SCALING THE CROP IN RESIDUAL Microalgae Chlorella vulgaris in photobioreactors THIN FILM

Abstract

The Theory of the Models is applied to identify the scale ratios and the parameters that characterize the system to scale up of outdoor thin layer cultivators dedicated to the mixotrophic cultivation of the microalga Chlorella vulgaris, using as organic matter and nutritious source the swinish waste water. The application of the models theory could demonstrate using scale ratios that: The irrigation in the model and the prototype should be the same so that exist dinamic similarity. The depth of the fluent column in the model and the prototype should always be the same in the meantime the canal pendents are the same.
If the irrigation and the pendent are the same, then the global coefficient of dissipation of fluent is the same in the model and the prototype and therefore the dissipation per area unit will be the same. If the irrigation and the pendent are the same, then the global coefficient of mass transference is the same in the model and the prototpe and therefore it is released equal amount of CO2 to the environment per area unit. The time of residence of the suspension on the cultivation surface should be the same in the model and the prototype to guarantee similar speeds of growth of microalgas in both. If the time of residence of the waste water is the same in the model and the prototype, similar speeds of bacterial growth can be reached in both. To achieve it the residual should be added in equivalent proportions to the speed with it is used by the bacterias.