Russian Journal of Plant Physiology, Vol. 47, No. 6, 2000, pp. 786–788. From Fiziologiya Rastenii, Vol.

47, No. 6, 2000, pp. 892–895.

Original English Text Copyright © 2000 by Petkov.

Absorber Tower as a Photobioreactor for Microalgae*

G. D. Petkov
Institute of Plant Physiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria;
e-mail: gpdalg@bgeict.acad.bg
Received July 26, 1999

Abstract—Green microalgae were grown under natural light in a photobioreactor similar to a transparent plate
absorber. A proper temperature was maintained through the control of evaporation and the minimization of con-
vective heat waste. Carbon dioxide desorption was lower in comparison to its level during cultivation in open
or covered ponds. A yield of 1 g/l per day and over 100 g/m2 projection area was achieved.

Key words: algae - biomass - photobioreactor

INTRODUCTION RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The main requirements for an intensive large-scale
cultivation of microalgae include a nutritional medium,
a carbon dioxide supply, light, and the proper tempera-
ture. Nutritional media are preliminarily balanced, and
the elements are proportionally exhausted. On the other
hand, the desorption of carbon dioxide from cultivation
ponds can present a difficulty. The mathematical
description of this process is useful for finding the
proper length of the cultivation bed [1–3]. Neverthe-
less, the absorption of CO2 in a horizontal pond or
sloped layer cannot be rationally intensified by the
application of a model. Carbon dioxide desorption is a
natural process, and the models in these cases remain
predominantly cognitive and descriptive. As for light, it
is normally more than sufficient [4–8]. In the temperate
zone, throughout most of the day, water temperature
remains too low. This is due to the intensive evapora-
tion of water in the relatively dry air. That is why evap-
oration is a factor which must be limited and controlled
in order to maintain a near-optimum temperature.
According to heat waste and maintenance of optimal
temperature, the cultivation devices for microalgae
could be subdivided as follows: (1) open ponds [9–11],
(2) devices without contact between the algal suspen-
sion and the cover [12–15], and (3) devices with direct
contact between the algal suspension and the wall of
the photobioreactor [16–24]. In all these devices, light
absorption, gas exchange, heat exchange, and motion
of the liquid take place. Having made rational compro-
mises to combine all these processes, we can achieve a
physiological optimum. Here, we present our experi-
ence in the outdoor cultivation of microalgae in a trans-
parent counter-current absorber, in which mass
exchange, heat exchange, light absorption, and a proper
hydrodynamic are combined to insure more acceptable
conditions for algal growth.
* This article was submitted by the author in English.
Mass Transfer
The algal suspension is moved vertically, and min-
eral substances are dissolved and reach every single
cell. Carbon dioxide, which is supplied in the algal sus-
pension, and the oxygen which is given off, are
unevenly distributed along the cultivation bed. There-
fore, the mass transfer process treats mainly the absorp-
tion of CO2 in the algal suspension and desorption of O2
from it. Carbon dioxide is a weakly soluble gas, and
excessively low concentrations are maintained in the
suspension. It has been quickly consumed, which leads
to the limitation of photosynthesis. The desorption
losses increase when CO2 is supplied in larger amounts.
This is why we have introduced counter-current
absorption (figure). Perforated plates of transparent
plastic material are situated one over the other at a dis-
tance of 20–25% of their width in a metal frame. The
frame is made of constructive steel rods 8 mm in diam-
eter. In this arrangement, the whole frame is inserted
into a transparent plastic sleeve. Carbon dioxide is sup-
plied in the middle of the column, and the algal suspen-
sion trickles down through the perforated plates. Des-
orption losses in such a mass-exchange column are
minimized because of a counter current between the
gas phase and the great surface of the liquid phase. No
hydrostatic pressure is to be overcome, and there is no
need for compressors and their maintenance and energy
costs. The perforated transparent plates serve as culti-
vation areas and perform the function of mass transfer.
In the available sloped-layer installations, which are
in use in algological practice, there are metal bars. They
create hydrodynamic resistance along the course of the
flow and enhance the thickness of the layer [9, 10]. In
the present column, the side edges of the plates which
are 10–12 mm in height perform a similar function. By
comparing columns of different sizes, we found that a
diameter or width of 0.7 m and height of 2 m are the

1021-4437/00/4706-0786$25.00 © 2000 MAIK “Nauka /Interperiodica”

 ABSORBER TOWER AS A PHOTOBIOREACTOR
most suitable for large-scale cultivation from a practi-
cal point of view.
Heat Transfer
The rate of convective heat loss decreases when
thermal resistances are accumulated in the path of the
thermal flow. We note the following thermal resistances
in the cultivation unit used: (1) from the cascading liq-
uid to the gas phase; (2) throughout the gas phase;
(3) from the gas phase to the wall of the photoreactor;
(4) throughout the wall of the photoreactor, and
(5) from the wall of the photoreactor to the atmosphere.
Our aim was to create greater thermal resistance,
while maintaining a good light transmittance. Light
intensity inside the photoreactor goes down about
15−20% in the visible range and 40–100% in the
UV-range (380–265 nm) due to the plastic sleeve. How-
ever, this results in a more acceptable temperature. At air
temperatures of 13–15°C, the algal suspension was
maintained at 30–32°C without additional heating. The
overall heat-transfer coefficient as a result of the above-
mentioned thermal resistances was experimentally esti-
mated to be K = 7.7 ± 0.88 W/(m2 °C). The wall of the
photoreactor limits evaporation and the corresponding
loss of heat. This does not lead to overheating, because the
outlet on the upper end of the column is regulated accord-
ing to the external conditions. The approach to the heat
waste evaluation, when additional heating is used for year-
round cultivation, was previously described [25, 26].
Hydrodynamics
The hydrodynamic regime is determined when the
value of the turbulence in the respective compartment
or element, such as a layer, pool, tube, pump, etc., is
known. One dimensionless quantitative expression of
the turbulence is the Reynolds number, Re = vlρ/µ,
where v is suspension velocity, m/s; l is determinative
size, m; ρ is density, kg/m 3; and µ is viscosity, Pa s. The
viscosity of algal cultures depends on algal concentra-
tion, species, temperature, and nutritional medium
[27]. At the optimal temperature, the viscosity of green
and blue-green algae varied between 0.9–1.2 mPa s
depending on algal concentration. The physical density
of most algal suspensions is 1000–1030 kg/m3. When
the velocity of the flow in two beds is the same, the bed
with a thicker layer is characterized by a greater Re
value and higher turbulence. This does not alter the
physiological or morphological state of the culture at
all. This point is illustrated by the contrasting examples
of the green algae that was cultivated at an Re of about
5000, and Spirulina, which is a filamentous and more
sensitive alga, which was normally grown in a more
turbulent flow at an Re of about 20000. We consider the
main unfavorable hydrodynamical factors to be the
cavitation and the sharp edges, which create strong
impacts on the algal suspension or act mechanically.
The great accelerations in the quickly revolving, high-
RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY Vol. 47
787
1
2
3
4
4
3
2
↓__
A __↓
A
A-A
CO2
2 3 4 5 6 7
Microalgal photobioreactor.
(1) Holder; (2) plastic sleeve; (3) metal frame; (4) perforated
plates; (5) receiver; (6) pump; (7) tube.
pressure, rotary pumps create unfavorable hydrody-
namic conditions. Their use remains in the range of
obvious errors. There is no cavitation in the absorber-
type photoreactor, because gas is not supplied in the
circulation pump or tubes. The turbulence is relatively
low, and the Re value is not greater than 4000 on the
plates and about 20000 in the circulation tubes. This
means that the hydrodynamical conditions make possi-
ble the cultivation of algal species that are sensitive to
a higher turbulence. The turbulence of the liquid and
gas phases in the photoreactor are closely bound to the
intensities of the mass and heat transfers in it [28].
Natural Light
The light intensity during a cultivation day in Bul-
garia reaches about 90 klx, and in the greater part of the
day remains over 40 klx. The photosynthetic limit of
our algal species is about 30 klx [4–8]. The mean light
intensity on the layers in the described photoreactor
was near this value. Therefore, the alga is near its pho-
tosynthetic limit and, in comparison to horizontal
No. 6 2000
788
ponds, the contact area created by the layers and cas-
cades is several times greater. This is one of the reasons
that a greater yield is obtained. Here it is worth noting
that this way of alga cultivation does not allow photo-
oxidation, which often accompanies algal cultivation at
a very high light intensity.
The distance between the plates that has been cho-
sen depends on the mean slope of sun rays at a given
latitude and on the algal species. In Bulgaria (Lat.,
42°N), the slope of sun rays to the horizontal surface in
the course of the year is 24–72° in zenith. The mean
value for a day during the cultivation period is about 30°.
The mean slope of sun rays to the wall of the vertical
photoreactor is 60°. Here we can express our opinion
that, in the long days of the polar summer near the Arctic
Circle, such a construction will probably function most
effectively. There, the distance between the plates will be
smaller so that the contact area will be larger.
Sun rays come under small angle to the horizontal or
sloped layers of large-scale installations, and the reflec-
tion is great. In the column used, reflected rays illumi-
nate the transparent plates from below, which is an
obvious advantage. The mean yield for a day amounted
to 1 g/l per day and over 100 g/m2.
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Vol. 47 No. 6 2000