LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--OriginOil, Inc. (OOIL), the developer of a breakthrough technology to extract oil from algae and an emerging leader in the global algae oil services industry, today announced it has developed a real-time control network to supervise continuous algae harvesting operations at very large algae production sites.
"Anyone harvesting algae at large scale has to deal with literally hundreds of variables in real time," said Paul Reep, OriginOil's Senior VP of Technology. "That's why we built this dynamic system that can adjust harvest settings on the fly."
Code-named "Green Stick" in research (see diagram), the network will be installed at Australian algae producer MBD Energy's power plant test site, where the system will interface with MBD's own growth control system to integrate operations with Single Step Extraction™ and downstream concentration and separation processes. It makes use of industry-standard components, all integrated using proprietary OriginOil hardware and software.
The company recently filed for patent protection of the new control technology, its sixteenth patent application, entitled "Systems and Methods for Monitoring and Controlling Process Chemistry Associated with Biomass Growth, Oil Product and Oil Separation in Aqueous Mediums." The inventors include Paul Reep, and Gavin Grey, Senior Director of Engineering.
The patent application aims to simplify the complex task of computerizing an intelligent control system for a robust commercial facilities environment where all algae production and extraction processing systems are integrated.
Measuring and controlling the hundreds of interactions that are critical to automate and scale large production operations, including algae growth, dewatering, flocculation, cell lysing and oil recovery has thus far been accomplished in our industry with little automated process sophistication, and really only becomes necessary once systems become sufficiently developed, and ready for continuous flow operations, at commercial scale.
The system is managed by a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA) that finally connects the biology and engineering with high throughput process control. This development was the direct result of ongoing research and testing activities that are focused on optimizing our Single Step Extraction™ (SSE) process.
For a comprehensive view of algae operations, the SCADA's Programmable Logic Control (PLC) will interface with existing growth control systems. Where these are lacking, OriginOil is able to extend the network into the growth phase.
"Being able to supply our SCADA an array of comprehensive real-time information about water chemistry, and quantifiable data about what the algae cells are doing, is absolutely critical to optimize our processes, and will help keep us on track with our development goals," added Paul Reep.
The new supervisory network will also address one of the industry's key concerns, Operating Expense (OPEX), by reducing the number and skill requirements of human operators. Minimizing personnel is not only good for controlling costs and ensuring process quality; it is also good for the algae, minimizing cross contamination and remediation costs.
About OriginOil, Inc. (web address: www.originoil.com)
OriginOil helps algae growers extract oil from algae for use as a feedstock for the commercial production of transportation fuels, chemicals and foods. In a single step, our breakthrough technology efficiently dewaters and breaks down algae for its useful products, overcoming one of the greatest challenges in making algae a viable replacement for petroleum. As a pioneer and the emerging leader in the global algae oil services field, OriginOil supports its core algae extraction technology with an array of process innovations for some of the world's most successful algae growers and refiners, just as pioneers like Schlumberger and Halliburton have done in the oilfield services industry. To learn more about OriginOil®, please visit our website at www.originoil.com.
Safe Harbor Statement:
Matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "may," "intend," "expect" and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein, and while expected, there is no guarantee that we will attain the aforementioned anticipated developmental milestones. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the expectations of the Company and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. These include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with: the impact of economic, competitive and other factors affecting the Company and its operations, markets, product, and distributor performance, the impact on the national and local economies resulting from terrorist actions, and U.S. actions subsequently; and other factors detailed in reports filed by the Company.
Abstract
OriginOil develops real-time control network for large scale algae harvesting, sensor array will manage hundreds of interactions critical to large production operations
Key Words
algae commercialization, algae oil, algae to oil, ooil, originoil, renewable oil, paul reep, MBD Energy, Single Step Extraction, SSE, single step extraction, tarong power station, algae flue gas, Real-Time Control Network, Large Scale Algae Harvesting, scada, algae flocculation, algae lysing