For more accurately describing the durations of the light and the dark phases of micro-algal cells over the whole light-dark cycle, and probing into the relationship between the liquid circulation time or velocity, the aeration rate and cell density, a series of experiments was carried out in 10 cm light-path flat plate photobioreactors. The results indicated that the liquid flow in the flat plate photobioreactor could be described by liquid dynamic equations, and a high biomass output, higher content and productivity of arachidonic acid, $70.10;gm^{-2}d^{-1},;9.62\%$ and 510.3 mg/L, respectively, were obtained under the optimal culture conditions.