OriginOil just announced another breakthrough process to transform algae to renewable oil: a Dynamic Control System designed to continuously respond to algae’s behavior. This invention improves energy efficiency and growth rates by ensuring the right types and amounts of light are used at all times as the algae grows to maturity.

Scott Fraser, VP of Operations for OriginOil and one of the inventors of the process said, “This is a true bio-feedback system. The algae lets the controller know what it needs as it needs it, creating a self-adjusting growth system.”

At the heart of the system is a programmable controller that receives information from multiple sensor types reading the algae culture. The controller, which can be programmed for specific algae strains, responds by sending out commands to change lighting parameters such as intensity, pulsing frequency, and duty cycle. OriginOil’s existing automation of the nutrient delivery process will be integrated in the final version of the Dynamic Control System. Click here to watch a brief video of the process.

“We are currently using the new Dynamic Control System to test many lighting variations such as concentration, angles, distribution, and pulsing intervals,” said Dr. Vikram Pattarkine, OriginOil CTO. “We expect this study to yield a wealth of data about what works best in algae lighting.”