Microalgal production using a hydraulically integrated serial turbidostat algal reactor (HISTAR): a conceptual model

A hydraulically integrated, serial turbidostat algal reactor (HISTAR) was mathematically modeled and developed for the mass production of microalgae. HISTAR, which hydraulically links precisely controlled turbidostats with continuous-flow stirred-tank reactors (CFSTRs) into a single production technology, was conceptualized emphasizing contaminant mitigation at the design stage to maintain system stability. This paper discusses the conceptual basis for the development of HISTAR and presents a theoretical overview of the CFSTRs. Mathematical modeling, using first-order algal growth kinetics combined with CFSTR reactor kinetics, was used to investigate the effects of system dilution rate, D_s; net algal specific growth rate, U_a; number of reactors, N; input algal biomass, X_i; and contaminant concentration, C_n, on algal productivity, as well as local dilution rate, D_n, on suspended contaminant washout. The simulation results allowed the determination of preliminary design ranges for prototype development.