Comments on: Algea BioReactor from Recycled Bottles

By: Jah

Jah — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 19:51:19 +0000

What he has designed is a basic proof of concept. While I highly doubt he has a + EROI with this setup, he has an idea which possibly could be done on a larger scale, likely getting more efficient with higher volumes. Not a solution for our much more simple problem of overpopulation, but perhaps a good way to reduce our impacts, while offering us the opportunity to chat knowledgeably on the inter-webs.

By: renderanything

renderanything — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 04:49:16 +0000

Plastic bottles and zip-ties do not footwear make.

Yes, there are hurdles to overcome, but it’s an interesting field to pursue.

By: ted

ted — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 04:36:40 +0000

if he ever offers you a drink, just pass.

By: Christophe

Christophe — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:52:40 +0000

I’m with Edward.

By: Ratz

Ratz — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 19:42:50 +0000

This was on tomrrow’s world in 1992. Using a giant coil of transparent tube they grew algae in it, dried it and then fueled a diesel (I think) engine. There was also a brief example of it being squirted through a naked flame and my did it burn! Sadly it’s yet to be seen in viably large quantities, but cool tech. all the same.

By: skidworth

skidworth — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 02:17:01 +0000

i’m with edward on this one…..what you see is one fiftieth of what you’d need to power the carbonator pump alone!

By: Gauldar

Gauldar — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 23:30:14 +0000

We won’t take advantage of making mass amounts of this stuff until we run out of petrolium completly… because we’re humans… and stupid like that.

By: kid_icarus

kid_icarus — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 23:12:05 +0000

i saw on the science channel that there is a biologist in new mexico ( i think) that is doing this on a much larger scale and more efficiently. unfortunately the technology to get the oil from the algae is currently too expensive, and it is a specific type of algae that can do this (ie not your everyday pond algae will be able to create oil)…..however, the truly cool part is the algae grows exponentially…..so today you have 2 liters tomorrow you have 4 the following day you have 8 etc. etc etc.

By: 1 Lucky Texan

1 Lucky Texan — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:53:45 +0000

Yeah, I believe I heard him say he was pumping in CO2, not air. So there’s the issue of concentrating that gas.

Plus, what is the carbon footprint of that blower/pump he turned on?

please….

Carl

By: Edward

Edward — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 21:42:38 +0000

As neat as this is, it is at best a high school science project. I am not impressed with algae in bottles. I want to see him “centrifuge” the algae and “crush” it to make oil. Not saying it can’t be done, but I doubt he will make enough oil to run the motor that pumps his “CO2″ into the bottles.