[Gasification] Algae

[gfwhell at aol.com]

Rex
 
I read your expose on the production of Algae by Green solutions  Inc.
This looks like a realistic approach to the production of renewable energy.
As you were witness to the methods of production, perhaps you could describe a little more, of the system being used:
 I conjured up, a mental picture of two thin sheets of clear thermoplastic being bonded together, one sheet upon the other, printing a pattern by welding. A system using , Hot rollers, or RF. to produce a capillary of passages for the passage of  liquid. resulting in a flexible sheet of material capable of being laid down on practically any suitable  surface for the collection of daylight.
The liquid will be "seeded"  with the required Algae, and re-circulated through the clear piping matrix, formed between  the welded plastic sheets.
The growth of the Algae will be dependent upon local conditions, but will be fast?
If my description is relatively correct.
Please tell,
How often can it be harvested?
How is this done?
How many duty cycles are expected from the plastic?
What thickness and grade is the plastic?
Is it a fossil fuel product?
 
Regards
 
GF
   
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Rex at Process.co.za
To: phoenix98604 at msn.com
Cc: gasification at listserv.repp.org
Sent: Fri, 30 Mar 2007 2:54 AM
Subject: [Gasification] Algae


Art,

 

I have just attended a biofuels conference in Johannesburg, South
Africa. A US company called Global Green Solutions
(www.globalgreensolutionsinc.com
<http://www.globalgreensolutionsinc.com/> ) have, in my opinion, cracked
the algae challenge. If you recall, I said that the problem with open
ponds was wild algae contamination and that the best way to keep your
strain "pure" was to have a closed system. This makes the challenge of
getting algae slurry into a photobioreactor a problem due to the cost
involved with this type of equipment. Well, GGS have taken thick (500um
or so) clear PVC film, folded it over and heat sealed it around the
outside. Internally they have used heat sealing to make a zig zag flow
path. These pillows are then suspended from racks about 12" apart. The
sheet itself is about 2m tall by about 1.2m wide. Using this
construction method they have managed, at very low cost, to shove
thousands of square metres of area exposed to sunlight into a very small
space: 6000 of these can be fitted onto an acre. Consequently the
capital cost is about US$5/gal (US) with a production cost of about
US$1/gal (US). This is truly remarkable as it is basically independent
of the weather requiring only good sunlight (which we have in abundance
in Africa) and some water. It runs off CO2 in the air but will generate
about a 30% increase in yield if you can add CO2 from other sources eg
combustion. Talk about carbon sequestration! Now the beauty of this
system is that it generates in excess of 180 000 US gals of oil per acre
per year (roughly 1 000 000 litres/acre year). Talk about efficient!
Their current research is into running families of algae together such
that the chemicals excreted by one become the feedstock for the other.
This would enhance/reduce the feed requirements of the lipid producing
algae. So there is a lot going on in advancing the technology. They have
built a demonstration facility in El Paso, TX where they are playing
with the various combinations. Personally, I think this is a tremendous
step forward in the generation of bio derived oil for conversion to
liquid fuel.

 

The system sequestrates about 1000 tons/year/acre and generates about
1200 tons/year/acre of algae of which about 600 tons is oil and 600 tons
is carbohydrate and protein. After harvesting and pressing, the solids
can be used for various purposes including co-firing, anaerobic
digestion or even gasification if that is what makes sense. The question
then is how do we compress/briquette the solids to make gasifier feed?
Has anyone got any ideas on this? The ubiquitous fireballs?

 

Rex

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