A Study on the Application of Algae as a Natural Air Quality

and Flow Control System

A Building Science 5 Investigatory Project Presented to

The Faculty of Bachelor of Science in Architecture
of De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde
Metro Manila

In Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirements for the Subject
Building Technologies 5
(BLDTEC 5)

By:
I. INTRODUCTION

Air – A common mixture of various gases that is used by humans during

aerobic respiration to collect oxygen; but what if the air’s quality is not suitable in
a given place at a given time?

Algae - Mother Nature’s leading provider of oxygen in the world. It

processes the carbon dioxide and other gases dissolved in the ocean through
aeration. Purification of the air using Algae is a relatively new system being
explored. Since algae is considered as a plant, it intakes carbon dioxide and uses
it to create its own food and releases oxygen as a byproduct.

Although algae may be the leading air filtration component on earth, it may
also become a nuisance as it grows rapidly and can take over surfaces in both
wet and dry conditions. Algae is therefore not widely accepted because of the
implications that its growth rate may cause.

Moreover, culturing algae for this purpose is not common knowledge for
Filipinos. Algae farms and or cultures are not widely seen in the Philippines
because it is a relatively new study; and results are not yet sufficient enough to
prove that this application for algae can be beneficial and sustainable in the long
run.
The researchers have chosen to design a modular-type air quality and flow
control system that uses algae as its primary filtering component; this is to
determine if the system can help improve the air quality in the space as well as
become a sustainable alternative to predominantly mechanical filters available.
A. Parameter / Reference

The researchers’ study is only limited to the following:

1. Bad Air
a.) What is bad air?
Bad air, or most commonly known as air pollution, is the pollution of air by
smoke and harmful gases. There is a presence of toxic chemicals or
compounds in the air, at levels that pose a health risk. Many of the cities,
including our own, have bad, if not horrible air quality. For instance in
Beijing China, the problem is so severe that schools had to be shut down
and travelling within the city has been restricted. In the Philippines, the air
quality is moderate, according to the air quality index, the quality of the air
ranges from good to unhealthy for sensitive groups.
b.) How to measure bad air
The quality of air is measured through the air quality index. The Air Quality
Index tells us when we need to take extra precautions to avoid health and
breathing problems. The Air Quality Index uses words and colors to tell us
when the air is polluted. “Unhealthy” or “hazardous,” or colors such as
orange, red, or purple tell us that we should change our behavior to avoid
health problems.
 Air Quality index chart meaning

Air quality of Manila from October 12, 2017 - October 19, 2017

c.) Causes and Effects of bad air? (On people, environment and health)
Causes:
Two primary causes of poor air quality are smog and fine particles in the air
that affect your health. Cars and trucks and other mobile sources are the
major sources of smog.
→ Smog/ Ozone:
It’s created when sunlight triggers a chemical reaction between
oxygen-containing molecules and pollution that comes from cars, power
plants, factories and other sources.
Effects:
i.) Mental Health: Researchers at Ohio State University state that long-term
exposure to air pollution can lead to physical changes in the brain, as well
as learning and memory problems, even depression. It can also cause
higher levels of anxiety.
ii.) Physical Health: When pollution is bad, it can irritate your eyes, nose, and
throat, cause shortness of breath, aggravate asthma and other respiratory
conditions, and even affect your heart and cardiovascular system.
Breathing polluted air for long periods of time can cause more serious
health problems. It can also cause inflammation in the body, which can
lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity.
iii.) Environment:
- Acid Rain: This is precipitation containing harmful amounts of nitric and
sulfuric acids. Acid rain can damage trees and cause soils and water
bodies to acidify, making the water unsuitable for consumption and wildlife.
- Eutrophication: Condition in a water body where high concentrations of
nutrients stimulate blooms of algae, which cause loss of other plant and
animal species.
- Haze: This happens when sunlight encounters tiny pollution particles in
the air. It is directly emitted power plants, industrial facilities, trucks and
automobiles, and construction.
- Wildlife: Air toxics can contribute to birth defects, reproductive failure, and
disease in animals.
- Ozone depletion: At ground level, ozone is a pollutant that can harm
human health. In the stratosphere, however, ozone forms a layer that
 protects life on earth from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. But this
"good" ozone is gradually being destroyed by man-made chemicals
referred to as ozone-depleting. UV can also damage sensitive crops, such
as soybeans, and reduce crop yields.
- Crop and forest damage: Ground-level ozone can lead to reductions in
agricultural crop and commercial forest yields, reduced growth and
survivability of tree seedlings, and increased plant susceptibility to
disease, pests and other environmental stresses
- Climate Change: This "greenhouse effect" keeps the Earth's temperature
stable. Unfortunately, evidence is mounting that humans have disturbed
this natural balance by producing large amounts of some of these
greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane. As a result, the
Earth's atmosphere appears to be trapping more of the sun's heat,
causing the Earth's average temperature to rise - a phenomenon known
as global warming. Many scientists believe that global warming could have
significant impacts on human health, agriculture, water resources, forests,
wildlife, and coastal areas.
2.) Air Filtration
a.) What is air filtration?
Air filtration is a process in which air is run through a filtering system to
remove impurities. There are many types of filtration, ranging from filters
to improve air quality at home to filtration used in biological research
facilities to prevent dangerous organisms from being released. In an air
filtration system, the air must pass through some sort of filter that traps the
impurities in the air.
b.) Principle of air filtration
i.) Sieve effect
The air particles get trapped between the media fibres because the particle is
larger than the gap.
ii.) The inertia mass effect
The particle arrives at high velocity, due to its mass, it collides with the media
fibre.
iii.) Interception effect
The large media fibre attract the relatively small dust particles and when they
have been intercepted they remain stuck between the media fibres.
iiii.) Diffusion effect
Particles follow an irregular path and may digress from the airflow. The
Brownian motion helps the particle in colliding with the media fibres.
b.) Theories
i.) Bernoulli’s Principle

A principle in hydrodynamics, the pressure in a stream of fluid is reduced as

the speed of the flow is increased. This phenomenon is similar to what
happens in our systems, but instead of around the object it goes through
it, specifically through pipes.

c.) Philosophy
Our approach is related to the Cloud Collective project (See case studies)
with the use of the Algae Air Purification System that will result to a
healthier living environment. The effectivity of the product will depend on
the flexibility of use through modular and easy maintenance design.

3.) System
a.) What is algae?
The system’s main component is algae. Algae is a unicellular or
multicellular organism that is capable of photosynthesis derived from
comprising cyanobacteria. This in turn produces oxygen as a byproduct.
 This is also what filters the air to make it clean. Algae is likened to a plant
but is lacking the necessary characteristics of plants such as leaf like
structures and various microscopic elements. Algae functions like a plant
in terms of is ability to produce food on its own whilst utilizing the
dissolved elements in the water. This will now lead to the processing of
elements until food is produced as well as the oxygen by product.
b.) Spirulina
Spirulina is a unicellular type of algae that is widely used as a food
supplement. It is known to have 60 different species but only 3 of which
are being explored and used for consumption; namely Maxima, Pacifica,
and Platensis. Platensis is more widely available in Asia and is the most
studied species
c.) Algae’s limitations
Algae, like all living things, are bound to limitations that keep it from
completely satisfying criterions. The following are algae’s limitations.
i.) Algae can grow better in warmer waters - algae thrive in warmer waters like
most algae and prefer fresh pond and or lakes with high levels of pH.
ii.) Algae can be contaminated - Spirulina, like any blue-green algae, can be
contaminated with toxic substances called microcystins. It can also absorb
heavy metals from water where it is grown.
iii.) Algae is sensitive to chlorine - Ensuring that the water it will grow in is of
ideal quality will be the challenge. If the product were to be applied,
harvesting the algae will imply the need to replace lost water thus the
replacement must also be of exact or almost the same quality and
parameters.

4.) Materials the researchers are considering.

i.) Carbon Aeration System
Aeration is an important factor when growing algae. In algae cultures, the lack
of living organisms to introduce carbon dioxide into the water is a concern.
Using an aeration system will help in introducing carbon dioxide in the
ambient air to serve as the supply of food for the algae. It is recommended
that an airstone be used so as to minimize bubble size; this is more
effective in gas exchange thus increasing levels more efficiently than
larger sized bubbles.
ii.) Water Pump
A water pump is needed in a culture to keep the algae in constant motion.
Since algae is a small microorganism, it tends to nestle and rest in
crevices which can trap itself and start to grow in that specific area only.
Like in its natural setting, spirulina is seen in bodies of water where
constant motion keeps them from forming large mats as well as stagnantly
in place thus reducing the light available to other cells.
iii.)Tubing
PVC: Polyvinyl chloride pipe is made from plastic and vinyl combination
materials.

a.) Advantages:
- It are durable. It has the ability to withstand extreme movement and
bending.
-It is long lasting
- It does not rust.
- The material is lightweight so it’s easy to carry and transport to the location.
-It’s smooth surface is resistant to bacterial contamination. (i.e. E. coli)
-It is available locally and in great amounts.
b.) Disadvantages:
- Sunlight cannot penetrate the inside of the pipe, which is needed for the
algae to grow.
- It is self-insulating, they retain heat. Also with the high temperatures the
strength is reduced.
- It contains compounds that are harmful to the environment.
-It cannot be installed in high temperatures.
-It easily cracks.
c.) Maintenance
- PVC can crack easily with age; monitoring it’s strength is of utmost
importance.
- It uses fittings thus the need to ensure a watertight seal at all times.
- It may hold bacteria in the long run if exposed which may contaminate the
water of the culture.
d.) Limitations
- It can be damaged if destructive physical contact happens.
- PVC can be temperature sensitive
- High pressure of water can cause it to bloat and expand which can lead to
breakage.
→ Acrylic
a.) Advantages
- You can easily see the contents of the tube, in this case, the algae, you
can see when there is a blockage or if something goes wrong with the
mechanisms of the product.
- It can be easily molded into any shape and any size, the user wants it to
be.
- It is shatter resistant.
- It is weather resistant.
- Lightweight
- It is unaffected when it comes in contact to sunlight and artificial light.
- It maintains its stability over a wide range of environmental and chemical
condition.
b.) Disadvantages
- It’s expensive
- It easily distorts, and if not maintained well, it can snap, unless there is
constant maintenance being done.
- Can easily be scratched, as compared to glass, which can lead to further,
more severe, damages that could be costly.
- If exposed to flame, it can melt and release toxic fumes that are bad for
the human body.
c.) Maintenance
- The tubes must remain as clear as possible thus general exterior cleaning
is needed.
- Acrylic can scratch easily, this can lead to damaging the integrity of the
tubing.
- Seam inspections should be done often to monitor for leaks and signs of
breakage.
d.) Limitations
- Acrylic is strong but may crack under destructive physical contact.
- Its quality may be compromised if exposed to too much temperature
fluctuation.
- Once a crack occurs, it will tend to stretch if not welded back together.
- It’s ability to hold it’s form is ideal but the flexibility of it will limit its
configurability.
-
→ Flexible tubes

a.) Advantages
- It is transparent, so you can see the contents and check for any problems
during maintenance runs.
- It is also flexible thus enabling configurable designs.
- It can be easily serviced and repaired.
- It is cheaper than other plastic materials.
b.) Disadvantages
- It cannot carry itself, it needs a stable frame to be able to stand up.
- Sagging can occur when a weight is put on it, which can destroy the whole
system, or damage a specific portion of it.
- The ridges and creases within the tubing may become dead spots for the
algae which will concentrate the growth thus limiting efficiency.
- The softness of the pipe is a cause for concern because it might be easily
torn and can rupture easily if sharp objects come in contact.
- With age, the tubing can become quite brittle thus the possibility of
cracking even with the slightest contact.
c.) Maintenance
- Regular monitoring of the parts of the tubing to inspect for cracking and
wear and tear.
- Double checking the ridges if accumulated algae is seen and or present.
- Flushing of the tubes once in a while to ensure that it stays in pristine
condition to function efficiently.
d.) Limitations
- Flexible tubing can trap algae in the long run.
- It’s flexibility demands the need for a rigid framing that will give even
support.
- The fragility of the tubing can cause unwanted frequency of maintenance
or repair.
→ Rubber Hosing

a.) Advantages
- It can be easily found locally and in great amounts, like in aquarium
stores.
- Inexpensive.
- It comes in various sizes.
b.) Disadvantages
- Just like the flexible tubing, this needs a frame to support it.
c.) Maintenance
- The rubber tubes’ exterior needs to be cleaned often because of dust
- Eventually rubber tubing becomes harder to reconfigure or may degrade
overtime.
- Needs to be monitored for scratches or imperfection within the pipe to
avoid trapping algae in between.
d.) Limitations
- Rubber tubing is flexible but may not be in the long run.
- It is quite sturdy but may be hard to reconfigure.
- It may not be as long lasting as the other options.
→ Bioreactor
b.) How it will be built
i.) Modular: The entire system is made of individual modules that can work
on its own. It can be linked up together to form one whole, stronger
system. It will be connected by tube valve connectors that are leak proof.
The tubing section of the system will be the bioreactor itself making the
whole system a functioning non mechanical air filtration. The system is
aimed to be configurable thus the flexibility of how the system will look and
be used in a given space.
c.) How the system will work
i.) Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI3Al1dpuUY
ii.) the system will first pump in air into the system using the aeration pump
which will initiate gas exchange to occur. The “fresh” water will then be
 pumped into the plastic tubing which is where the algae will be mostly
present. The algae will then begin to process the elements in the water
along with its photosynthetic abilities to produce its food and also it’s
byproducts. This will continue throughout the photosynthetic period of the
system (if exposed to light) or during the rest period of the algae (if under
artificial lighting).
iii.) Pictures
c.) The applications on a structure
i.) The initial market for this product was condominiums, but upon further
analysis, we realized that the product would be most beneficial if applied
to a structure that deems it as a necessity , ie hospitals and basements.
For this product we plan to use it in basement parking. This product may
be applied to many structures, like offices, residences, malls and others,
but the researchers will apply this product to parking structures,
specifically, basement parking structures.

The living conditions underground are worse compared to the air on

natural ground level. The air down in the basement is stuffy, because of
the temperature of the air and the pollutants that are mixed into it, like car
exhaust. This causes the users to feel suffocated and uncomfortable, and
can also cause major health risks, as mentioned in causes and effects of
bad air.

The product will solve this problem using the algae filters, to filter out the
bad air located in basement parking structures, and transforming it into
cleaner, more breathable air.

d.) Benefits and impact to its surroundings

i.) Air Quality improvement
 With algae being able to filter out the trace elements in air, it will greatly
improve the air quality of the area in the long run. Air levels will improve as
well as the ambience of the area will be elevated because of the presence
of active “greenery”.
ii.) Lower maintenance costs

5.) Case Studies

a.) Chlorella by: Adam Miklosi
A portable, pod-shaped, air- purifying pavilion, that offers fresh air in a
environmentally friendly setting. This system utilizes photosynthesis and
oxygen therapy to filter the pollution out of the air. It is made up of a
network of transparent plastic tubes, where five cubic meters of air
purifying algae are tamped down.
b.) Algae Domes by: SPACE10
This project can combat the ever present problems of malnutrition,
greenhouse gases and deforestation. The algae used in the structure is
spirulina, a form of microalgae that benefits human health and the
environment. It is deemed as the “ideal food for mankind” by the United
Nations, it has more protein than any other food source, and is packed
with vitamins and minerals. It can be fed as feed for livestock rather than
soy based protein which uses trees. It also absorbs carbon dioxide,
producing useable energy and oxygen.
c.) Cloud Collective
A network of algae cultures situated near a highway. The bioreactor consists
of a closed system of transparent, algae-filled tubes that are hooked up to
secondary equipment such as filters, pumps and solar panels. Thriving on the
abundance of CO2 and sunlight, the algae will bloom and mature inside the
tubes, filtering the air before being extracted and used for a variety of
applications. According to the company that came up with the idea, the
material could be used to create biodiesel, green electricity, medication,
cosmetic products or even foods.
B. Rationale
Air Quality and flow are not always in the best of conditions in certain
places where people find themselves passing by or congregating. Some
examples of these places are parking floors in buildings, health service facilities,
etc. However, these places employ systems involving large blower fans that
convey the “bad air” out of the area and bring in new air. With these systems
being used, not all of these options are ideal in the long run of the air quality
situation.

Given the present air pollution situation in the Philippines, particularly in

Metro Manila, the researchers have seen its potential for air quality and flow
control as well as architectural applications. Since the city is dubbed as an “urban
jungle”, architectural innovations are one of the means to solve the ever growing
problem of air pollution. A possible consideration on how to integrate the system
into present structures is the retrofitting of columns, found in the parking floors,
with the modular system.

C. Research Goals and Objectives

The goals of the research are attained through accomplishing the objectives.

Goals:
1. Reduction of unwanted levels of air contaminants indoors
2. Cleaner air results to better living conditions
3. Natural source of protein
4. More natural than mechanical
5. Configurable system (Interactive Installations)

Objectives:
1. System integration.
 2. Constant monitoring of air quality to record levels and analyze progress.
3. Post processing of excess algae produced to enable sustainable source of
protein.
4. The system must involve less mechanical intervention to filter air.
5. The system must be designed in a way that it can be configured in
multiple ways.

D. Significance of the Proposal

The researchers believe that their proposal has a high significance to the
following:
a) Residents of Metro Manila – Air quality within confined spaces or spaces
with minimal air flow will greatly help with the general health of the users of the
space. This will also aid in the redirection of the air within the area.
b) Environment – This proposal will add to the list of potential solutions to
minimize the carbon footprint of the structure as well as its users.
c) Economy – Locally sourcing materials for the product would also be of
help in the economic aspects of the project; by which the small businesses could
be tapped as one of the suppliers and or producers of the product.

E. Scope and Limitations

The researchers’ study will only be done within a period of fourteen weeks. The
actual testing of the proposal will take two weeks in total; encompassing testing
on a daily basis for 3 days, collection of data, analysis of said data, and
conclusions and recommendations.
The Project itself is limited to the following conditions:
 1. Materials to be used
The materials will be researched and chosen based on cost efficiency,
durability, and physical characteristics.
2. How it will be assembled
The product’s assembly is limited to set configurations stated by the
researchers so as to avoid efficiency loss.
3. How the system will work
The system’s components will be sized according to the designated area;
specifically to basement parking or confined parking conditions
4. Testing Location
The researchers will test out the product at the lowest floor of the parking
area where conditions are less favorable.

F. Assumptions
Based on the preceding statements, the researcher’s hypothesize the following:
1. The researchers presume that the project will help in the betterment of the
environment and impact on health of the people who preside in the area most of
the time (i.e. Security Guards, Drivers, Janitors, etc.)

2. The post production of the excess algae might not be widely acceptable to
the general public.

Post processing of said algae can lead to little to no waste in terms of harvesting
the excess algae present in the tubes during maintenance and servicing, but
since algae is not used widely in the Philippines, people might be hesitant to use
it as a food supplement, which could affect the post-processing stage.
On the other hand, spirulina, a form of microalgae, has already been deemed
"the ideal food for mankind" by the UN over forty years ago due to the impact it
could have on our health and environment. It has more protein than any other
food source and is packed full of vitamins and minerals. It can be further used
as livestock feed rather than the soy based protein that requires rainforests to
be cut down.

3. The initial cost of the system might be in the mid to high tier - The
system’s components may be expensive upon initial purchase given the
materials needed to effectively grow the algae as well as the supporting
components. These are essential to effectively grow the algae and also to
maximize the use of the product to achieve its intended purpose which is to filter
out elements in the air. In order for it to function well, ideal or optimal conditions
must be presented for its perusal.
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