868-gallon) single module, designed for large volume in-the-field pilot demonstration, project feasability study and training. It to can be used for scaling culture development to incrementally build larger volumes of inoculums for populating commercial scale production system.
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