Texas Clean Fuels Main line of activity: Algae Biofuels Producer Collaboration:…

Texas Clean Fuels

Main line of activity: Algae Biofuels Producer

Collaboration: NA
Funding: NA
Fuel Product derived
Texas Clean Fuels uses algae as a biodiesel feedstock. 

Non-fuel algae products
The algal biomass produced by MOPS can be processed into fertilizer; animal feed; or other commercially useful products.  They do not specialize in any of these downstream processing & refining technologies; but they can provide sub-contract service for such processes.

Technology employed
Founded in 2006, Texas Clean Fuels has been focused on the CO2-to-Algae-to-Fuels concept for nearly two years and also offers its first generation photobioreactor technology for sale to algae producers.

They offer different quality levels of MOPS (Micro Organism Production System), technology, installations - an economy model “EconoMOPS”, and premium models “StandardMOPS” and the “SuperMOPS”.

The company’s MOPS (Micro Organism Production System), is a modular photobioreactor that is designed to convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and water into high value algal biomass.

A MOPS module is equipped with a UV filtering roof, which filters out the UV radiation from the sun.  This prevents damaging UV rays from striking the algae culture, thereby protecting the algae from that natural inhibitor to its growth.  This also protects the internal components of a module from UV damage, extending their useful life.  Modules are designed to withstand up to 75 miles per hour of wind, making them stand up to anything but a direct hit from a tornado or hurricane. The MOPS has four ports which function as follows: (1) vent, (2) input port, (3) harvest port, and (4) CO2 port. Modules can be configured for batch, semi-batch, or continuous flow at the choice of the client.

Key technical features of MOPS:
Light Distribution - Using specially designed “growth units”, the MOPS overcomes the “self shading effect” of open ponds, thereby increasing yields.
Light Diffusion - This feature spreads the light over a greater surface area of growing algae and, simultaneously, reduces the effect known as “photoinhibition”, whereby some species of algae are inhibited by excessive sunlight.
Light Containment - By containing sunlight within its walls in this manner, MOPS prevents the wastage of sunlight that would otherwise escape out the sides of the bioreactor.
Light Supplementation - By adding artificial, electric powered lights to a MOPS installation, one can boost the growth rate and profitability of your installation beyond the limitations of the sun’s energy.
Thermal Control - It is well documented in the algae literature that the growth rate of photosynthetic algae is temperature dependent.  Like a home, a MOPS module is climate controlled by a user-controlled thermostat control system, which keeps the algae culture growing strongly throughout the year.
Closed Loop - The system is a closed loop, with very fine filters on its only openings, which prevents contamination of the system with unwanted organisms, one of the major factors that can decrease yield in open pond systems.
UV Control - A MOPS module is equipped with a UV filtering roof, which filters out the UV radiation from the sun.  This prevents damaging UV rays from striking the algae culture, and also protects the internal components of a module from UV damage, extending their useful life.
Continuous Harvest - Modules can be configured for batch, semi-batch, or continuous flow at the choice of the client.

From 64 square feet, Texas Clean Fuels is producing 1,076 pounds of algae with a 30% oil content per year. This yields 38 gallons of biodiesel, plus 76 gallons of ethanol, plus 266 pounds of high protein animal feed per year. Per acre per year, that comes to 25,840 gallons of biodiesel, plus 51,680 gallons of ethanol, plus 180,000 pounds of high protein animal feed.
(Jan 2008 data)

Future Plans
The company plans to supply critical, high performance equipment for economical, mass production of algae oil from CO2.

Highlights
The company’s modular photobioreactor - which is also available in various sizes and budgets - is an interesting concept.
Their services for providing sub-contracted work on downstream processing and refining technologies could have a high demand in the market.