Figure 1: A flat panel algae reactor combined with a solar spectral converter in backlight geometry.
From: Solar spectral conversion for improving the photosynthetic activity in algae reactors
(a) Incoming sunlight first passes the reactor containing H. pluvialis where it is partially absorbed. The backside of the reactor is coated with a layer of the red-emitting phosphor Ca0.59Sr0.40Eu0.01S. The solar harvesting efficiency of H. pluvialis—expressed as the CO2-to-biomass conversion and oxygen production rate—is improved by increasing the photon flux in the active spectral band of the algae’s chloroplasts (b).
