Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 7.10
Glass block photo-biorreactor. Lab tests
The advantage of this system is that the façade itself, with no added external
building or constructive elements, combined with biological products can function
as a photo-bioreactor. In short, biomass is grown within the architectural con-
struction itself. This significantly reduces the price of A-PhBR because with
certain modifications, it is the facade itself that acts as an industrial A-PhBR.
Thus, the facades of molded glass or glass block, thanks to its transformation
into A-PhBR, acquiring an iconic value converting into a facade of high value
comparable to very high end range, while maintaining a very competitive price in
the market.
The system is complemented by the technical elements of water supply, mic-
roalgae, nutrients and CO
2
and harvested, including nutrient reservoir, preparation
tank, collection tank, gas treatment unit, wastewater treatment unit, as a control
and electrical system.
Technical equipments vary by product obtained from cultivation of microalgae.
Biomass obtained from the architectural photo-bioreactors can get heat energy
from the biogas from the anaerobic digestion of biomass, which can obtain elec-
trical energy from cogeneration of biogas and producing different products. The
products obtained depend on the degree of processing and control. The least
amount of intervention required is fertilizers, and then with an intermediate degree
of processing are agricultural bio-stimulants. At the other extreme, i.e. with high
quality processing control, are value-added products such as medicinal and those
for human consumption. Depending on the treatment capacity of the biomass, it
will choose one product over another (Fig.
7.11
).
In general, we can say that with a system under control and processing is
feasible to produce heat and electricity for self consumption. The system is viable
from 500 m
2
of facade photo-bioreactor and advisable for areas of 1,000 m
2
on.
From this measure the economic impact of the transformation of the facade photo
bioreactor has very low impact (Fig.
7.12
).
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