{
  "abstract": "In a previous article, Chlorella vulgaris was shown to grow under super high light (7 000 μmolPhotonPAR/m 2 /s), if adequate light/dark patterns were used. However, this proof-of-concept was delivered in a 125-mL photobioreactor. This article is the first step towards upscaling the process to a lab-scale prototype (5-10 liters). A numerical workflow based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (Euler-Lagrange combined with Conjugate Heat Transfer) was implemented using the open-source toolbox OpenFOAM. After numerical validation of the workflow and discussion of the effects of Lagrangian Coherent Structures, the tool was applied to assess the performance of a 50x40x5 cm 3 baffled flat-panel photobioreactor. Light/dark patterns analysis demonstrated that their median frequency and duty cycle were too widely distributed to be considered actually controlled (0.510 ± 0.271 Hz and 0.460 ± 0.211, respectively). Also, Conjugate Heat Transfer simulations showed that the system components were relatively homogeneous thermally, opening the way to a thermal circuit modeling approach. To improve the design, a deflector tube was inserted between the baffles to channel the fluid flow. This enhancement allowed narrowing down the light/dark patterns features satisfactorily (0.625 ± 0.131 Hz and 0.271 ± 0.061 for the frequency and duty cycle, respectively). Variations in the design allowed for the demonstration of the modularity of the possible light/dark cycles (a 0.322 to 0.625 Hz frequency and a duty cycle between 0.200 and 0.430). Finally, thermal analysis suggests that such a prototype could operate safely, i.e., with a culture medium temperature below 30 • C, under 20 000 μmolPhotonPAR/m 2 /s.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 1,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Victor Pozzobon"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/effwd7qk3wscg.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1016/j.algal.2026.104955",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "effwd7qk3wscg",
  "issns": [
    "2211-9264"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://hal.science/hal-05756151v1",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "hal",
      "0.sdv"
    ],
    [
      "hal",
      "1.sdv.bio"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2105|Algal biology and biofuel production"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7213526492",
  "pdf_url": "https://hal.science/hal-05756151/document",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-17",
  "publisher": "Elsevier",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/effwd7qk3wscg.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:36Z",
      "native_id": "hal-05756151",
      "source": "hal",
      "url": "https://hal.science/hal-05756151v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "hal:1.sdv.bio",
      "subfield": "systems-synthetic"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Chlorella vulgaris cultivation under super high light intensity: A tentative photobioreactor design",
  "title_text": "Chlorella vulgaris cultivation under super high light intensity: A tentative photobioreactor design",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:36Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/effwd7qk3wscg",
  "venue": "Algal Research - Biomass, Biofuels and Bioproducts",
  "versions": []
}