Envirotronics is targeting equipment to assist with bead filters and algae production. Focused around finding a better method for bringing light into algae ponds, the team used the turbulent flow of the algae pond aeration system to power LED light sources that moved from top to bottom and back again as the water circulates. Among the criteria for creating the best vehicle fo light source is finding the right size and weight for the balls containing the LED source - all part of the effort to optimize algae productivity. Algaculture, or algae farming, has the potential for both environmental and economic benefits worldwide, especially with recent technological breakthroughs that may allow biofuels to be produced economically from algae sources. Additionally, a wide range of products are created from algae, including food additives, nutritional supplements, medicines, agriculture feed, valuable pigments, and even makeup. Because algae can multiply in just hours, - versus days or weeks as with most land-based crops - algal culture production has the potential to be far greater than with agriculturally grown crops. A limitattion of traditional methods for algae growing methods is that rapid growth rate can quickly block an essential source of that growth: light. Soultion: Algae needs to be in nearly constant motion to promote healthy cultures and optimum growth. If they become stagnant, they die. Pumps keep the algae biomass in continuous motion. By creating a light system that could harvest the culture motion to generate light rquiring little or no external power for the lights - problem solved. Focus is now to develop just the right material, weight, and size to carry the LED lights into the flow of algae and water in their tanks.
