Deployment of a Rapid Algae Concentration System in a Natural Body of Water

Modification to “Renewable Hydrocarbon Fuels for Military Applications” Project

Marysville, Ohio – July 30, 2010 – Algaeventure Systems (AVS), the Edison Materials
Technology Center (EMTEC), the Ohio Aerospace Institute (OAI) in Cleveland and the Center for Innovative Food Technology (CIFT) are collaborating on a multi-disciplinary effort to explore the technical and economic feasibility of producing aviation fuel for the United States Air Force from renewable resources grown in Ohio.

The ongoing initiative to reduce the cost of algae-to-fuel conversion is funded under the Versatile Affordable Advanced Turbine Engines (VAATE) Program Prime Contract between the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and Ohio Aerospace Institute (OAI). The primary goal of this collaboration is to find ways to increase power while decreasing fuel consumption, fuel cost and maintenance costs of both military and commercial aviation engines through the exploration of alternative fuel sources, such as algae oil.

Algaeventure Systems is currently operational on the second year of the project within the subcontract “Deployment of a Rapid Algae Concentration System in a Natural Body of Water” to further advancements in algae collection and concentration technology. The overall objective of the subcontract is to demonstrate AVS’s lab proven Rapid Algae Concentration (RAC) system in open, natural bodies of water. As the RAC system demonstrates significant cost-reduction in the processing of algae to fuel, AVS may become an important system and technology supplier in the military biofuel supply chain.

Supplementing the ARPA-E accredited technology, AVS’s Harvest Dewater & Dry Unit (HDD), the RAC system will provide extraordinary benefit and value as it increases the concentration of algae in water from algae growth systems. Higher concentration levels of algae will further improve the processing effectiveness of AVS’s HDD dewatering systems. Using passive agglomeration technology, the material, placed in a body of water containing algae, is able to collect algae at very low energy inputs without chemicals or mechanical pumping. The RAC technology delivers high concentrations of biomass, resulting in less water to process and
higher algal yields. Through continuous processing methods, RAC technology can be redeployed and reused. Under the approval and permission of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, AVS will be running a natural lake test at Grand Lake St. Marys, Ohio’s largest inland lake, this summer to confirm hypotheses that the technology will work outside of laboratory environments and demonstrate viability in natural bodies of water. This complement to cost-reducing algae-harvesting technologies will have a great effect on energy from biomass as well as remediation if proven to be successful in open-pond scenarios.

“This next testing phase will be critical to the future utilization of microalgae growth for water remediation, as well as the conversion of microalgae biomass into JP8,” said AVS President and CEO Ross Youngs.

EMTEC is a non-profit organization, of which AVS is a member, which develops technology and business strategies, sponsors and manages collaborative technology projects and programs, and provides technology and business-based assistance that facilitate the commercialization of our member company’s new Technology.

EMTEC’s focus is on products and technologies in Advanced Materials, Advanced Energy, and Instruments, Controls and Electronics with a commitment to our mission of accelerating technology to market.

“EMTEC is pleased to collaborate with Algaeventure on this project,” said Frank Svet, EMTEC President and CEO. “The progress made last year will provide a solid foundation for the work that is ahead.”

With over 22 years of experience, EMTEC provides technical coordination, business assistance, and commercialization support to Ohio’s industry, universities, and government labs to strengthen Ohio’s industrial competitiveness in advanced energy, instruments controls, and electronics, automotive, metals and castings, nanomaterials, composites, biomaterials, and other advanced materials markets.

About Algaeventure Systems
Algaeventure Systems, Inc. is a spinoff company from Univenture, Inc., an environmentally conscious plastics packaging manufacturer bringing to market a variety of patented and award winning molded and converted plastic products that are eco-friendly. Algaeventure Systems, Inc. develops technology and systems for algal production of lipids and biomass, which can be used for fuels, plastics, advanced materials, feeds, foods, and other valuable resources. For more information on Algaeventure Systems, Inc. or Univenture, visit www.algaevs.com or www.univenture.com or call the corporate headquarters at 866.939.8342

This entry was posted on Friday, July 30th, 2010 at 3:12 pm and is filed under Press Releases. You can leave a response below.

Leave a Reply