Technology and Patents

Technology and Patents
Astrea is the brand name of the high end photobioreactors, in reference to the goddess of Greek mythology, in which she embodies purity and integrity.

The basis of the practice tried-and-tested Astrea photobioreactors is a closed circulation system, which, using efficient thin-film technology with minimal energy consumption, provides optimal growth conditions for phototrophic microorganisms. This innovative technology is protected worldwide by the patent WO 2010/115412 A29.

Process specifications of photobioreactors

suitable for fresh, brackish and salt water
temperature range of 5 to 45°C
pH range 1 to 12
disinfectable with hydrogen peroxide and chlorine
simple, modular scale up
suitable for a variety of microalgae species e.g.: Nannochloropsis, Tetraselmis, Phaeodactylum, Haematococcus etc.

Industrially produced algae (PDF)

Technical characteristics of the Astrea reactors

Plant size: Astrea 30…200K 24…205,000 L production capacity
glass tube diameter: 39.6-60.6 mm
Cultural volume/floor space: 61…110 L*m⁻²
Glass material: Borosilicate (degree of transmission > 95%, lifespan ≥ 50 years)
Glass tube wall thickness: 1.8…3.2 mm
Glass tube loops: 11…355 m
Number of modules: 1…32
module length: 1…100 m
Glass tubes in the module: 1…48
Glass tube spacing: 130…152 mm (vertical in module)
Glass tube spacing: 156…178 mm (horizontal in the module)
Module distance: 500…1,000 mm
System vessel: Stainless steel/PE, 5…9,000 L
System pump: Stainless steel/Noridur ® 1.4593 (duplex stainless steel), 5…1,200 m³*h⁻¹

Unique Selling Points: ASTREA photobioreactors (PDF)

The reactors consist of three basic units:

Photosynthesis modules with horizontally arranged glass tubes,

glass tube construction for the formation of long tube loops
glass tube arrangement with a support plate system for the carrier, fixation and height adjustment of the glass tubes
stranding for stabilization of the module system

Inoculation and running of a PBR

a long-term stable and innovatively built supply unit

functional system vessels for optimization of substance exchange processes
CAD-based engineering of manifold and collector systems
algae-adapted and process-validated system pump
process-optimized peripheral interfaces

a modern product-specific process control unit

measurement and regulation of optical density, pH, temperature, level
Measurement of oxygen and fluorescence
light-dependent pump speed
Data recording, exchange, remote access and export of process data via a web server