Calculation of Light Penetration Depth in Photobioreactors

Abstract

Light penetration depth in high-density Chlorella cultures can be successfully estimated by Beer-Lambert's law. The efficiency of light energy absorption algal cultures was so high that algal cells near the illuminating surface shade the cells deep in the culture. To exploit the potential of high-density algal cultures, this mutual shading should be eliminated or minimized. However, providing more light energy will not ease the situation and it will simply drop the overall light utilization efficiency.

Keywords

• photobioreactor;
• Chlorella;
• light penetration depth;
• Beer-Lambert's law