A Novel Methodological Approach to Simulating the Growth of Photosynthetic Organisms Using Long-Term Meteorological Sequences: A Case Study of Microalgae (<i>Chlorella vulgaris</i>)

Abstract

The growth of photosynthetic organisms requires specific ranges of temperature and photosynthetically active radiation. Monitoring and maintaining these conditions is technically difficult, especially in outdoor cultures. In such cases, a typical meteorological sequence can be a useful tool for estimating the growth of photosynthetic organisms. This study proposes a new methodology based on long-term meteorological sequences to simulate the growth of photosynthetic organisms. This case study addresses microalgae growth simulation (Chlorella vulgaris) in Riosequillo in the north of the Madrid region (Spain) for the four seasons of the year. Then, these estimates are compared with the observed results of an experimental culture of microalgae in domestic wastewater. The results also show strong agreement with the probability distribution function of the daily biomass concentration, giving the best results for typical summer and spring meteorological sequences. The methodology seems to confirm the representativeness of typical meteorological sequences, allows for the identification of the most likely production scenarios for project feasibility analyses, and may be applied to decision-making processes.

Keywords

• long-term meteorological sequences
• simulation
• photosynthetic organisms
• wastewater treatment
• high-rate algae pond
• microalgae