title: Closed and continuous algae cultivation system for food production and gas exchange in CELSS.
abstract: In CELSS (Controlled Ecological Life Support System), utilization of photosynthetic algae is an effective means for obtaining food and oxygen at the same time. We have chosen Spirulina, a blue-green alga, and have studied possibilities of algae utilization. We have developed an advanced algae cultivation system, which is able to produce algae continuously in a closed condition. Major features of the new system are as follows. (1) In order to maintain homogeneous culture conditions, the cultivator was designed so as to cause a swirl on medium circulation. (2) Oxygen gas separation and carbon dioxide supply are conducted by a newly designed membrane module. (3) Algae mass and medium are separated by a specially designed harvester. (4) Cultivation conditions, such as pH, temperature, algae growth rate, light intensity and quantity of generated oxygen gas are controlled by a computer system and the data are automatically recorded. This equipment is a primary model for ground experiments in order to obtain some design data for space use. A feasibility of algae cultivation in a closed condition is discussed on the basis of data obtained by use of this new system.
authors.affiliation: Space Technology Research Group, National Aerospace Laboratory, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oguchi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Otsubo
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nitta
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koyano
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miki
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D003199:Computer Systems; D003470:Culture Media; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018504:Ecological Systems, Closed; D004867:Equipment Design; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D008021:Life Support Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010100:Oxygen; D010788:Photosynthesis; D018511:Systems Integration
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen