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Over the past 30 days, significant progress has been made on the construction of the first test cell and the auxiliary systems and facilities. The greenhouse and lab are up and being outfitted and will be growing our initial cultures of algae starting August 6th. Construction of the canopy for the first test cell is underway and the cell will be capped and pressurized in the coming weeks. Simultaneously, the nutrient and CO2 delivery systems will be installed. The completion of these projects will enable the first cell to be inoculated in early September. Concurrently, construction of the second, third, and fourth test cells is scheduled to begin on August 11th.
Prototype Update
Wednesday, August 6th, 2008
In early November the Control building and the TPH prototype (transport process harvest) unit was placed at the ends of our hybrid-closed pond cells one and two. The new temporary buildings allow for engineering staff to work through the cold weather testing and improving the systems and processes. Our experience has really illustrated some key technical success factors that are critical to year-round algae growth.
Now that the control system is in place a number of processes will be installed in the buildings over the next month including harvesting, dewatering, power generation, temperature control units, process control equipment, make up water system, and various other capabilities.
The buildings have been insulated and temporary heating is in place until initial prototype processing that provides waste heats are installed. The entire team has been working around the clock to get the systems installed and algae growth productivity improved.
Our cooling system for controlling temperature of the hybrid-closed ponds has been determined, and as a result of an excellent capacity of a geo-thermal aquifer that when utilized our cooling costs will equate to running a pump.
Last week we harvested and dried small quantities of algae biomass and this week our team will be extracting lipids during initial testing of technologies.
August 28 - Ross with Greg Mitchell and other members of Scripps Institute on a tour led by Carbon Capture management. The tour visited their facilities of operations including open ponds growing extreme autotroph algae.
August 27 - Scripps Institute’s Algae Commercialization Series After Ross’s presentation, “Production of Algae in a Hybrid Pond Photo Bio Reactor, Primarily for Bio-Plastics and Fuel”, lunch on the veranda overlooking the Pacific Ocean from the cliffs in La Jolla, CA.
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