will we ever see algae oil/gas?

[lapfog_1]

12. Time to correct some other things

In the design in the BP commercials, there are no "Skimmers"

If you look at the picture closely you will see a sequence of U shaped ponds. At the "top" of each pond are a set of paddle wheels. These do two things, first they stir up the algae water (causing the algae growing at the bottom of the pond to move to the top and receive more sunlight), and it pushes the water/algae around the pond, sort of like a water "roller coaster".

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTPcVqO1aNv9n50VEDG_uhaV1HulCdhC1IrdBvLnPv88gZ5unWe&s

When the algae reaches a certain density, the entire pond is drained into a water / algae separation device that removes most of the water (centrifuge is what I've seen used).

That said, yes the paddle wheels could be solar powered, as could the centrifuge.

I haven't considered a Virus to invade the cells and break the cell walls... I've seen much more mechanical means used (press, rollers, even grit mixed in at the centrifuge). Any thing that will crush the structure of the cell walls. A Virus is interesting... so long as it doesn't become an issue in the post processing.

As to solving the invasive species issue, most have turned to a closed tube system (not open to the air but filtered air is bubbled through a column of algae water)...


https://www.google.com/search?q=biodiesel+algae&sxsrf=ACYBGNRDX0I2OIiH_66tYoFf8ZWLggtL6Q:1572657015637&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=wL98b08RtttEGM%253A%252CwkY4SCFz11YNKM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kR20YoASljt687ULzkrWePiPUusCA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj315T2q8rlAhUWrp4KHZtaBukQ_h0wHnoECAkQBQ&biw=1522&bih=706#imgdii=u_M0L3LKpG9YeM:&imgrc=JawHpp5noZcc-M:&vet=1