收获系统
我们的植物收割机为藻液在进入离心机或其他絮凝机前做第一步的浓缩。养殖系统与收割机直接连接从而使得藻液可以被浓缩至每升15-20克干物质。这种藻液水份提取程序比起使用离心机或其他絮凝机更节省费用和能源。
空气冲刷设计可以最大限度的减少能耗并且消除淤积。所有大于1微米的物质会被拦截。这个系统同样可以用于没有藻液时的过滤循环，将生产微藻所需清水的污染降到最低。此收割机所需维护与清洗是极少的。
Challenge
Microalgae dewatering is a challenge for industrial-scale processing of microalgae. There is no superior method of the concentration process and although centrifugation has been successfully applied for algae production systems, but it is both time- and energy-consuming and requires expensive equipment.
The harvesting process involves the concentration of dilute microalgae suspensions, typically 0.03% (open ponds) to 0.3% (closed photo bioreactors) total suspended solids (TSS) into a slurry or paste with concentrations of 2%–30% TSS. The concentration obtained in the harvesting steps is crucial to the overall process as it influences the subsequent drying process.
Solutions
The concentration process is a major obstruction to industrial-scale processing of microalgae. With our phytoharvester(patent pending) it is now possible to obtain a desired microalgae concentration by a one or two step harvesting process. The primary phytoharvester step forms a slurry of up to 2% TSS (20kg/m3) followed by a secondary dewatering step of your choice that produces an algae paste of 15%–25% TSS. The phytoharvester can be adjusted to any separator or centrifuge which work under different centrifugation conditions.
Advantage
This phytoharvester pre-concentrates algae suspensions from typical open ponds (0.03% to 0,1%TSS) or from closed PBR (0,1-0,5%TSS) like our phytobag before any separator or flocculation process proceeds. This step 1 process of algae dewatering drastically reduce the costs and energy demands (see Energy consumption). The average power consumption is 0.32 kWh/m3 feed flow. The air scour design minimizes power consumption and eliminates sludging, avoiding localized dewatering of the algae sludge. Particles > 0,1 µm are removed. The system can also be used to recycle the algae-free effluent, to pre-treat the production water and to minimize contamination. Requirements for cleaning and maintenance are minimized.
Modules are available in a variety of sizes. The largest single units are integrated in one 20`open-top container and can concentrate up to 2700 m3/day. They are customized to the corresponding algae-production system.
