PESWiki.com -- Pure Energy Systems Wiki:   Finding and facilitating breakthrough clean energy technologies.




Directory:Valcent Products Vertigro

From PESWiki

Jump to: navigation, search

Valcent developed a high density vertical bio-reactor for the mass production of oil bearing algae while removing large quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. This new bioreactor is tailored to grow a species of algae that yields a large volume of high grade vegetable oil, which is very suitable for blending with petrodiesel to create a biodiesel fuel mixture.

Contents

Official Website

How it Works

Valcent's High Density Vertical Reactor (HDVB) algae-to-biofuel technology mass produces algae, vegetable oil which is suitable for refining into a cost-effective, non-polluting biodiesel. The algae derived fuel will be an energy efficient replacement for fossil fuels and can be used in any diesel powered vehicle or machinery. In addition, 90% by weight of the algae is captured carbon dioxide, which is "sequestered" by this process and so contributes significantly to the reduction of greenhouse gases. Valcent has commissioned the world's first commercial-scale bioreactor pilot project at its test facility in El Paso, Texas.

The High Density Vertical Growth (HDVG) system grows plants in closely spaced pockets on clear, vertical panels that are moving on an overhead conveyor system. The system is designed to provide maximum sunlight and precisely correct nutrients to each plant. Ultraviolet light and filter systems exclude the need for herbicides and pesticides. Sophisticated control systems gain optimum growth performance through the correct misting of nutrients, the accurate balancing of PH and the delivery of the correct amount of heat, light and water.

Videos

Photos

Advantages

Valcent's HDVB bioreactor system can be deployed on non-arable land, requires very little water due to its closed circuit process, does not incur significant labor costs and does not employ fossil fuel burning equipment, unlike traditional food/biofuel crops, like soy and palm oil. They require large agricultural acreage, huge volumes of water and chemicals, and traditional farm equipment and labor. They are also much less productive than the HDVB process: soybean, palm oil and conventional pond-grown algae typically yield 48 gallons, 635 gallons and 10,000 gallons per acre per year respectively.

High Density Vertical Growth

  • Produces approximately 20 times the normal production volume for field crops
  • Requires 5% of the normal water requirements for field crops
  • Can be built on non arable lands and close to major city markets
  • Can work in a variety of environments: urban, suburban, countryside, desert etc.
  • Does not use herbicides or pesticides
  • Will have very significant operating and capital cost savings over field agriculture
  • Will drastically reduce transportation costs to market resulting in further savings, higher quality and fresher foods on delivery, and less transportation pollution
  • Will be easily scalable from small to very large food production situations

Applications

  • Algae to Oil
  • Indoor Gardening

Independent Testing

In conjunction with the commissioning of the Vertigro bioreactor commercial production facility, Valcent has completed construction of a world class laboratory. This laboratory enables our scientific team to select a strain of algae for the bioreactor and define optimal biomass growth and bio-oil production parameters within three to four weeks. The lab is capable of conducting tests on multiple species simultaneously. If Valcent had to depend on traditional testing methods, that same research would take nine to twelve months to achieve results for a single species.

Patents

Abstract
A method and apparatus for sequestering CO2 using algae comprises a plurality of vertically suspended bioreactors, each bioreactor being translucent and including a flow channel formed by a plurality of baffles. A culture tank contains a suspension of water and at least one algae and includes a plurality of gas jets for introducing a CO2-containing gas into the suspension. The culture tank is in fluid communication with an inlet in each channel for flowing the suspension through the channel in the presence of light. A pump pumps the suspension into the channel inlet. Drawing
Abstract
The growing room includes a closed loop track suspended above the floor and extending throughout the room. A plurality of racks are movably supported on the track by a motorized mover system. The racks include a frame for supporting a plurality of growing sheets for supporting and growing the plants. The growing sheets are made of a translucent material and include a plurality of growing cells formed by affixing a plurality of lengths of membrane material to the sheet at predetermined locations. The growing cells are gas permeable, liquid impermeable, and translucent. Drawing

Profiles

Company: Valcent Products Inc.

Valcent Products Inc. researches and develops life enhancing industrial, commercial and consumer products and processes that have mass consumer appeal and/or widespread commercial/industrial applications. All Valcent products and processes have patents or patents pending on integral technologies.

Vertigro Energy is a joint venture established with Global Green Solutions Inc. to market world wide Valcent's patent-pending Vertigro bioreactor technology developed to provide a profitable and viable renewable energy resource and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Valcent Manufacturing Ltd. commercializes and markets products developed by the consumer products division.

Stock Symbol

Valcent Products Inc. is a U.S. public traded company (VCTPF: OTCBB) with offices in Vancouver, B.C. and El Paso, Texas.

Inventor: Malcom Glen Kertz

Coverage

In the News

  • Valcent Products - Has developed a high density vertical bio-reactor for the mass production of oil bearing algae while removing large quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. This new bio-reactor is tailored to grow a species of algae that yields a large volume of high grade vegetable oil, which is very suitable for blending with diesel to create a bio-diesel fuel.

Other Coverage

List here

Comments

See Discussion page

Numbers Don't Compute

On September 30, 2008, New Energy Congress member, Daniel Bowers wrote:

The Vertigro system is not cost effective and is logistically challenged! The numbers don't add up. According to the people I have spoken with there is not enough sun to produce 100,000 gallons per acre with algae. Maybe 60,000 in a perfect world but at $1,000,000 per acre this is not a cost effective solution unless you can find an investor that likes a twenty year return on investment.

Contact

Valcent Products Inc.
Suite H 1057 Doniphan Park Circle
El Paso, TX 79922
(915) 217-2878
Fax: (915) 217-2879
E-Mail:info@valcent.net

See also

- Other Directory listings • Latest • A-I • J-R • S-Z • Tree • News
- PESWiki home page

Retrieved from "http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Valcent_Products_Vertigro"
Personal tools
Related


for sale . . .

for businesses . . .