US 12,031,121 B2
Systems and methods for cultivating algae
Daniel H. Yeh, Tampa, FL (US); Ivy Lea Cormier Drexler, St. Petersburg, FL (US); Melanie Pickett, Tampa, FL (US); and David Fulcher, Tampa, FL (US)
Assigned to UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, Tampa, FL (US)
Filed by UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, Tampa, FL (US)
Filed on Oct. 3, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/959,263.
Application 17/959,263 is a division of application No. 15/350,657, filed on Nov. 14, 2016, granted, now 11,459,535.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/255,044, filed on Nov. 13, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2023/0033254 A1, Feb. 2, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. C12N 1/12 (2006.01); C12M 1/00 (2006.01); C12M 1/34 (2006.01); C12M 1/36 (2006.01)
CPC C12N 1/12 (2013.01) [C12M 23/22 (2013.01); C12M 23/50 (2013.01); C12M 29/04 (2013.01); C12M 29/20 (2013.01); C12M 31/08 (2013.01); C12M 41/32 (2013.01); C12M 41/40 (2013.01); C12M 41/46 (2013.01); C12M 41/48 (2013.01); C12M 47/02 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
 
1. An algae cultivation system comprising:
a basin that contains a liquid; and
a photobioreactor at least partially immersed in the liquid of the basin, the photobioreactor comprising a container including multiple panels that together define an interior space in which algae can be cultivated to produce photosynthetic gas, at least one of the panels being transparent, the photobioreactor further comprising multiple inflatable floats associated with the container, wherein each of the multiple inflatable floats is in fluid communication with the interior space and can be selectively filled with the photosynthetic gas from the interior space to change one or both of the position and orientation of the container within the liquid,
wherein the multiple inflatable floats are mounted to opposite sides of the container and, when inflated, raise the height of the container in the liquid,
wherein the photobioreactor further comprises a porous membrane filter that enables water, gases, and nutrients contained within the liquid of the basin to pass into the interior space of the container but prevents contaminants contained within the liquid from passing into the interior space and wherein raising of the height of the container enables water to exit the container through the filter to dewater the algae.