Bioengineering, Food, and Natural Products

Modeling dynamic functioning of rectangular photobioreactors in solar conditions

  1. J. Pruvost1,*,
  2. J. F. Cornet2,
  3. V. Goetz3,
  4. J. Legrand1

Article first published online: 2 AUG 2010

DOI: 10.1002/aic.12389

Issue

AIChE Journal

AIChE Journal

Volume 57, Issue 7, pages 1947–1960, July 2011

Additional Information

How to Cite

Pruvost, J., Cornet, J. F., Goetz, V. and Legrand, J. (2011), Modeling dynamic functioning of rectangular photobioreactors in solar conditions. AIChE J., 57: 1947–1960. doi: 10.1002/aic.12389

Author Information

  1. 1

    GEPEA, Université de Nantes, CNRS, UMR6144, bd de l'Université, CRTT - BP 406, 44602 Saint-Nazaire Cedex, France

  2. 2

    Clermont Université, ENSCCF, EA 3866 - Laboratoire de Génie Chimique et Biochimique, BP 10448, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France

  3. 3

    PROMES-CNRS, UPR 8521, Tecnosud, Rambla de la Thermodynamique, 66100 Perpignan, France

*GEPEA, Université de Nantes, CNRS, UMR6144, bd de l'Université, CRTT - BP 406, 44602 Saint-Nazaire Cedex, France

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 9 JUN 2011
  2. Article first published online: 2 AUG 2010
  3. Accepted manuscript online: 2 AUG 2010 12:00AM EST
  4. Manuscript Revised: 22 JUL 2010
  5. Manuscript Received: 3 MAR 2010

Funded by

  • French National Research Agency for Bioenergy Production (ANR-PNRB)

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Keywords:

  • photobioreactor;
  • solar;
  • modeling;
  • microalgae;
  • radiative transfer

Abstract

A generic model for the simulation of solar rectangular photobioreactors (PBR) is presented. It combines the determination of the time-varying solar radiation intercepted by the process with the theoretical framework necessary for PBR simulation, namely modeling of the radiant light energy transport inside the culture volume, and its local coupling to photosynthetic growth. Here, the model is applied to illustrate the full dependency of PBR behavior on solar illumination regimes, which results in a complex, transient response. Effects of day–night cycles, culture harvesting, and the interdependency of physical (light) and biological (growth) kinetics are discussed. It is shown that PBR productivity is the result not only of light intercepted on the illuminated surface but also of light attenuation conditions inside the bulk culture as influenced by incident angle and beam/diffuse distribution of solar radiation. Results are presented for a location in France for 2 months representative of summer and winter. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2011

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