Title:

Experimental Window-Type Photobioreactor to Grow Algae

Growing algae for use as biofuel is a current research topic in green building design. Photobioreactors allow algae to be grown directly in a building, converting sunlight and CO2 into biomass to be used for electricity and heat generation. In addition to providing a source of renewable energy, the oxygen produced during photosynthesis can improve the health of indoor building spaces, provided that the photobioreactor is ventilated into the building’s interior. In this project, a prototype of a window photobioreactor was designed and built with the goal of tracking the increased oxygen concentration produced as the algae photosynthesize. This data could be used to quantify how window photobioreactors can improve the air quality of the interior of a building. The general process involved experimenting with several photobioreactor designs and making necessary structural changes before a final enclosure was achieved. Once the photobioreactor was completed with an acrylic cover, it was inoculated with algae with the intent of measuring the concentration of oxygen over time.

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