How does a raceway pond work?
A raceway pond is a shallow artificial pond used in the cultivation of algae. In these ponds, the algae, water & nutrients circulate around a racetrack. Paddlewheels provide the flow and the algae are kept suspended in the water. The algae are then circulated back to the surface at regular frequencies. The ponds can be operated in a continuous manner by feeding the ponds constantly with CO2 and nutrients and also removing the algae-containing water constantly on the other end. The NREL’s (National laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy) Aquatic Species Program ( http://www.nrel.gov/docs/legosti/fy98/24190.pdf ) experimented with raceway ponds for the cultivation of algae.
