Year: 2018
Type: report
Abstract: Cost estimates and assumptions for a vertical hanging-bag type photobioreactor (PBR) system are reported here for a preliminary model developed to elucidate major cost drivers and opportunities for reducing the costs of algae cultivation. The design inputs and assumptions for this system are described in the report. A baseline case is presented, and alternative cases with differing areal algal productivities are used to compare to an open-pond case. The baseline algae production cost is estimated to be 1,137/short ton (st) algae, on an ash-free dry weight (AFDW) basis (2016 US$). Sensitivity analyses probe the areal productivity, support structure cost, and PBR bag replacement cost and life as significant impact factors affecting the system cost. A preliminary comparison of the PBR system and an open pond system is also developed to indicate the cost difference between these two systems.
DOI: 10.2172/1485133
Authors: Yunhua Zhu, USDOE, Susanne Jones, Daniel Anderson
Institution: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Language: English
Field: Energy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2905195968