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Large-Scale Production of Algal Biomass: Raceway Ponds

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Algae Biotechnology

Part of the book series: Green Energy and Technology ((GREEN))

Abstract

Raceway ponds are widely used in commercial production of algal biomass. They are effective and inexpensive, but suffer from a relatively low productivity and vagaries of weather. This chapter discusses design and operation of raceways for large-scale production of algal biomass.

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Abbreviations

A :

Surface area of raceway (m2)

C x :

Biomass concentration (kg m−3)

D :

Dilution rate (h−1)

d h :

Hydraulic diameter of flow channel (m)

e :

Efficiency of the motor, drive, and the paddlewheel

f M :

Manning channel roughness factor (s m−1/3)

g :

Gravitational acceleration (9.81 m s−2)

h :

Culture depth in pond (m)

I L :

Local irradiance at depth L (μE m−2 s−1)

I o :

Incident irradiance on the surface of the pond (μE m−2 s−1)

K a :

Light absorption coefficient of the biomass (μE m−2 s−1)

K i :

Photoinhibition constant (μE m−2 s−1)

K L :

Light saturation constant (μE m−2 s−1)

L :

Depth (m)

L r :

Total length of the flow loop (m)

l c :

Depth at which the local irradiance level is at the light compensation point (m)

P :

Power requirement for paddlewheel (W)

PAR:

Photosynthetically active radiation

P a :

Areal productivity of biomass (kg m−2 d−1)

PVC:

Polyvinyl chloride

P v :

Volumetric biomass productivity (kg m−3 d−1)

p :

Length as shown in Fig. 1 (length of pond) (m)

Fig. 1
figure 1

A top view of a raceway pond as typically used for algal biomass production

Full size image
Q f :

Feed flow rate (m3 h−1)

q :

Length as shown in Fig. 1 (width of pond) (m)

Re :

Reynolds number defined by Eq. (3)

Δt :

Time interval (d)

u :

Flow velocity in channel (m s−1)

V L :

Working volume of the raceway (m3)

w :

Channel width (m)

X f :

Peak concentration of biomass (kg m−3)

X i :

Initial concentration of the biomass (kg m−3)

x b :

Pseudo steady state biomass concentration in the pond (kg m−3)

μ :

Viscosity of the algal broth (Pa s)

μ av :

Depth-averaged specific growth rate in the illuminated volume (d−1)

μ L :

Local specific growth rate at depth L (d−1)

μ max :

Maximum specific growth rate (d−1)

ρ :

Density of algal broth (kg m−3)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Engineering, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North, New Zealand

    Yusuf Chisti

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  1. Yusuf Chisti
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Water and, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa

    Faizal Bux

  2. Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

    Yusuf Chisti

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Chisti, Y. (2016). Large-Scale Production of Algal Biomass: Raceway Ponds. In: Bux, F., Chisti, Y. (eds) Algae Biotechnology. Green Energy and Technology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12334-9_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12334-9_2

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