Characterization of the Effect of Programmed Aeration on Energy Efficiency of Microalgae Cultivation System

With autotrophic microalgae cultivation, we can feed back the CO2 content of process streams and we can get lots of valuable organic compounds, among others biofuel components. For the production of energy source,we must reckon with the energy balance of the whole process. Densification and processing of microalgae can consume 50% - 70% of the energy that can be extracted from the cells, therefore the cultivation should use such a little energy as it possible. In closed cultivation systems, there are three main energy intensive steps: artificial illumination, dissolution of gas compounds and mixing. We have carried out our measurements in our lab-scale screening photobioreactor system for the investigation of the most energy effective program for aeration. We have found the aeration program considerable solution for lower energy consumption in algae cultivation.