Boosting biomass production by utilising noise from the city

AlgaeWave is a revolutionary system that allows for easier and more efficient microalgae farming, which has huge potential in fields like biofuels, biopharmaceuticals, and food production. Using innovative passive noise treatment technology, production by 30% and biofuel production by 41% while reducing costs by 27%, making it an ideal solution for a more sustainable future.

This project was a collaboration with Clément Bolle, Bingqin Yang, and Feiyang Xia at the Royal College of Art and Imperial College London.

Microalgae, significantly smaller compared to his cousin macro algae, thrive in aquatic environments, utilising light and carbon dioxide to generate biomass. This biomass can be transformed into biofuel, biopolymers, nutrients, cosmetics, and significantly contributes to achieving carbon neutrality.
Our choice of microalgae is attributed to its rapid growth in comparison to other crops or micro-greens. Its fast growth makes it ideal for quick experiments and, as mentioned earlier, holds immense potential for green energy initiatives and noise absorption.
Noise is an omnipresent energy in our daily lives that remains largely untapped. We are exploring ways to absorb or transform this energy into something useful.
According to recent researches, specific sound pressure levels and frequencies can facilitate microalgae yielding and further increase carbon compounds content within cells.

How to transfer the noise?

We designed a passive sound treatment module that can attach to the existing tubular PBR system. This module can filter noise while amplifying frequencies that benefit algae growth.

Technology - Felix Chen’s AlgaeWave sustainable algae production project

What makes AlgaeWave so unique?

AlgaeWave stands as a pioneering system that transforms the detrimental effects of noise pollution into a beneficial force, stimulating microalgae growth and production.
By enhancing microalgae growth efficiency, AlgaeWave elevates biomass production by 30% and decreases associated costs by 27%.
AlgaeWave's modular design assures easy installation and retrofitting onto existing photobioreactor systems, promoting quick, flexible deployment.
AlgaeWave's conservation of resources, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and promotion of renewable energy align with sustainability goals, contributing positively to environmental protection.
The intrinsic versatility of microalgae, amplified by the efficiency gains offered by AlgaeWave, makes this solution invaluable for various applications including biofuels, biopolymers, biopharmaceuticals, and food and feed production.