Algal cultivation systems and photobioreactor designs

Microalgae and cyanobacteria are promising and versatile biomass for the sustainable production of biodiesel, biohydrogen, bioethanol, nutraceuticals and feed supplements. One of the key technical barriers for commercial microalgae production is the production cost. It is associated with the identification of system designs, types of reactor configurations and optimal operating conditions for different types of cultivation systems and open or closed photobioreactors. The main objective of the chapter is to comprehend the insights for the efficient and large-scale production of microalgal biomass and the economic assessment of the different cultivation methods. This chapter highlights the key factors, challenges and characteristics of different microalgal cultivation systems. Some popular cultivation systems of microalgae and photobioreactor designs are reviewed, and their pros and cons are discussed. Furthermore, recent paradigms of the existing industrial microalgae cultivation designs and processes are overviewed to understand the updates on the commercialization and development of microalgae-based products.