Algae Window

For a Duke Conservation Technology product, we planned and designed a prototype of an algae filtration system that could be cycled through windows so that during high sunlight hours, the concentration of algae could be increased to block out the sun and then during low sunlight hours, the algae could be filtered out to clear water. The motivation behind this was to eliminate the need for high uses of air conditioning and thus save energy in commercial buildings.

Algae Window: Image

At the bottom lies the tank of spirulina algae with a pump inside. To increase the concentration in the window, the pump is turned on and valves 1 and 3 are closed while valves 2 and 4 are open to pump the algae directly into the window. To create a supply of clean water, which can eventually be used to decrease the concentration of algae in the window, valve 3 opens and valve 4 closes to filter the algae into clean water. To release this water and lower the window's algae concentration, the pump turns off and valve 1 opens.

Algae Window: Image