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ALGAE:SIMPLE
ORGANISM; INNOVATIVE
DESIGNS
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INTRODUCTION
Ronald Orndorff BA in History from here in 2004
Back in NPRE for the fun of it! Graduating in like a week.
• I hope
Hoping to get a job in the nuclear field Experience as Reactor Operator
MBA after? Renewables? Farm sheep in New Zealand
My advisor is right here
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PURPOSE
Biofuel production already discussed Arys’ presentation covered several topics
Utilization of wastewater Utilization of carbon dioxide Economic and environmental argument for algae
So what else is there to cover? Innovations in farming!
Algae mines Offshore development
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Existing Algal Farm Schemes
Open Pond Major obstacle – Hardiness of species
Closed Loop system Ties to greenhouse gas emitters
This has benefits and consequences• Eats up CO2 at power plants• Other pollutants, limited in scope
Photobioreactors Can be built nearly anywhere Expensive option
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ALGAE USE IN MINES
Land scarcity Algae fussy Other species invade
Coal mines often end up abandoned
Mix these concepts and get algae mines!
Algae growth in runoff
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INNOVATION – ALGAE MINES
Eliminates infrastructure cost ~50% of cost for Open Pond Algae
Controls temperature Caves/mines maintain stable temperature year-round
Evaporation control No sun bearing down, reduces evaporation
Reduces needed water
Enhanced growth Use of LED instead of sunlight
Only uses a few light frequencies at pulsed intervals More efficient for photosynthesis
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ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS – ALGAE MINES
Environmental Benefits Isolates C.V., algae
cannot escape Other harmful species
cannot reach C.V. Algae can sequester
metals from mines Phytoremediation
• Manganese removal study Abandoned Mine, Dunbar VA
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DRAWBACKS – ALGAE MINES
Cost LED lights are expensive
Electricity costs vs. free sunlight
Research Funding Limited EPA Low interest from venture capitalists
Seen as risky, untested
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TAKEWAY POINTS – ALGAE MINES
Unorthodox Growing plants in the dark is always fun
Green-friendly “Recycles” unused mines
Limited Only possible in areas with abandoned mines
Low Interest Currently Little large-scale commercial appeal Seen more as PR investiture
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OFFSHORE ALGAL FARMS
Offshore Wind/Algae Hybrid Farm Concept – Lolland, Denmark
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OFFSHORE FARM STRUCTURE
Build shallow pools for algae offshore Top of pool: Tempered UV-resistant glass Bottom of pool: special membrane enclosure Each pool tethered to wind turbine
Pantograph arm• Isolates pool motion from sea motion• Limits degrees of freedom• Prevents “excess agitation” of algae
Each pool = self-contained mini-ecosystem Termed “Omega”
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OFFSHORE TECH DEVELOPMENT
Tied to offshore wind turbine development Wind turbines provide power
Power drives pumps• Pumps churn water
This promotes algal growth Power lights LEDs
• Remember how LEDs helped in the mine?
Bottom membrane new NASA material forward-osmosis, desalinates incoming water ensures nutrients reach algae flushes excess fresh water back
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OFFSHORE BENEFITS
Isolated ecosystem Freshwater Algae can’t leave
Won’t survive in open saltwater Other species can’t enter
Hostile species blocked by membrane
Effectively infinite “land” for use Lots of coast and sea for use Limited only by roughness of sea and
accessibility
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OFFSHORE FUEL CHOICE
Innovation centers on biofuel productionHydrogen production making strides
2008 DoE Report 25% efficiency reported
• Truncate Chlorophyll antennae• Block oxygen production through copper
Already tying algae farms to wind turbines... Future of hydrogen production?
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OFFSHORE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS Chemical remediation
Water-based analogue to coal mine phytoremediation Fertilizer runoff feed algae Potential Dead Zone solution
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OFFSHORE CHALLENGES
Weather High sea states Severe weather systems
Collection/Transport Large swaths of algae may grow...
But how will the fuel be collected?
Regulation Monitoring farms
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TAKEAWAYS – OFFSHORE FARMS
Self-sufficient Requires no external energy, water, or land
Green-Friendly Eats up harmful nutrients (P, NH3, N) Reduced risk of species-based invasions
Available Most needed technology exists
Hydrogen collection still optimized Meshing wind farm and algal farms piloted now
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REFERENCES
http://www.rechargenews.com/business_area/innovation/article189992.ece (Offshore algae cultivation)
http://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/pdfs/progress08/ii_f_2_melis.pdf (DoE report on hydrogen production from algae)
http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/23/does-algae-plus-wind-power-equal-biofuel/ (Wind + Algae breakdown)
http://www.itrcweb.org/miningwaste-guidance/cs33b_tva_alabama.htm (TVA report on algae collecting Mn in abandoned coal mine)
http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/20/invasive-algae-leads-to-boom-bust-and-maybe-boom-again/ (Article detailing a problem with invasive algae
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytoremediation (Description of Phytoremediation with examples)
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=underground-algae-growth-light-emitting-diodes (Detailed article on using algae in abandoned coal mines, the whys and hows)
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QUESTIONS?