JimWest’s Recent Comments

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  Closed Bioreactors

  Responding to neg comment about closed bioreactors.

  I doubt that closed systems should cost much more than open ponds.  Closed systems are merely pumping water/algae through stamped out double plastic sheets.  

  Many advantages are claimed, such as controlling contaminants (including biological predators),  reducing water evaporation, increasing sunlight exposure.

  Perhaps the increasing sunlight exposure is hype.  If algae 'block the sun' from other algae in a pond scenario, then who should care?  Algae that re blocking are receiving more sunlight, and by circulating the pond water, exposed algae are being recycled.  

  So I would say the best system would not be Vertigro systems, where 'farms' are 6 foot high.  I would advocate:  one layer closed systems, flat on the ground, circulating the algae at increased density of algae.  There is only so much sunlight per square foot available.  And playing games with vertical growth systems won't increase that.On Texas forum on what's new, April 10 posted 1 year, 2 months ago 6 Responses

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  Tichell's Film Was Misinterpreted

  Josh's film does NOT promote "BIOFUEL" ! !

  (Corn alchohol, for instance is 'biofuel'; that is inefficient, wasteful production, continuing subsidization of corn which is used also mainly as an economic weapon, such as by dumping corn below market value and destroying peasant agriculture.)

  The film promotes ALGAE-OIL, hybrid and plug-in vehicles, and new diesel technology and de-centralization of production and distribution -- because anyone can grow algae-oil.

  Algae-oil does not lead to deforestation.  20K gal/acre is current production possible for algae oil.  This could replace petrochemical industry.

  Diesel produces less harmful gas emissions than gasoline internal compression engines.  Diesel's particulate matter, like soot, can be potentially filtered more easily than gas emissions.  Water mist chambers are one potential method.On A review of Fields of Fuel posted 1 year, 2 months ago 11 Responses