Microalgae Carbon Capture
Flat-Panel PBR · Sequestration Estimator
Versionv1.0 EngineLive ModelOD·V·F·η

How much CO₂ can your
photobioreactor capture?

An engineering-grade estimator for flat-panel microalgae photobioreactors. Adjust optical density, working volume, and operating parameters to project annual carbon sequestration — backed by empirical capture factors and stoichiometric biomass conversion.

Yearly CO₂ Sequestration
0.71
tonnes CO₂ / year
Y = OD × V × F × η
3.0 × 1,000 L × 0.25 × 0.95
01 ▸

Operating parameters & live readouts

Inputs Cultivation conditions
Optical Density (OD680) 3.0
Range 0.1 – 10 · measured at 680 nm
PBR Working Volume 1,000 L
Range 10 L – 100,000 L (log-scaled below)
Operating Days / Year 330 d
Default 330 ≈ 90% uptime
Efficiency Factor 95%
Accounts for downtime, losses, respiration
Capture Factor Scenario 0.250 kg / OD·L·yr
Typical industrial flat-panel PBR with CO₂ sparging
Annual CO₂ Capture
712.5
kg / year
≈ equivalent to the emissions of one passenger car driving 4,300 km
Monthly Capture
59.4
kg / month
Daily Capture
2.16
kg / operating day
Daily Biomass Yield
1.18
kg dry / day
Effective Factor (after η)
0.238
kg CO₂ / OD·L·yr
02 ▸

Sensitivity analysis

OD vs Annual CO₂ Capture
Volume & Days constant
Volume vs Annual CO₂ Capture
OD & Days constant · log scale
03 ▸

Executive summary

Auto-generated · Updates with inputs
Under the Standard operating scenario at OD 3.00, a 1,000 L flat-panel photobioreactor running 330 days/year at 95% efficiency is projected to sequester approximately 0.71 tonnes of CO₂ annually, yielding around 1.18 kg of dry algal biomass per day.
04 ▸

Methodology & assumptions

YCO₂ (kg/yr)  ≈  OD × V (L) × F (kg/OD·L·yr) × η

Capture-factor scenarios

  • 0.18 · Conservative — low light, suboptimal mixing, lower-productivity strains.
  • 0.25 · Standard — typical industrial flat-panel PBR with CO₂ sparging.
  • 0.30 · Optimized — high PAR, 5–10% CO₂ enrichment, tuned strain, automated pH.

Stoichiometry

  • CO₂-to-biomass ratio = 1.83 kg CO₂ / kg dry biomass
  • Based on average algal composition C₁.₀H₁.₈O₀.₅N₀.₂

Operating envelope

  • OD measured at 680 nm — linear correlation across OD 0.1 – 10.
  • PAR delivery ≥ 200 µmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹ averaged over photoperiod.
  • Flat-panel geometry assumed (±10–20% deviation for tubular / raceway).
  • Efficiency factor covers downtime, harvest loss, evaporation, respiration.

References

  • Chisti Y. (2007). Biodiesel from microalgae. Biotechnol. Adv. 25(3), 294–306.
  • Acién Fernández et al. (2012). Production cost of a real microalgae plant. Biotechnol. Adv. 30(6).
  • Engineering estimates — pilot validation recommended before commercial sizing.