Journal article
Evaluating the performance of microbial fuel cells powering electronic devices
Journal of power sources, Vol.195(1), pp.90-96
2010
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/114996
Abstract
A microbial fuel cell (MFC) is capable of powering an electronic device if we store the energy in an external storage device, such as a capacitor, and dispense that energy intermittently in bursts of high-power when needed. Therefore its performance needs to be evaluated using an energy-storing device such as a capacitor which can be charged and discharged rather than other evaluation techniques, such as continuous energy dissipation through a resistor. In this study, we develop a method of testing microbial fuel cell performance based on storing energy in a capacitor. When a capacitor is connected to a MFC it acts like a variable resistor and stores energy from the MFC at a variable rate. In practice the application of this method to testing microbial fuel cells is very challenging and time consuming; therefore we have custom-designed a microbial fuel cell tester (MFCT). The MFCT evaluates the performance of a MFC as a power source. It uses a capacitor as an energy storing device and waits until a desired amount of energy is stored then discharges the capacitor. The entire process is controlled using an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) board controlled by a custom-written computer program. The utility of our method and the MFCT is demonstrated using a laboratory microbial fuel cell (LMFC) and a sediment microbial fuel cell (SMFC). We determine (1) how frequently a MFC can charge a capacitor, (2) which electrode is current-limiting, (3) what capacitor value will allow the maximum harvested energy from a MFC, which is called the “optimum charging capacitor value,” and (4) what capacitor charging potential will harvest the maximum energy from a MFC, which is called the “optimum charging potential.” Using a LMFC we find that (1) the time needed to charge a 3-F capacitor from 0 to 500
mV is 108
min, (2) the optimum charging capacitor value is 3
F, and (3) the optimum charging potential is 300
mV. Using a SMFC we find that (1) the time needed to charge a 3-F capacitor from 0 to 500
mV is 5
min, (2) the optimum charging capacitor value is 3
F, and (3) the optimum charging potential is 500
mV. Our results demonstrate that the developed method and the MFCT can be used to evaluate and optimize energy harvesting when a MFC is used with a capacitor to power wireless sensors monitoring the environment.
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Details
- Title
- Evaluating the performance of microbial fuel cells powering electronic devices
- Creators
- Alim Dewan - Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, Center for Environmental, Sediment and Aquatic Research, Pullman, WA, United StatesConrad Donovan - School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99163-2710, United StatesDeukhyoun Heo - School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99163-2710, United StatesHaluk Beyenal - Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, Center for Environmental, Sediment and Aquatic Research, Pullman, WA, United States
- Publication Details
- Journal of power sources, Vol.195(1), pp.90-96
- Academic Unit
- Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, School of
- Publisher
- Elsevier B.V
- Identifiers
- 99900548317901842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article