production of biomass from algae fed on geothermal flue gas

66 Pages·2012·1.85 MB·English

PRODUCTION OF BIOMASS
FROM ALGAE FED ON
GEOTHERMAL FLUE GAS
May 2012
Ólöf Kolbrún Hrafnsdóttir
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

PRODUCTION OF BIOMASS FROM ALGAE
FED ON GEOTHERMAL FLUE GAS
Ólöf Kolbrún Hrafnsdóttir
Master of Science
Mechanical Engineering
May 2012
School of Science and Engineering
Reykjavík University
M.Sc. RESEARCH THESIS
ISSN1670-8539

Production of biomass from algae fed on geothermal flue
gas
by
Ólöf Kolbrún Hrafnsdóttir
Research thesis of worth 30 ECTS submitted to the
School of Science and Engineering at Reykjavík University
in partial fulfillment ofthe requirements for the degree of
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
May 2012
Research Thesis Committee:
Halldór Guðfinnur Svavarsson, Supervisor
Associated professor, School of science and engineering,
Reykjavik University.
Ása Brynjólfsdóttur, Supervisor
Head of Research and Development , Blue Lagoon Hf
Copyright
Ólöf Kolbrún Hrafnsdóttir
May 2012
The undersigned hereby certify that they recommend to the School of Sci-
ence and Engineering at Reykjavík University for acceptance this research
thesis entitled Production of biomass from algae fed on geothermal flue
gas submitted by Ólöf Kolbrún Hrafnsdóttir in partial fulfilment of the
requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Mechanical Engineer-
ing.
Date
Halldór Guðfinnur Svavarsson, Supervisor
Associated professor, School of science and engineer-
ing, Reykjavik University.
Ása Brynjólfsdóttur, Supervisor
Head of Research and Development , Blue Lagoon Hf
The undersigned hereby grants permission to the Reykjavík University Li-
brary to reproduce single copies of this research thesis entitled Production
of biomass from algae fed on geothermal flue gas and to lend or sell such
copies for private, scholarly or scientific research purposes only.
The author reserves all other publication and other rights in association with
thecopyrightintheresearchthesis,andexceptashereinbeforeprovided,nei-
ther the research thesis nor any substantial portion thereof may be printed or
otherwise reproduced in any material form whatsoever without the author’s
prior written permission.
Date
Ólöf Kolbrún Hrafnsdóttir
Master of Science
Production of biomass from algae fed on geothermal flue gas
Ólöf Kolbrún Hrafnsdóttir
May 2012
Abstract
The increasing concentration of carbon dioxide (CO ) in the atmosphere is
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considered to be among the greatest problem in regards to global warming.
The annualemission ofCO has increasedby 80%between 1970-2004. CO
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can be captured and stored. One of many ways is to bind it in plants and al-
gae are ideal organisms to sequester CO because of their fast growth rate. In
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this experiment, algae were cultivated and fed with flue gas ( >90% wt. CO )
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from geothermal power plant (HS Orka). Parameters that involves changes
in pH value, temperature, salt concentration and ventilation were examined
to maximize the lipid content in the algae. Two different CO sources, pure
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CO and geothermal CO , were compared. The research was executed at the
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Research- and Development centre of the Blue Lagoon Ltd. The main con-
clusion was that it is feasible to produce oil from algae fed on flue gas.
Keywords:Algae, lipids, biofuel and oil production
Ræktun þörunga á afgasi orkuvera- sjálfbær olíuframleiðsla
Ólöf Kolbrún Hrafnsdóttir
May 2012
Útdráttur
Aukinn styrkur koldíoxíðs (CO ) í andrúmslofti er talin ein helsta ástæða
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hækkandi hita andrúmslofts (gróðurhúsa áhrif). Árleg losun á koldíoxíð
hefur hækkað um 80% frá 1970-2004. Til eru leiðir og aðferðir til að geyma
CO . Plöntur geta bundið koltvíoxíð í lífmassa og eru þörungar tilvaldar
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lífverur til að binda CO vegna mikils vaxtarhraða. Í þessari tilraun voru
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þörungar fóðraðir með afgasi (>90% wt. CO ) frá jarðvarmaveri HS Orku.
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Breytur á borð við pH gildi, hitastig, saltstyrk og loftun voru kannaðar til
að auka magn fituefna (lipid) í þörungnum. Einnig er borinn saman mis-
munur á CO gasi, þá afgasi frá HS Orku og aðkeyptu hreinu CO gasi. Þessi
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rannsókn varunnin í samstarfivið HS Orku ogBláa Lónið. Niðurstöður voru
að vel gerlegt er að framleiða olíu úr þörungum sem fóðraðir eru með afgasi
jarðvarma orkuvera.
Lykilorð: Þörungur, lipíð, lífrænt-eldneyti og olíu-framleiðsla