Less is More

Optimization of geometric design of GemTubeTM tubular Photo-Bioreactors

for commercial mass cultivation of micro-algae

Eugène Roebroeck & Sander Hazewinkel

ABO SUMMIT Phoenix 24th October 2016

History

•2006 LGemfounded•2007 Two-phaseflowimplemented•2008 Firstsalesofalgalproduct•2010 PrototypeofGemTube PBR•2011 Jointpatentfiled•2012 FirstsalesofGemTube PBR

LGem’s Two-PhaseProcess

• FlowofGasandLiquid• NoaccumulationofO2• SmallpH-gradient

• Gentlebutthoroughmixing• Preventionoffouling

• LowPowerConsumption• <100Watts/m3

• LongLoopLength• >250meter

Preventionoffouling

….to…..

Easy…..

…..drain!

Easyto clean

SyntheticGenomicsCaliforniaOutside

UniversidaddeQueretaroMexicoOutside

WageningenUR NetherlandsGreenhouse

FryMarine NetherlandsClimate Room(LED)

LGem’s DemoPlantGeorgFischerPVC-UTubes

18,000Liter.500m2 :4mx125m

UniversityofBergenNorwayDuran®Glass Tubes

VerticalDesign

HorizontalDesign

What is the effect of Spacing on Productivity?

….and on production costs per unit of product

EffectofSpacingonProductivity

SPECIFICSCENARIO/CASE

• Horizontaldesign• Location:TheNetherlands• Tubediameter:6cm• Phaeodactylum tricornutum

01020304050

0

5

10

15

0 10 20 30 40 50 ANNUA

LYIELD[TONS.HA

-1.Y-1]

AREA

LPR

ODU

CTIVITY[G.M

-2.DAY-1]

SPACING[CM]

Effectofspacingonarealproductivity

4 cm

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

40.0

45.0

50.0

0 10 20 30 40 50 VOLU

METRICPR

ODU

CTIVITY[G.L-1.D-1]

LITERS

PER

M2INSTAL

LED

SPACING[CM]

Effectofspacingonvolumetricproductivity

CAPEXfactors

GemTube PBR

• Investment• Pilot:30€.L-1• Demo:10€.L-1• Production:7€.L-1

•Amortization- 1€.L-1.y-1

Landcost

• Investment•GreenhouseNL•1M€perha

•Rent•4€.m-2.y-1

Land cost: 40.000 € per ha per yearIndepend of spacing

€-€50,000.00

€100,000.00€150,000.00€200,000.00€250,000.00€300,000.00€350,000.00€400,000.00€450,000.00€500,000.00

0 10 20 30 40 50

CAPEXperHectare(€peryear)Amortization on PBR: 1 € per litre per yearDecreases with increase spacing

Spacing [cm]

LANDPBR

TOTAL

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

0 10 20 30 40 50

YIELD[TONS.HA

-1.Y-1]

SPACING[CM}

yield

€-

€5.00

€10.00

€15.00

€20.00

0 10 20 30 40 50

CAPEXperkgofproduct[€]

4 cmHighest Yield 8 cm Lowest Costs

€6,87 €6,05

LANDPBRTOTAL

CAPEX per ha per year

Yield per ha per year= CAPEX per kg

PBRLand€-

€5.00

€10.00

€15.00

€20.00

€25.00

€30.00

€35.00

€40.00

€45.00

€50.00

0 20 40 60 80 100

CAPEXperkgofproduct[€]

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

0 20 40 60 80 100

ton.ha-1.y-1

Spacing 70 cm

Lowest Costs

Spacing 25 cm

Highest Yield

€14,59 €9,61

“VerticalDesign”

Total

Less is MoreDesign Horizontal

Spacingcm

InstalledVolumeL.m-2

Yield

Ton.ha-1.y-1

CAPEX

€.kg-1Vertical(9 layers)

25 82 59 14,59

Vertical(9 layers)

70 34 39 9,61

Horizontal 4 28 47 6,87

Horizontal 8 20 40 6,05

Less tubes per m2 installed results in More biomass per Euro invested