1. Mobile Algae Processing System
Demonstration Unit
Robert Pearsall
r.pearsall@cem.utexas.edu
April 27, 2011

2. Industry Need – Why are we doing this?
• Recent boom in algae biofuels industry (in both technology and
funding)
• Industry is currently stifled by fragmented and unproven
processing technologies that only address one part of the overall
processing chain

3. Why CEM?
• Experience with process/technology
integration
• Experience with multidisciplinary problems
• Skilled at bridging the gap between
fundamental research and technology
commercialization

4. Examples of other projects

5. “Valley of Death”

6. Prior Work
• Scaled up growth capability up to 2,500 gal
• Built and tested technologies needed for ETE processing
– Concentration, lysing, separation and extraction
– Developed measurement and quantification techniques and
procedures
• Spent over 2 years processing batches of algae between
1000 – 3000 gal/batch ETE
– Compiled mass / energy balance performed on ETE processing
NEXT STEP 
Integrate all technologies

7. Demonstration Scale Requirements
• End-To-End (ETE) processing capability
• Capacity – up to several acres / day
• Modularity – Each module can be stand-alone or
integrated
• Can process all variations of growth media
• Can process any growth method
• Allow grower to produce/see oil at the end of the day
• Mobility
• Demonstrate scalability
• Demonstrate economics

8. Integrated System: Process Map

9. MAP Unit V1 Images

10. MAP Unit V1 Images

11. “Valley of Death”

12. Contact Information
Mr. Robert Pearsall
Center for Electromechanics
Research Engineer
(512) 232-1679
r.pearsall@cem.utexas.edu
Mr. Mike Werst
Center for Electromechanics
Algae Program Manager
(512) 232-1604
m.werst@cem.utexas.edu