In a recent report, we documented research that had been done by the Ohio Coal Research Center, at Ohio University, under contract to the USDOE, directed towards the identification and selection of specific organisms best suited to serve in relatively-compact "bio-reactors"; that is, processing units conjectured to be installed at fossil fuel-based power plants, where they would absorb the exhaust gases and convert, through photosynthesis, the Carbon Dioxide in those gases into compounds of commercial value.
In that report, as accessible via:
Ohio Improves CO2 Bio-Recycling | Research & Development; concerning: "Carbon Dioxide Mitigation Through Controlled Photosynthesis; October, 2000; USDOE Contract Number: FG26-99FT40592";
it was noted, that, concurrent with OU's development and culture of "organisms capable of converting CO2 to complex sugars through the process of photosynthesis", and, which organisms, and the sugars they produced, could then "be used in the production of fertilizer, as a biomass fuel, or fermented to produce alcohols", the USDOE itself was developing a complementary "solar collection and distribution technology" at "Oak Ridge laboratories" which "could provide a significant space savings and enhanced use of solar energy".
Such "enhanced use of solar energy" would be absolutely critical, of course, to the success of Carbon Dioxide recycling technology based on photosynthesis in the cloudy environs of US Coal Country.
Further, the "significant space savings", contrasted to conceptually-similar biology-based CO2-recycling schemes, which envision large ponds and aquatic "raceways", wherein the organisms could grow as they were fed with exhaust gas, would seem essential if such a technology had any chance of being installed at an existing, space-challenged river valley power plant.
Herein, via the initial and following links in this dispatch, we document the USDOE's development of the enabling light collection and distribution technology, as noted by Ohio University, for such photosynthetic flue gas processors.
Although we have not yet been able track down related technical reports, the USDOE has been awarded at least one United States Patent, and has made application for others, for that enabling technology.
Comment, with additional links and excerpts, follows our excerpts from the initial link in this dispatch to:
"United States Patent 6,603,069 - Adaptive Full-Spectrum Solar Energy System
Date: August, 2003
Inventor: Jeffrey Muhs and Dennis Earl, TN
Assignee: UT-Battelle, Oak Ridge
(Note: We earlier reported on the USDOE's initiation of the practice, wherein consortiums of semi-public and private entities, in this case the University of Tennessee and Battelle Labs, were assigned the critical role of managing our essential US National Energy Laboratories. And, as a part of the deal, those consortiums were not only paid for their management services, but, were entitled to assume ownership of, and potentially profit from, inventions made by scientists whose wages are paid with our public tax money, and who work in advanced laboratories bought and paid for with our public tax money. Thus, the owner of the rights to this invention, which our public tax money paid to have developed, and who will profit from any future use of it, is not "We the People" of the United States of America, but, the entities that make up "UT-Battelle".)
Abstract: An adaptive full spectrum solar energy system having at least one hybrid solar concentrator, at least one hybrid luminaire, at least one hybrid photobioreactor, and a light distribution system operably connected to each hybrid solar concentrator, each hybrid luminaire, and each hybrid photobioreactor. A lighting control system operates each component.
This invention was made with Government support under contract no. DE-AC05-00OR22725 to UT-Battelle, LLC, awarded by the United States Department of Energy.
Claims: An adaptive full spectrum solar energy system comprising: at least one hybrid solar concentrator, said solar concentrator further comprising; a fixed base, a rotating assembly, a rotational tracking mechanism operably connecting said fixed base to said rotating assembly, said rotating assembly further comprising; a primary mirror for producing reflected full spectrum solar radiation, a secondary optical element supported in position for receiving said reflected full spectrum solar radiation, a concentric fiber mount assembly operably mounted to said rotating assembly, and at least one optical fiber extending from said concentric fiber mount assembly to a light distribution system; at least one hybrid luminaire, at least one hybrid photobioreactor, said light distribution system operably connected to each of said hybrid solar concentrator, said hybrid luminaire, and said hybrid photobioreactor, and a means for controlling at least one of said hybrid solar concentrator, said hybrid luminaire, said hybrid photobioreactor, and said light distribution system.
Background: The principal hurdle to the scale up of photobioreactors to achieve a viable commercial-scale production of algae is lighting limitation, both in terms of light delivery and distribution and energy expenditure. For instance, current methods for mass cultivation of marine microalgae include translucent fiberglass cylinders, polyethylene bags, carboys and tanks under artificial lighting or natural illumination in greenhouses. In these cases, however, ... light penetrates the suspension only to a (shallow) depth ..., leaving a significant percentage of the cells in complete darkness at any given time. As such, microalgal production in these systems (is low) and maintaining these systems is labor- and space-intensive and quite unreliable. Moreover, when lighting is provided by artificial lamps (such as fluorescent, high-pressure sodium or incandescent) in close proximity to the bioreactor vessel, the comparatively poor luminous efficacy and dissipation of heat from the lamps present a constant problem.
Natural bioreactors using traditional raceway cultivators commonly waste 90 to 95% of the incident photosynthetic photon flux at high algal densities along with the remaining solar energy resident in the UV and IR portion of the spectrum. This equates to an overall solar energy utilization factor of 2.5 to 5%, making conventional photobioreactors very difficult to justify from a cost and performance perspective.
The approach first demonstrated in Japan to improve the sunlight utilization efficiency of natural photobioreactors is to collect, transport, and distribute sunlight over a larger surface area, thereby improving the sunlight utilization efficiency by reducing losses caused by saturation. The concept included the use of the ... fresnel-lens sunlight collector and a fiber optic bundle system to transport and distribute the light. Losses in the visible-light collection, transport and distribution system were typically more than 75%, and the 2.times.-to-3.times. improvements in sunlight utilization was far outweighed by the added cost ... .
This approach (however) serves as partial precursor to this invention.
Summary: This invention improves the total end-use power displacement efficiency of solar energy by integrating solar technologies into multi-use hybrid systems that better utilize the entire solar energy spectrum. (A) primary mirror concentrates the entire solar spectrum onto a secondary optical element where the visible portion of the solar spectrum is separated from the UV and near infrared portions. The two energy streams are used for different purposes, i.e. lighting and electricity generation or process heat.
(We interrupt to emphasize the foregoing: As explained in the full Disclosure, the visible light spectrum is collected, concentrated and distributed so as to energize the photosynthetic, CO2-consuming metabolism of the Algae. The invisible portion of the spectrum, not needed for photosynthesis, i.e., ultraviolet and infrared, is separated and utilized to provide process heat, to keep the bugs warm, and, to generate electricity, which can then be used to, through "hybrid luminaire"s, supplement the natural light at night and on cloudy days. It is a comprehensive system.)
This adaptive, full-spectrum (AFS) solar energy system is a unique alternative to solar energy use in buildings and photosynthetic-based bioreactors. It uses solar energy from a dynamic, systems-level perspective, integrates multiple interdependent technologies, and makes better use of the entire solar energy spectrum on a real-time basis.
The solar system uses a hybrid solar concentrator ... that efficiently collects, separates, and distributes the visible portion of sunlight while simultaneously generating electricity from the infrared portion of the spectrum using new gallium antimonide (GaSb) infrared thermophotovoltaics (IR-TPVs). The optical and mechanical properties of improved large-core polymer optical fibers more efficiently deliver large quantities of visible sunlight into buildings and photobioreactors. Once delivered, the visible sunlight is used much more effectively than previously ... .
Improved cyanobacteria growth rates, packing densities, and solar utilization efficiencies in hybrid solar photobioreactors that use fibers to more efficiently distribute and use light that would have otherwise been wasted via photosynthetic saturation is also provided.
This invention uses: advanced materials ... and ... biomass resource development through innovative approaches to improve sunlight utilization in photobioreactors used in carbon sequestration and the production of fuels, chemicals, and agriculture products."
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Make no mistake: "the production of fuels" in an efficient way, from fossil fuel power plant flue gas, is what this is really all about. That some genuine "carbon sequestration" might occur through the co-production of various "chemicals, and agriculture products" is a cost-offsetting plus.
In any case, it is a comprehensive CO2-recycling technology that Oak Ridge has developed, as two, more recent, US Patent Applications attest, as we see in the following links, with excerpts, to:
"United States Patent Application: 0040118447 - Hybrid Solar Lighting Systems and Components
Date: June, 2004
Inventors: Jeffery Muhs, Earl Dennis, et. al., Tennessee
Correspondence to: UT-Battelle, LLC, Oak Ridge
Abstract: A hybrid solar lighting system and components having at least one hybrid solar concentrator, at least one fiber receiver, at least one hybrid luminaire, and a light distribution system operably connected to each hybrid solar concentrator and each hybrid luminaire. A controller operates each component.
This invention was made with Government support under contract no. DE-AC05-000R22725 to UT-Battelle, LLC, awarded by the United States Department of Energy.
Claims: A hybrid collector comprising; a primary mirror for producing reflected full spectrum solar radiation, a secondary mirror supported in position for receiving said reflected full spectrum solar radiation and further reflecting said full spectrum radiation onto a fiber receiver, said fiber receiver further comprising; a receiver housing, a filter removably disposed in said receiver housing, a quartz rod removably disposed in said receiver housing, a fiber at least partially disposed in said housing and engaged with said quartz rod, said fiber further transmitting said solar radiation to a distribution system.
A hybrid luminaire comprising; a luminaire housing, at least one electric light source removably disposed in said luminaire housing.
This invention relates to the field of solar energy systems and more specifically to hybrid solar lighting systems and components having hybrid solar concentrator collector(s) for capturing incident solar radiation and using portions of the solar spectrum for direct lighting. Direct lighting is distributed to hybrid luminaire fixtures.
Summary: This invention improves the total end-use power displacement efficiency of solar energy by integrating solar technologies into multi-use hybrid systems that better utilize the entire solar energy spectrum.
This invention redirects and more efficiently uses portions of the solar energy spectrum originating from a common two-axis, tracking solar concentrator in real-time using electro-optic and or opto-mechanical devices. Analytical/experimental models and intelligent control strategies enhance the use of hybrid solar lighting systems in many applications including ... photobioreactors".
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And:
"United States Patent Application: 0040187908 - Hybrid Solar Lighting Distribution Systems
Date: September, 2004
Inventors: Jeffery Muhs, Earl Dennis, et. al., Tennessee
Correspondence to: UT-Battelle, LLC, Oak Ridge
Abstract: A hybrid solar lighting distribution system and components having at least one hybrid solar concentrator, at least one fiber receiver, at least one hybrid luminaire, and a light distribution system operably connected to each hybrid solar concentrator and each hybrid luminaire.
Field: This invention relates to the field of solar energy systems and more specifically to hybrid solar lighting distribution systems and components for distributing visible light.
Summary: This invention improves the total end-use power displacement efficiency of solar energy by integrating solar technologies into multi-use hybrid systems that better utilize the entire solar energy spectrum.
This invention redirects and more efficiently uses portions of the solar energy spectrum originating from a common two-axis, tracking solar concentrator in real-time using electro-optic and or opto-mechanical devices. Analytical/experimental models and intelligent control strategies enhance the use of hybrid solar lighting systems in ... photobioreactors using either sunlight sources or man-made light sources."
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Now, truth to tell, they do emphasize, as much as this light collection and distribution technology's use to power "photobioreactors" for "the production of fuels, chemicals, and agriculture products", in order to effect "carbon sequestration" from fossil fuel power plants, it's potentials for providing full illumination to the interiors of homes, buildings and factories.
And, that's okay. The technology can thus, in addition to helping "photobioreactors" recycle Coal-fired power plant exhaust into "fuels", and to thus fire more silver bullets into the hearts of the Cap & Trade and Geologic Sequestration vampires, also help us to cut back on electricity demands; which would conserve our precious Coal, and, allowi us to divert more of it to higher-value applications, such as, or similar to, that explained in just one of our previous reports, as can be seen via:
USDOE Converts Coal to Gasoline with Solar Power | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 4,229,184 - Apparatus and Method for Solar Coal Gasification; 1980; Assignee: The USA; Abstract: Apparatus for using focused solar radiation to gasify coal ... to produce gas consisting mainly of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, commonly called "synthesis gas", which can be converted to methane, methanol, gasoline, and other useful products".