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Publication Number
US-8318478-B2
Publication Date
2012-11-27
Expiration Date
Abstract
A photobioreactor comprising a receptacle with a first and a second outer side surface, wherein the receptacle is formed from a flexible, fluid-tight and transparent material, and wherein the receptacle is disposed in a rack provided with elongated, substantially vertical, support elements arranged in at least one horizontal row, whereby the support elements abut, in an alternating and supporting manner, against the first and the second outer side surfaces of the receptacle.
Core Innovation
The invention is a photobioreactor comprising a fluid-containing receptacle disposed in a rack. The receptacle has a first and a second outer side surface and is formed from a flexible, fluid-tight and transparent material.
The rack is provided with elongated, substantially vertical support elements arranged in at least one horizontal row extending along a center line. The support elements are spaced apart with respect to the center line and abut, in an alternating and supporting manner, against the first and then the second outer side surfaces of the receptacle along the center line.
The photobioreactor further provides structural variants for arranging the support elements and supporting or positioning the receptacle. The support elements may be arranged in two rows with horizontal offset, and at least every other support element may be movably positionable perpendicular to the center line or rotatable towards and away from the center line about a vertical longitudinal axis of the support element.
An upper frame element may position the receptacle in the vertical direction, using suspension mechanisms comprised of ball transfer units with balls that form a substantially vertical gap. The receptacle may have a longitudinal thickening along its upper edge when installed for use, and the longitudinal thickening may be comprised of wire.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes six independent claim sets. Across these, at least five core inventive aspects are consistently present: a flexible, fluid-tight, transparent receptacle; elongated substantially vertical support elements in a rack arranged along a center line in horizontal rows; alternating and supporting abutment against first and second outer side surfaces; structural mechanisms for adjusting or positioning the support elements and/or receptacle; and a longitudinal thickening along the upper edge of the receptacle.
Flexible, fluid-tight transparent receptacle with opposing outer side surfaces
A photobioreactor comprising a receptacle with a first and a second outer side surface, wherein the receptacle is formed from a flexible, fluid-tight and transparent material.
Rack of elongated substantially vertical support elements in at least one horizontal row along a center line
A photobioreactor wherein the receptacle is disposed in a rack provided with elongated, substantially vertical support elements arranged in at least one horizontal row extending along a center line.
Alternating supporting abutment against first and second outer side surfaces along the center line
Support elements abut, in an alternating and supporting manner, against the first and then the second outer side surfaces of the receptacle along the center line.
Two-row offset support element arrangement
The support elements are arranged in two rows, with the support elements in a first row horizontally offset relative to the support elements in a second row.
Movably positionable or rotatable support elements
At least every other support element is movably positionable perpendicular to the center line or rotatable towards and away from the center line about a vertical longitudinal axis of the support element.
Upper frame positioning in the vertical direction with ball transfer unit suspension mechanisms
An upper frame element positions the receptacle in the vertical direction using suspension mechanisms comprised of ball transfer units with balls that form a substantially vertical gap.
Longitudinal thickening along the upper edge of the receptacle
The receptacle has a longitudinal thickening along its upper edge when installed for use, and the longitudinal thickening may be comprised of wire.
Across the independent claims, the photobioreactor is defined by a flexible, fluid-tight, transparent receptacle supported in a rack with elongated substantially vertical support elements arranged in horizontal rows along a center line, where the support elements abut the first and second outer side surfaces in an alternating and supporting manner. Additional independent claim coverage specifies two-row horizontal offset, adjustability of every other support element, vertical positioning by an upper frame element with ball transfer unit suspension mechanisms, and a longitudinal thickening along the upper edge of the receptacle.
Stated Advantages
Provides advantages over shallow ponds and pipe systems.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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