This assignment was focused on looking at biomimetic approaches to design problems.

1. AOIFE FAHEY PORTFOLIO PROJECT BIOMIMETIC DESIGN
YOSUN
A CARBON SEQUESTERING
MATERIAL PROCESS
AOIFE FAHEY BIOMIMETIC DESIGN

2. AOIFE FAHEY PORTFOLIO PROJECT BIOMIMETIC DESIGN
DESIGN CONCEPT OVERVIEW
Since 2008, an average of 26.4 million people have
been displaced from their homes each year due to
natural disasters.1
That will bring the number up to
237.6 million for 2017. All current and future climate
refugees require basic shelter and provisions.
This design is a process to grow sheltered
accommodation materials that remove greenhouse
gases from the atmosphere. Materials that can
sequester carbon and that can be manufactured locally
to reduce the financial and environmental impacts of
transporting large quantities of materials around the
world.
The idea is to grow materials in the local area using
waste, at least in part, as a resource to reduce the
impact of producing more materials in an already
overburdened world.

3. AOIFE FAHEY PORTFOLIO PROJECT BIOMIMETIC DESIGN
THE SCOPING PROCESS
During this project, it was neccessary to find functions and strategies in nature that could be incorporated into the concept of
producing sheltered accommodation materials that remove greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere.
DESIGN CHALLENGE HOW DOES NATURE..
a material that sequesters carbon in its production
or lifetime will reduce the carbon impact made from
having to create enough materials to house the future
climate refugees.
• Capture, absorb and filter gases/chemical entities
• Store gases/chemical entities
• Expel gases
A material that could be manufactured locally in order
to reduce costs and the evironmental issues of
transportation.
• Distribute resources
Incorporate waste as a resource in the production
process.
• Manage waste
• Break down waste
• Recycle
To grow a material • Physically assemble
• Chemically assemble
To prevent water from becoming stagnant • Distribute liquids
• Manage energy

4. AOIFE FAHEY PORTFOLIO PROJECT BIOMIMETIC DESIGN
BIOLOGICAL INSPIRATION PROCESS
DROMEDARY CAMELS
Dromedary camels avoid dehydration by using their nasal
surfaces to accomplish two things at different times of the day. At
night, the outdoor temperature is much cooler than the camel’s
core temperature so when the camel breathes in, the cold air
cools down the nasal surfaces and it is warmed up by the
exhaling air. When the inhaled air enters the camels lungs it is at
body temperature and saturated with water and when it is
exhaled again it condenses and turns to liquid water on the nasal
surfaces. The camel’s nasal structure is also hygroscopic which
means that it can absorb the water molecules and hold on to
them before they exit the nasal passage.2
ORGANISMS USED IN BIOME
ALGAE
Algae can be found and grown almost anywhere on the
planet which means that it can be grown locally.
Microalgae – (cyanobacteria) can be grown in
wastewater treatment systems using photosynthesis to
sequester carbon dioxide.3
As photosynthetic organisms, algae requires CO2
, sun,
water and nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorus, to
grow. Waste water treatment plants often have
excessive nutrients, which can cause the algae to
“aggressively expand their population size”4
.
CAPTURE, ABSORB AND FILTER GASES/CHEMICAL
ENTITIES

5. AOIFE FAHEY PORTFOLIO PROJECT BIOMIMETIC DESIGN
CAPTURE, ABSORB AND FILTER GASES
The cells of the freshwater common pond snail maintain
critical calcium-dependent processes at times of low calcium
ion availability by driving out hydrogen ions generated from
carbon dioxide hydration to "push" calcium ions into the cell.5
The external gills of newt tadpoles absorb oxygen from water
using fine filaments with a large collective surface area. 5
STORE GASES
The respiratory system of birds facilitates efficient exchange
of carbon dioxide and oxygen via continuous unidirectional
airflow and air sacs.5
The water spider stores air underwater in a hydrophobic,
bell-shaped web. 5
EXPEL GASES
Dermal bone in turtles helps eliminate carbon dioxide by
leaching calcium and magnesium ions into the bloodstream 5
.
FILTER
The kidneys remove urine from the blood. The way this is
done is by using filters called nephrons. Each nephron are
made up of a tubule and glomerulus. Each kidney has over
BIOLOGICAL INSPIRATION PROCESS OTHER ORGANISMS CONSIDERED
a million nephrons so the kidney is not one large filtration
system but a million little filtration systems working together.
Each nephron takes a small amount of blood and allows the
fluid and waste to pass through but stops the blood cells
and proteins.The minerals are sent back to the blood
system while the urine is sent to the bladder. 6
The nephrons
also function as a method of transportation of the blood and
urine. 7
DISTRIBUTE RESOURCES
The Dragon’s blood tree is one of the most unique looking
species in the plant world.1
The strange shape allows the
leaves to intercept moisture from the air and filter it down to
the roots. The mist condenses on the waxy leaves and then
makes its way down the tree to the roots. The wide, densely
packed crown of the tree also serves as a shelter so that the
water does not evaporate before reaching its destination.8
Dracaena species have also been top performers in the
NASA clean air study. 9
The Sprial is one of the most common patterns in nature.
Energy often travels in spirals in nature, e.g tornadoes,
whirlpools and even fire whirlwinds.

6. AOIFE FAHEY PORTFOLIO PROJECT BIOMIMETIC DESIGN
THE BIOLOGICAL STRATEGY
Dromedary camels avoid dehydration by using their nasal
surfaces to accomplish two things at different times of the
day. At night, the outdoor temperature is much cooler than the
camel’s core temperature so when the camel breathes in, the
cold air cools down the nasal surfaces and it is warmed up
by the exhaling air. When the inhaled air passes through the
nasal area it travels down a narrow pipe and enters the cam-
els lungs. By now, it is at body temperature and saturated with
water and when it is exhaled again and travels up a
different passage, the air condenses and turns to liquid/water
on the nasal surfaces. The camel’s nasal structure is made of
a hygroscopic material which means that it can absorb and
hold onto water molecules from the surrounding air. 5
CAMEL’S
RESPIRATORY
SYSTEM

7. AOIFE FAHEY PORTFOLIO PROJECT BIOMIMETIC DESIGN
THE BIOLOGICAL STRATEGY IN THE DESIGN
This idea behind the YOSUN design is to grow an algae-based cellulose material that removes carbon dioxide from the air.
The camel’s respitory system is emulated as a system that helps to transport and transform materials into a different state.
Algae can be found and grown almost anywhere on the planet which means that it can be grown locally. Many wastewater
treatment systems are using algae to help purify the water and grow algae for biofuel. Current systems use paddles to keep
the water moving and prevent stagnation. A more biomimetic approach would be to use a spiral device similar to the pax
mixing impellar to move the water using less energy.
The algae is able to produce bacterial nanocellulose which can be used in the production of biofuels but also many other
products10
one of which could be a structural material to be used in constructing sheltered accommodation. “Nanocellu-
lose-based materials can be stronger than steel and stiffer than Kevlar.”11
Once the microalgae has been produced in the wastewater system it will pass down a long tunnel where the spongy
hygrosopic surface, inspired by the camel’s respiratory system, will absorb the excess water as it passes so the algae will
be less saturated before entering the culture media. Then the algae will pass into a large fermentation chamber where it will
grow for a number of days. The algae would be separated into different moulds within the chamber so that the material can
grow into the shape of the mould to reduce waste later in the production. During this time, the nanocellulose material will
grow on the top of the fermentation bath like a thick coating. After the fermentation period is up the sheets of nanocellulose
will pass through a second larger tunnel where the liquid from the fermentation bath will be absorbed by the hygrosopic
material and assist in the drying process. The final result will be a cellulose material that can be used as a core ingredient for
sheltered accommodation materials.
There will also be many by-products that as a result of this process. Biofuel can also be produced from growing algae in
waste water as well as purifying the wastewater itself and which will mean that it will be able to be reused in irrigation for
local agriculture or used in local cottage industry production.

8. AOIFE FAHEY PORTFOLIO PROJECT BIOMIMETIC DESIGN
DESIGN CONCEPT IMAGE

9. AOIFE FAHEY PORTFOLIO PROJECT BIOMIMETIC DESIGN
NATURE’S UNIFYING PATTERNS
LIFE ADAPTS AND EVOLVES
LOCALLY ATTUNDED AND RESPONSIVE
The process of growing the algae can be done locally and algae perform photosynthesis to grow meaning that it will take it’s
cues from the sun.
INTERGRATES CYCLIC PROCESSES
YOSUN production will consist of cyclical processes. The waste water that cultures the algae comes from the local community
and could be repurposed to irrigate plant and forest growth in areas that need to tackle desertification.12
USING LIFE-FRIENDLY MATERIALS
Algae are one of the earliest known forms of eukaryotic life and probably the evolutionary ancestor of all plants. There is
an estimated 72,500 species of algae, which can be found in a variety of climates from the hottest deserts to the coldest
oceans.4
SELF-ORGANISING
As two of the steps in this process involve natural systems there are elements of self-organising. The growth of the
microalgae is self-organising as is the growth of the nanocellulose.

10. AOIFE FAHEY PORTFOLIO PROJECT BIOMIMETIC DESIGN
NATURE’S UNIFYING PATTERNS
LIFE ADAPTS AND EVOLVES
OPTIMIZING RATHER THAN MAXIMIZING
Using a fermentation bath to grow the material means that the material can be grown to the exact measurements required
which would result in little waste.
LEVERAGING INTERDEPENDENCE
There are many possibilities coming from using the waste water for different irrigation systems within the local community as
well as using the algae for biofuel.
FITTING FORM TO FUNCTION
The design of the fermentation chamber would qualitfy as fitting form to function. Ideally, the final material would also be
grown to fit the function.
CELLULAR AND NESTED
Both the cyanbateria growth and the nanocellulose would quality as cellular as they would both require their own cells to
replicate in order to grow.

11. AOIFE FAHEY PORTFOLIO PROJECT BIOMIMETIC DESIGN
LIFE CREATES CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO LIFE
RESOURCEFUL AND OPPORTUNISTIC
Using the local wastewater would quality as resourceful. If there is the possibility to use the algae as biofuel and other
products it would be a wonderful way to make the most of the opportunity that this production offers.
SIMPLE COMMON BUILDING BLOCKS
Some aspects of the design would have common building blocks, such as the algae growing.
LEARNS AND IMITATES
Algae learns to adapt to it’s surroundings. This process could also provide local communities with opportunity to learn about
the materials and the potential they would have for cottage industries.
FREE ENERGY
The algae is grown with solar energy but the fermentation would require temperatures maintance which would probably
require electricity unless it could also be run on solar energy.
CROSS-POLLINATION AND MUTATION
The production of a nanocellulose from the algae is a mutation of the algae.
FEEDBACK LOOPS
The photosynethesis process and the fermenation process both have feedback loops.
DECENTRALIZED AND DISTRIBUTED
All the algae replicates so if some dies or gets taken the rest can continue to thrive. central place close to the waste water
treament system.

12. AOIFE FAHEY PORTFOLIO PROJECT BIOMIMETIC DESIGN
REFERENCES
1 - http://www.internal-displacement.org/publications/2015/global-estimates-2015-people-displaced-by-disasters/
2 - https://asknature.org/strategy/nasal-surfaces-remove-water-vapor/#.WOIeR_l95D8
3 - http://www.oilgae.com/algae/cult/sew/sew.html
4 - http://algix.com/why-algae/algae-fundamentals/
5 - asknature.org
6 - https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/kidneys-how-they-work
7 - DANE v2.0
8 - http://www.arkive.org/dragons-blood-tree/dracaena-cinnabari/
9 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dracaena_(plant)
10 - http://allaboutalgae.com/algae-cultivation/
11 -https://www.wur.nl/en/show/Development-of-bioplastic-production-technologies-from-microalgae.htm
12 -https://cns.utexas.edu/news/engineering-algae-to-make-the-wonder-material-nanocellulose
http://www.chemistryviews.org/details/news/10482744/Growing_Algae_in_Wastewater.html
http://www.wateraid.org/news/news/ecosan-toilets
http://www.paxwater.com/biomimicry
COVER IMAGE - Algix.com
IMAGE p2 - UNHCR.org
IMAGES p4 - Colourbox.com