Grant: Engage Grants Program
Memorial University of Newfoundland
$25,000.00
Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation of Microalgae Micro-bioreactors
FY 2016-17
Summary
One of the services provided by Integrated Exploration Inc. (IEBIOLAB), the industrial partner, is simulationand setting up continuous closed system photo-bioreactors. Photo-bioreactors utilize different types of light togrow photosynthetic organisms such as microalgae which are targeted in this project. Microalgae haveunicellular microstructure and can be pumped together with CO2 enriched water. This makes it possible togrow microalgae inside closed system photo-bioreactors. Microalgae have considerable potentials due to itshigh areal biomass productivity with no competition for land. Produced biomass from microalgae hasimportant applications in environmental protection through CO2 Bio-fixation (1.7 kg of CO2 is utilized toproduce 1 kg of dry algae), and also industrial applications such as producing bio-fuel, chemicals, feed, orfood. However, Commercial production of microalgae in large scale using closed system bio-reactors, is stilllimited. IEBIOLAB has an innovative idea that can be a breakthrough in commercial production of microalgae.Our research team will develop a comprehensive simulation software using the Lattice Boltzmann method toovercome the design difficulties associated with finding an optimum combination of the various factorsinvolved. Computer simulations prevent costly experimental trial and errors which have been the major reasonfor the failures of the microalgae implementations so far. Both IEBIOLAB idea and the simulation softwarewhich will be developed by our research team are novel and will greatly help IEBIOLAB's competency in themicroalgae technology and business. Success in this project helps Canada's position as the leading country inbattling global warming. CO2 fixation using dense microalgae produced by the novel idea of this project canprotect Canada's environment. Microalgae biomass price is about $350 CAD/kg and the total market isestimated as $1.78 billion CAD. This project can revolutionize commercial microalgae production andincreases Canada's share in this market.
Program
Engage Grants Program
Recipient
Location
Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
505660-2016
Name nom
Zendehboudi, Sohrab
Department département
Engineering and Applied Science, Faculty of
Organization id
89
Institution établissement
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Province en
Newfoundland and Labrador
Province fr
Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2016
Competition year année de concours
2016
Award amount
25000
Program id
EGP
Program name en
Engage Grants Program
Program name fr
Programme de subventions d'engagement partenariat
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
1551
Committee name en
Atlantic Internal Decision Committee
Committee name fr
Comité de décision interne pour l'Atlantique
Area of application code
400
Area of application group en
Environment
Area of application group fr
Environnement
Area of application en
Environment
Area of application fr
Environnement
Research subject code
1802
Research subject group en
Chemical engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie chimique
Research subject en
Biochemical engineering
Research subject fr
Génie biochimique
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation of Microalgae Micro-bioreactors
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
One of the services provided by Integrated Exploration Inc. (IEBIOLAB), the industrial partner, is simulationand setting up continuous closed system photo-bioreactors. Photo-bioreactors utilize different types of light togrow photosynthetic organisms such as microalgae which are targeted in this project. Microalgae haveunicellular microstructure and can be pumped together with CO2 enriched water. This makes it possible togrow microalgae inside closed system photo-bioreactors. Microalgae have considerable potentials due to itshigh areal biomass productivity with no competition for land. Produced biomass from microalgae hasimportant applications in environmental protection through CO2 Bio-fixation (1.7 kg of CO2 is utilized toproduce 1 kg of dry algae), and also industrial applications such as producing bio-fuel, chemicals, feed, orfood. However, Commercial production of microalgae in large scale using closed system bio-reactors, is stilllimited. IEBIOLAB has an innovative idea that can be a breakthrough in commercial production of microalgae.Our research team will develop a comprehensive simulation software using the Lattice Boltzmann method toovercome the design difficulties associated with finding an optimum combination of the various factorsinvolved. Computer simulations prevent costly experimental trial and errors which have been the major reasonfor the failures of the microalgae implementations so far. Both IEBIOLAB idea and the simulation softwarewhich will be developed by our research team are novel and will greatly help IEBIOLAB's competency in themicroalgae technology and business. Success in this project helps Canada's position as the leading country inbattling global warming. CO2 fixation using dense microalgae produced by the novel idea of this project canprotect Canada's environment. Microalgae biomass price is about $350 CAD/kg and the total market isestimated as $1.78 billion CAD. This project can revolutionize commercial microalgae production andincreases Canada's share in this market.
