Simple Monodimensional Model for Linear Growth Rate of Photosynthetic Microorganisms in Flat-Plate Photobioreactors

The current study proposes a simple monodimensional model to estimate the linear growth rate of photosynthetic microorganisms in flat-plate photobioreactors (FPPBRs) during batch cultivation. As a model microorganism, Chlorella kessleri was cultivated photoautotrophically in FPPBRs using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as the light sources to provide unidirectional irradiation in the photobioreactors. Various conditions were simulated by adjusting both the intensity of the light and the height of the culture. The validity of the proposed model was examined by comparing the linear growth rates measured with the predicted ones obtained from the proposed model. Accordingly, the value of was proposed as an approximate index for strategies to obtain the maximal lightn yield under light-limiting conditions for high-density algal cultures and as a control parameter to improve the photosynthetic productivity and efficiency.