Conception, Modelling, Control, and Intensification of Photobioreactors Applied to the Valorization of Microalgae

Dear Colleagues,

Photosynthetic microorganisms are an important potential biomass for many industrial sectors. Production of microalgae and cyanobacteria is made in photobioreactors. Many types of photobioreactor have been developed over the past few decades. However, no universal photobioreactor exists. The design often depends on the applications and on the size of production. The conception of new photobioreactors necessitates a deep understanding of the coupling of light, mixing, mass transfer, and cell kinetic growth. The main parameters that influence the performance of the photobioreactors are light distribution, which is very specific with respect to the other bioreactors, mixing characteristics, gas–liquid mass transfer, temperature, and pH. Global modeling, which can be used for process control and for scale-up, of the photobioreactor has to take into account all these parameters. The control strategy depends on the application, either for global biomass production or for one targeted metabolite. The determination of the limiting steps of the production is a means to look for ways toward intensification.

The aim of this Special Issue is to encourage original contributions devoted to the main physical and engineering concepts associated to the conception, modeling, control, and intensification of photobioreactors. Different modeling and experimental approaches to tackle the different aspects of photobioreactors are expected. The optimization of the production of biomass and of specific metabolites, including in particular the dynamics in relation with solar irradiation, and scale-up strategies are in the scope of this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Jack Legrand
Guest Editor

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