Irradiance optimization of outdoor microalgal cultures using solar tracked photobioreactors

Photosynthetic activity and temperature regulation of microalgal cultures (Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus obliquus) under different irradiances controlled by a solar tracker and different cell densities were studied in outdoor flat panel photobioreactors. An automated process control unit regulated light and temperature as well as pH value and nutrient concentration in the culture medium. CO2 was supplied using flue gas from an attached combined block heat and power station. Photosynthetic activity was determined by pulse amplitude modulation fluorometry. Compared to the horizontal irradiance of 55 mol photons m−2 d−1 on a clear day, the solar tracked photobioreactors enabled a decrease and increase in the overall light absorption from 19 mol photons m−2 d−1 (by rotation out of direct irradiance) to 79 mol photons m−2 d−1 (following the position of the sun). At biomass concentrations below 1.1 g cell dry weight (CDW) L−1, photoinhibition of about 35 % occurred at irradiances of ≥1,000 μmol photons m−2 s−1 photosynthetic active radiation (PAR). Using solar tracked photobioreactors, photoinhibition can be reduced and at optimum biomass concentration (≥2.3 g CDW L−1), the culture was irradiated up to 2,000 μmol photons m−2 s−1 to overcome light limitation with biomass yields of 0.7 g CDW mol photons−1 and high photosynthetic activities indicated by an effective quantum yield of 0.68 and a maximum quantum yield of 0.80 (Fv/Fm). Overheating due to high irradiance was avoided by turning the PBR out of the sun or using a cooling system, which maintained the temperature close to the species-specific temperature optima.