Capture and Recycle of Industrial CO₂ Emissions Using Mircoalgae

Authors

Michael H. Wilson, University of KentuckyFollow
Daniel T. Mohler, University of KentuckyFollow
John G. Groppo, University of KentuckyFollow
Thomas E. Grubbs, University of KentuckyFollow
Stephanie Kesner, University of KentuckyFollow
E. Molly Frazar, University of KentuckyFollow
Aubrey Shea, University of KentuckyFollow
Czarena L. Crofcheck, University of KentuckyFollow
Mark Crocker, University of KentuckyFollow

Abstract

A novel cyclic flow photobioreactor (PBR) for the capture and recycle of CO₂ using microalgae was designed and deployed at a coal-fired power plant (Duke Energy’s East Bend Station). The PBR was operated continuously during the period May–September 2015, during which algae productivity of typically 0.1–0.2 g/(L day) was obtained. Maximum CO₂ capture efficiency was achieved during peak sunlight hours, the largest recorded CO₂ emission reduction corresponding to a value of 81 % (using a sparge time of 5 s/min). On average, CO₂ capture efficiency during daylight hours was 44 %. The PBR at East Bend Station also served as a secondary scrubber for NO_x and SO_x, removing on average 41.5 % of the NO_x and 100 % of the SO_x from the flue gas. The effect of solar availability and self-shading on a rudimentary digital model of the cyclic flow PBR was examined using Autodesk Ecotect Analysis software. Initial results suggest that this is a promising tool for the optimization of PBR layout with respect to the utilization of available solar radiation.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-2016

Notes/Citation Information

Published in Applied Petrochemical Research, v. 6, issue 3, p. 279-293.

© The Author(s) 2016

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1007/s13203-016-0162-1

Funding Information

The Kentucky Department of Energy Development and Independence, Duke Energy and the University of Kentucky are thanked for financial support.

Repository Citation

Wilson, Michael H.; Mohler, Daniel T.; Groppo, John G.; Grubbs, Thomas E.; Kesner, Stephanie; Frazar, E. Molly; Shea, Aubrey; Crofcheck, Czarena L.; and Crocker, Mark, "Capture and Recycle of Industrial CO₂ Emissions Using Mircoalgae" (2016). Center for Applied Energy Research Faculty and Staff Publications. 8.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/caer_facpub/8