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Title: Algae Farm Cost Model: Considerations for Photobioreactors

Abstract

Cost estimates and assumptions for a vertical hanging-bag type photobioreactor (PBR) system are reported here for a preliminary model developed to elucidate major cost drivers and opportunities for reducing the costs of algae cultivation. The design inputs and assumptions for this system are described in the report. A baseline case is presented, and alternative cases with differing areal algal productivities are used to compare to an open-pond case. The baseline algae production cost is estimated to be 1,137/short ton (st) algae, on an ash-free dry weight (AFDW) basis (2016 US$). Sensitivity analyses probe the areal productivity, support structure cost, and PBR bag replacement cost and life as significant impact factors affecting the system cost. A preliminary comparison of the PBR system and an open pond system is also developed to indicate the cost difference between these two systems.

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1485133
Report Number(s):
PNNL-28201
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-76RL01830
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Citation Formats

Zhu, Yunhua, Jones, Susanne B., and Anderson, Daniel B. Algae Farm Cost Model: Considerations for Photobioreactors. United States: N. p., 2018. Web. doi:10.2172/1485133.
Zhu, Yunhua, Jones, Susanne B., & Anderson, Daniel B. Algae Farm Cost Model: Considerations for Photobioreactors. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/1485133
Zhu, Yunhua, Jones, Susanne B., and Anderson, Daniel B. 2018. "Algae Farm Cost Model: Considerations for Photobioreactors". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/1485133. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1485133.
@article{osti_1485133,
title = {Algae Farm Cost Model: Considerations for Photobioreactors},
author = {Zhu, Yunhua and Jones, Susanne B. and Anderson, Daniel B.},
abstractNote = {Cost estimates and assumptions for a vertical hanging-bag type photobioreactor (PBR) system are reported here for a preliminary model developed to elucidate major cost drivers and opportunities for reducing the costs of algae cultivation. The design inputs and assumptions for this system are described in the report. A baseline case is presented, and alternative cases with differing areal algal productivities are used to compare to an open-pond case. The baseline algae production cost is estimated to be 1,137/short ton (st) algae, on an ash-free dry weight (AFDW) basis (2016 US$). Sensitivity analyses probe the areal productivity, support structure cost, and PBR bag replacement cost and life as significant impact factors affecting the system cost. A preliminary comparison of the PBR system and an open pond system is also developed to indicate the cost difference between these two systems.},
doi = {10.2172/1485133},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1485133}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Oct 31 00:00:00 EDT 2018},
month = {Wed Oct 31 00:00:00 EDT 2018}
}