Chlorella vulgaris cultivation under super high light intensity: A tentative photobioreactor design
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.
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BibTeX
@article{pozzobon2026chlorella,
title = {{Chlorella vulgaris cultivation under super high light intensity: A tentative photobioreactor design}},
author = {Victor Pozzobon},
journal = {Algal Research - Biomass, Biofuels and Bioproducts},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1016/j.algal.2026.104955},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05756151v1},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Chlorella vulgaris cultivation under super high light intensity: A tentative photobioreactor design
AU - Victor Pozzobon
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/17
JO - Algal Research - Biomass, Biofuels and Bioproducts
DO - 10.1016/j.algal.2026.104955
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05756151v1
AB - 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.
SN - 2211-9264
ER -