Conference article

Preliminary Study of Hydrogen Production from Local Arid Area Algae in A Bubble Column

M. W. Naceur
Laboratoire des Applications Energåtiques de l’Hydrogène (LApEH); University Saad Dahlab of Blida, Algeria

F. Kaidi
Centre de Développement des Energies Renouvelables, Division Bioånergie et Environnement, Algeria

R Rihani
Centre de Dåveloppement des Energies Renouvelables, Division Bioånergie et Environnement, Algeria

N. Ait Messaoudene
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering; University of Hail. Saudi Arabia

Download articlehttp://dx.doi.org/10.3384/ecp11057200

Published in: World Renewable Energy Congress - Sweden; 8-13 May; 2011; Linköping; Sweden

Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings 57:27, p. 200-207

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Published: 2011-11-03

ISBN: 978-91-7393-070-3

ISSN: 1650-3686 (print), 1650-3740 (online)

Abstract

Fighting climate change and ensuring sustainable development is one of the greatest concerns nowadays. In this regard; energy production from biomass is already a reality and presents tremendous possibilities of use as an alternative source. Among the various technologies; hydrogen production from microalgae is a promising clean energy alternative. Indeed; some unicellular green algae have the ability to produce hydrogen simply in the presence of water and light. However; an important factor governing the efficiency of hydrogen production by microalgae depends on the method of production. Designing a suitable bioreactor is therefore very important in order to control the main production parameters. Hence; a suitable bubble agitation system; with proper bubble size; that keeps algal cells in suspension is proposed. The present work foresees a tentative method of hydrogen production from Chlamydomonas sp; a local alga from the arid area of Adrar (southern Algeria). This is performed in a photobioreactor of the type of a bubble column. It should be noted that a hydrodynamic study of the bubble column has been previously conducted. This has led to a proper choice of the diffuser and an approximate assessment of microalgae culture parameters. Moreover; various process parameters were monitored under a given light intensity; namely: pH; temperature; dissolved oxygen; etc. The observations show massive growth of the algae biomass which indicates a good adaptation of this type of photobioreactors for microalgae production; and subsequently hydrogen production as long as low rates are required.

Keywords

Renewable Energy; Hydrogen; Microalgae; Photobioreactor; Bubble column

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