The development of a photobioreactor for the production of microalgae: physiology, applications and economic viability

Abstract

The visit is planned to occur from June 1, 2011 to June 24, 2011, a total of 24 days. The visit of the researcher has the objective of increasing relationship strength with Prof. Tit. Dr. Pedro A. R. Ramos, which will, during the visit effectively contribute to the development of several projects, always in relation to the economic viability for industrial production processes. The researcher will contribute to activities to be performed at the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) and at the School of Engineering of São Carlos (EESC-USP). In UFSCar, the researcher will teach a course designed to contain an introduction to Engineering Economy and case studies. The proposed course has 24 h and will be taught on days 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 13 of June. Through this course and the interaction with the guest researcher, it is expected that students acquire the fundamental acknowledge of the processes and information involved in economic feasibility studies. This will enable the students to assess the economic viability of their own projects. The projects being developed at UFSCar (Algae Biotechnology Laboratory, Botany Department) that will benefit from the research visit involve the production of biomass of microalgae grown in different culture systems. Although the visit is linked to other projects, there is one that is mostly related to the visit of the researcher. This is entitled Development of photo bioreactor for continuous cultivation of microalgae in order to produce biodiesel: physiology, applications and economic feasibility. The economic feasibility study should include steps of market analysis, engineering analysis and organization of production, and estimated costs of production, as well as multilateral financial-economic analysis by synthesis information obtained from market analysis and engineering. In the EESC-USP, the visiting researcher will conduct an economic update of the project Renewable Energy Generation Integrated Food Production (GERIPA). This project is based in alcohol production and electricity generation through the drying of sugar cane bagasse from 50% to 15% moisture with the use of combustion products as to integrate the bagasse drying with ambient air. More specifically, it will be determined the most suitable conditions for drying the crushed sugar cane with air as function of the environmental conditions. (AU)