Mobile Algae Processing System

Demonstration Unit

Robert Pearsall

r.pearsall@cem.utexas.edu

April 27, 2011

Industry Need – Why are we doing

this?

• Recent boom in algae biofuels industry (in both technology

and funding)

• Industry is currently stifled by fragmented and unproven

processing technologies that only address one part of the

overall processing chain

Why CEM?

• Experience with process/technology

integration

• Experience with multidisciplinary problems

• Skilled at bridging the gap between

fundamental research and technology

commercialization

Examples of other projects

Prior Work

• Scaled up growth capability up to 2,500 gal

• Built and tested technologies needed for ETE processing – Concentration, lysing, separation and extraction

– Developed measurement and quantification techniques and procedures

• Spent over 2 years processing batches of algae between 1000 – 3000 gal/batch ETE – Compiled mass / energy balance performed on ETE processing

NEXT STEP Integrate all technologies

Demonstration Scale Requirements

• End-To-End (ETE) processing capability

• Capacity – up to several acres / day

• Modularity – Each module can be stand-alone or integrated

• Can process all variations of growth media

• Can process any growth method

• Allow grower to produce/see oil at the end of the day

• Mobility

• Demonstrate scalability

• Demonstrate economics

Integrated System: Process Map

MAP Unit V1 Images

MAP Unit V1 Images

Contact Information

Mr. Hoyt Thomas

CEO, OpenAlgae

(713) 979-2600

hhthomas@openalgae.com

Mr. Robert Pearsall

UT Center for Electromechanics

Research Engineer

(512) 232-1679

r.pearsall@cem.utexas.edu

Mr. Mike Werst

UT Center for Electromechanics

Algae Program Manager

(512) 232-1604

m.werst@cem.utexas.edu