Thought i would post an update.
The mold for the reactor shell is well underway, should have a completed shell in about a week or so.
I have been working on designing the internal parts of the reactor, so far i have the light rods and self cleaning mechanism nailed down.
the light rods will take the light from a window in the top of the reactor and project the lights down into the reactor, giving the algae the light they need to grow. The light rods are made from acrylic rods. Problem with acrylic is algae like to stick to it and would eventually block out the light.
To stop this happening i have designed a automatic cleaning system. It is a disk with holes in it, the light rods go through the holes, in the centre of the disk is a threaded rod, as the threaded rod turns it will move the disk up the rod, it will scrape off the algae sticking to the light rods. To turn the rod i looked at various different ideas, i eventually settled on a water powered vane motor, this vane motor will have to be specifically built to suit my needs, all i have to do to make it work is pump water through it, the water can be pumped through at a slow speed with quite low pressure.
The great thing about this motor is that i can use it underwater with no ill effects.