Design of a Toxic Algae Harvester
Typ
Examensarbete på kandidatnivå
Program
Publicerad
2020
Författare
Eliasson, Edwin
Haglund, Olle
Hozouri, Daniel
Wahrén, Henrik
Modellbyggare
Tidskriftstitel
ISSN
Volymtitel
Utgivare
Sammanfattning
Harmful algae blooms in lakes and seas are increasing every year. Still, sufficient technology
for removal and cleanup in lakes and seas are lacking. The entailing consequences of harmful
algae blooms are not only the intoxication of both humans and animals, but also the creation
of hypoxic dead-zones in waters around the world. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the
possibility of creating a system able to remove wild algae from lakes and seas. Additionally,
the potential of producing different products based on the harvested algae was investigated.
The study was divided into two parts, concept generation and algae product research. The
resulting Toxic Algae Harvester features a centrifuge for separation of algae and water and a
funnel combined with a pump for collecting the algae and water. Furthermore, a suitable
vessel has been designed to fit all the necessary components, making it a complete system.
Additionally, a rough cost analysis has been conducted and the environmental impact of
operating the system has been estimated. As for the algae product, the only feasible solution
with the present research was production of biogas. The reason for this being that the algae
species and composition does not have to be considered when producing biogas.
The combined results from this study provides a solution that can separate algae during algae
blooms in an efficient way and therefore contributes to lessen the environmental impact these
blooms cause. Furthermore, it reduces the economic damage on society that would otherwise
result from a decrease in fishing and tourism industries caused by algae blooms. However, the
economic and environmental benefits are limited in this configuration but could be increased
by further development and possibly upscaling of the Toxic Algae Harvester.