Exergy efficiency of solar energy conversion to biomass of green macroalgae Ulva (Chlorophyta) in the photobioreactor

摘要: Abstract Offshore production of macroalgae biomass, which was recently given the name seagriculture, is one important but least explored alternative energy resources. Unlike microalgae, cultivation can be done offshore and therefore brings real news to biofuel – food land agriculture conflict. A wide variety small-scale laboratory experiments are lately in order deepen knowledge develop expertise its downstream processing. For applications, it common evaluate performance an source or system exergy efficiency terms. Another parameter that evaluated determine system's environmental impact it’s volumetric areal footprint. The current work examines two indexes, Exergy Efficiency (EE), takes into account all inputs, Return On Investment (ExROI), includes only fossil fuel both on a green Ulva grown photobioreactor (MPBR) incorporated building. Cultivation building embedded MPBR achieved maximal values 0.012 0.22 for EE ExROI, compared range 0.05–8.34 0.013–0.327 found published papers microalgae systems. In addition, modelled optimization initial biomass density leads about 0.035 0.433 while further improvement may by nutrient addition mixing methodology. This demonstrates tool measure scale systems, followed preliminary values, future upscaling.