US 12,434,189 B2
Air purifying photobioreactor to improve indoor air quality
Daniel C. Fucich, Pittsburgh, PA (US); and Kelsey M. Abernathy, Columbia, MD (US)
Assigned to AlgenAir, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Filed by AlgenAir, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Filed on Jul. 3, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/217,806.
Application 18/217,806 is a continuation of application No. 16/854,055, filed on Apr. 21, 2020, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/920,768, filed on May 15, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0001298 A1, Jan. 4, 2024
Int. Cl. B01D 53/84 (2006.01); C12M 1/00 (2006.01); C12N 1/12 (2006.01)
CPC B01D 53/84 (2013.01) [C12M 21/02 (2013.01); C12M 29/24 (2013.01); C12N 1/12 (2013.01); B01D 2251/95 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A photobioreactor device adapted to improve indoor air quality, the photobioreactor comprising:
a base;
a liquid-holding vessel connected to the base; and
a lid on the vessel,
the base comprising:
a bottom,
walls extending from the bottom,
a cavity encapsulated by the walls, the bottom, and the liquid-holding vessel having an outer edge abutting the walls,
an air pump, at least one air inlet, an electronic control mechanism, and a light source controlled by the electric control mechanism,
wherein the air pump is positioned within the cavity,
wherein the air inlet(s) are configured to permit the air pump to draw indoor air from outside the device through the base into the pump, and
wherein the light source is positioned at the outer edge of the cavity flush with the outer edge that would come into contact with the liquid-holding vessel, taking the form of a single light element shaped like a continuous ring and directed from the base into the vessel,
the vessel configured to hold a liquid mixture and having a cylindrical shape, an opening at the top of the vessel, and a bottom shaped to converge to a small opening at the top of the base,
the small opening connected to a one-way valve, the valve configured to admit the indoor air drawn by the air pump from outside the device into the vessel,
wherein the vessel is separable from the base and the one-way valve connects with a tube connected to the air pump,
the liquid mixture comprising water, a photosynthetic microorganism, and a media, and
the lid configured to attach to the top opening of the vessel.