Novel Flat-Plate Photobioreactor with Inclined Baffles and Internal Structure Optimization to Improve Light Regime Performance
Linlin Wang, Qi Wang, Runqi Zhao, Yi Tao, Kezhen Ying, Xian-zhong Mao
Abstract
A novel flat-plate photobioreactor (FPPBR) with inclined baffles (IBs) was developed and used for high-density algae cultivation. The internal structure of the bioreactor was optimized using computational fluid dynamics model. Numerical model results showed that, IBs with a small angle (α) could improve the swirl flow and light regime performance of the FPPBR, and the ratio (r) of the baffle opening distance to the reactor width was the key parameter for the light regime performance. Radial velocity along light gradient direction and light/dark cycle frequency increased with the decrease of r. The optimal parameters of IBs were: α = 10° and r = 0.25. Experiments showed that the maximum algal biomass using the FPPBR with the optimal structure was increased by 45.7 and 25.8% compared with FPPBRs without baffles and with horizontal baffles, respectively.