Algae Rules
Algae Rules Biofuel Engineering Team: Greg Rowe, James Song, Eric Stephanson, and James Zajac.
PERSONNEL INFO
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Dr. Gregory Rowe
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Dr. James Song
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An alumnus from the University of Washington Chemical Engineering department
Earned a PhD in Chemical Engineering at the age of 8.
Has 11 years of experience with process design and computational fuel extraction methods
extensive experience in the biofuel industry should prove essential to the goals of Algae Rules.
Dr. Eric Stephanson
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The product of 4 billion years of evolution.
alumnus of the University of Washington Electrical Engineering department.
6 years of programming experience and 3 years of experience with advanced robotics.
He once applied to work on a directed evolution project.
An alumnus from the University of Washington Electrical Engineering department.
Currently has 7 years of experience with electromagnetics
5 years experience testing high voltage fields on bacteria cells for gene splicing.
He amazingly built a Tesla coil in his garage at the age of 14.
Dr. James Zajac
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An alumnus from the University of Washington Mechanical Engineering department,
Has 18 years of experience with DNA splicing and 5 years of experience with current algae biofuel
extraction methods.
His direct experience with algae will prove useful for Team Algae Rules.
Overview
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Problem
Background
Solution
Timeline
Cost of project
Future projections
CURRENT PROBLEMS
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Current lipid extraction methods from algae
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Requires heavy mechanical and hazardous chemical
Harm to environment, costly, time consuming
Not economically feasible enough to return investments
Fig. 1: Expensive equipment
Fig. 2: Hazardous chemicals
Fig. 3: Brand new more feasible single-step process
Algae Biodiesel
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Type of water-growing plant cultivated for use as a fuel.
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Rapid growth and quick repopulation.
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high content of oil, clean burning, renewable, no petroleum.
re-grow much quicker than other oil-producing crops.
Plant is harvested and undergoes processing to extract
the oil.
Table 1: Yield of common crops
Fig. 4: CO2 recovery process
ALGAE RULES HAS THE SOLUTION
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Develop a strain of algae that more
efficiently produces lipids.
More biofuel-quality lipids per algae
production cycle investment.
Algae produces inter-cellular lipids that
can be processed into valuable biofuels.
STATEMENT OF WORK
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Utilize the MAGE process/Evolution
Machine to modify algae DNA.
Develop an algae strain that produces
lipids 2x more efficiently than dunaliella
tertiolecta.
Classify proposed super-strain as
D. Extrimisawesomus.
MAGE PROCESS
Fig. 5: MAGE process schematic
D. Extrimisawesomus PERFORMANCE SCHEMATIC
PROJECT TIMELINE
Fig. 6: Project Timeline
7/24/11
9/12/11
11/1/11
12/21/11
Phase 1
Build evolution machine
Find suitable algae
Identify DNA sequence
Phase 2
Use MAGE process
Test and repeat
Production/Shipping
Project Duration: ~8 months
2/9/12
3/30/12
PROJECTED COSTS
Table 2: MAGE process schematic
Item
Estimated Cost
DNA Synthesizer
$40,000
Micro Bioreactors
$10,000
Electroporator
$7,000
Algae Growth Medium
$1,000
Electrical/Mechanical Automation
$10,000
Assembly & Maintenance
$5,000
Total Labor (~8 months)
$400,000
Total Cost: ~$473,000
FUTURE IMPLICATIONS
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Greatly increased feasibility of processing
valuable biofuels from algae.
The possibility of replacing fossil fuels with
algae biofuels.
Strengthening of domestic and international
energy sectors.
Energy security for the future.
Q&A SESSION