Improving microalgal growth by strengthening the flashing light effect simulated with computational fluid dynamics in a panel bioreactor with horizontal baffles

Abstract

Biological CO₂ elimination by photosynthetic microalgae is a sustainable way to mitigate CO₂ from flue gas and other sources. Computational fluid dynamics was used to simulate algal cell movement with an enhanced flashing light effect in a novel panel bioreactor with horizontal baffles. Calculation results showed that the light/dark (L/D) cycle period decreased by 17.5% from 17.1 s to 14.1 s and that the horizontal fluid velocity increased by 95% while horizontal baffles were used under a 0.02 vvm air aeration rate and a microalgal concentration of 0.85 g L⁻¹. The probability of the L/D cycle period within 5–10 s increased from 27.9% to 43.6%, indicating a 56% increase when horizontal baffles existed. It was proved by experiments that the mass-transfer coefficient increased by 31% and the mixing time decreased by 13% under a 0.06 vvm air aeration rate when horizontal baffles were used, and the algal biomass yield increased by ∼51% along with the decrease in the L/D cycle period when horizontal baffles were used.