Self Powered Lights for Photosynthetic Cultures
- Detailed Technology Description
- Thistechnology is a self-powered, neutral buoyancy, waterproof lighting system forculturing photosynthetic aquatic organisms such as microalgae, cyanobacteria,diatoms, filamentous algae. These lights circulate throughout the culture toallow for an unlimited culture depth and to deliver the light in the wavelengththat can be more efficiently utilized by the target species to obtain thedesired products.
- Countries
- United States
- Application No.
- 62/238,274
- *Abstract
-
Current methodsto culture photosynthetic aquatic organisms use either sunlight or artificialoverhead lights to provide the light necessary to grow the organisms. These lightsources limit how deep the cultures can be due to the limited depth the lightcan penetrate. Furthermore, the energycosts of artificial lights can be up to 50% of the entire production cost. Theconstraints of daylight further limits the productivity of cultures usingnatural light.
This lightingsystem consists of individual LEDs powered by an energy harvesting mechanism,both enclosed in a waterproof case. The LEDs can be fine-tuned to deliver lightin an optimal wavelength so the target species will produce the desiredproduct. In order to power the LEDs, the energy harvesting mechanism harvests theenergy produced from the turbulence required to maintain the cultures insuspension. Since the lights have aneutral buoyancy and move with the culture water, they can be provide a lightsource for virtually any depth of culture.
- *IP Issue Date
- None
- *IP Type
- Provisional
- *Licensing
- Brian Shedd Assistant Director Tel: 225-615-8941 Email: brianshedd@lsu.edu
- Country/Region
- USA
