Photobioreactor with multiple LED arrays for homogenous illumination

摘要

The present invention relates to a bioreactor 1 for photo-sensitive biological processes and to a method for illuminating biological material in a bioreactor. The bioreactor 1 comprises a container 10 for a liquid biological material and a plurality of light arrays 20a-f arranged inside the volume of the container, wherein the plurality of light arrays are arranged such that the biological material can be substantially homogeneously illuminated. The light arrays may have one or more light sources, such as UV LEDs, arranged linearly within a tube, and a light sensor 40, which may also be used to calculate parameters such as chlorophyll concentrations. The centre of the light arrays (70, see fig 2b) may be hollow to facilitate gas exchange or cooling. There may be a controlling mechanism 60. The light intensity of each array may be altered or switched off by this controller, or can be made to flicker.