I-Corps: Microalgae Building Enclosures

这个i-Corps项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是提高建筑能效。这项技术使传统的建筑围护结构能够整合生物技术，以促进建筑的可持续性和改善空气质量。该项目被配置为最大限度地提高采光穿透率，从而减少人工照明负荷。该技术提供自然通风和空气中二氧化碳的去除，可以减少主动通风设备的运行，改善建筑内的空气质量。该项目可以提供有效的隔热和动态遮阳效果，可以最大限度地减少室外和室内空间之间的常年能量传递，从而减少采暖和空调设备的能耗。这项技术可以应用并转移到不同建筑位置的不同建筑部门，如商业建筑、住宅建筑和工业设施。这个i-Corps项目在建筑围护系统中集成了一个光生物反应器，该系统利用微藻利用光能通过光合作用将水和二氧化碳转化为生物质。这项技术的成果包括生产生物质和热能。该系统产生的可再生燃料库存(生物质或生物燃料)可以抵消建筑能耗，来自光生物反应器的热能可以用来满足建筑对空间供暖和热水的热需求。该项目还可用作具有成本效益的现场废水处理系统。目前的原型有两个主要组成部分：1)集成了一个安装在金属框架上的视觉玻璃面板的光生物反应器，以及2)一个安装在金属框架内的微藻生长设备和机械系统。光生物反应器的配置是为了鼓励微藻在营养丰富的液体中生长，而玻璃面板则允许采光。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is to improve building energy efficiency. This technology enables conventional building enclosures to integrate biological techniques to promote building sustainability and improve air quality. The project is configured to maximize daylighting penetration, thereby reducing the artificial lighting load. The technology provides natural ventilation and removal of carbon dioxide from the air, which can reduce the operation of active ventilation equipment, improving air quality in the building. The project can provide effective insulation and the dynamic shading efficacy can minimize year-round energy transfer between outdoor and indoor spaces, thus reducing energy consumption by heating and air conditioning equipment. This technology can be applied and transferred to different building sectors in various building locations, such as commercial buildings, residential buildings, and industry facilities.This I-Corps project integrates a photobioreactor within a building enclosure system that utilizes microalgae to use light energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into biomass by photosynthesis. The outcomes of this technology include production of both biomass and heat. The renewable fuel stocks (biomass or biofuel) generated by the system can offset building energy consumption, and the heat energy from the photobioreactor could be used to cover the heat demand of the building for space heating and hot water. The project could also be utilized as a cost effective on-site wastewater treatment system. The current prototype has two major components: 1) a photobioreactor integrated with a vision-glazed panel attached to metal frames, and 2) a microalgae-growing apparatus and mechanical system housed in metal frames. The photobioreactor is configured to encourage microalgae growth in a nutrient-rich liquid, while the vision-glazed panel allows daylighting.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.