Global Bioenergy Industry News
OriginOil Unveils In-House Pilot System
At the event, Riggs Eckelberry, OriginOil CEO said: “I’m very proud of our team that has worked so hard over the months to make our technologies work in a complete pilot system.
“Until now we have been in pure research and development. Now we have turned the corner to commercialization of our technologies. It’s a historic milestone for us.”
He added: “Algae will be local. Unlike today’s centralised energy systems, algae will go wherever the CO2 is, and that’s everywhere.
“Algae systems will be attached to wastewater plants, factories, breweries, and any other location that generates CO2. This will lead to highly distributed energy production model and will truly deliver the jobs creation that we so urgently need in this country and the world.”
At the heart of the new system is a series of 200-gallon tanks which can be individually configured and managed for various strains, growth strategies, and lighting geometries. The tanks are now illuminated with LED light sticks submerged in icicle-like arrays. A stirrer circulates the algae slowly around the lights.
Once the algae reaches harvest concentration it is sent to the integrated extraction system, a combination of ultrasound generation and low-power electromagnetic pulsing (time-lapse video). This new system has a throughput of five gallons per minute, which easily keeps up with the daily output of the pilot system. After extraction, a series of settling tanks separates the oils and biomass for eventual use as fuel and valuable by-products. A water recycling system completes the loop so the process can start again.
The company’s Dynamic Control System manages the operation of the growth phase, releasing CO2 and other nutrients as the algae needs it. While bottled CO2 is currently used, an in-house generator is planned to test real-world scenarios where exhaust gas is processed for its CO2.
TheBioenergySite News Desk
More Bioenergy Industry News
Half Brazil's Energy from Renewable Sources
Plan Approved for Poultry Biomass Plant
Biomass Plant for Klamath County Oregon- Biomass Plant Planned for Vancouver
- Pinal Power to Build Green Waste Electric Plant
- Mascoma Acquires SunOpta BioProcess
- Rentech and UOP Technology at Rialto Centre
- Ethanol Production at All Time High
- SunPower Solar Technology US Government Sites
China Guangdong Nuclear Builds Wind Farm
