Combination of a novel electrode material and artificial mediators to enhance power generation in an MFC

2014 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 320-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ergin Taskan ◽  
Bestamin Ozkaya ◽  
Halil Hasar

This study focuses on two main aspects: developing a novel cost-effective electrode material and power production from domestic wastewater using three different mediators. Methylene blue (MB), neutral red (NR) and 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (HNQ) were selected as electrode mediators with different concentrations. A tin-coated copper mesh electrode was tested as anode electrode. Maximum power density of the microbial fuel cell (MFC) with 300 μM MB was 636 mW/m2. Optimal mediator concentrations with respect to the achieved maximum power output for MB, NR and HNQ were 300 μM, 200 μM and 50 μM, respectively. The results demonstrate that tin-coated copper mesh showed a higher biocompatibility and electrical conductivity.

2011 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yifeng Zhang ◽  
Lola Gonzalez Olias ◽  
Prawit Kongjan ◽  
Irini Angelidaki

A submersible microbial fuel cell (SMFC) was utilized to treat sewage sludge and simultaneously generate electricity. Stable power generation (145 ± 5 mW/m2, 470 Ω) was produced continuously from raw sewage sludge for 5.5 days. The maximum power density reached 190 ± 5 mW/m2. The corresponding total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD) removal efficiency was 78.1 ± 0.2% with initial TCOD of 49.7 g/L. The power generation of SMFC was depended on the sludge concentration, while dilution of the raw sludge resulted in higher power density. The maximum power density was saturated at sludge concentration of 17 g-TCOD/L, where 290 mW/m2 was achieved. When effluents from an anaerobic digester that was fed with raw sludge were used as substrate in the SMFC, a maximum power density of 318 mW/m2, and a final TCOD removal of 71.9 ± 0.2% were achieved. These results have practical implications for development of an effective system to treat sewage sludge and simultaneously recover energy.


2017 ◽  
pp. 918-925
Author(s):  
Leila M. Khaksar ◽  
Ali Ghayoumi ◽  
Amir H. Hasani ◽  
Hooshang Parhaam

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) represent a new method for treating wastewaters and simultaneously producing electricity (renewable energy (bioelectricity)) as innovative technologies. Feasibility of using synthetic wastewater as a substrate for electricity generation using anaerobic sludge as a source of microorganisms was investigated after a short acclimatization period of less than 10 days. among two different kind substrate (methanol and acetic acid) Significant reduction in COD of synthetic wastewater by 63% and 75% was observed at initial COD=2743 mg/l and 2560 mg/l respectively in Methanol and Acetic Acid indicated effective wastewater treatment in batch experiments. The present article deals with the studies of a two chambered salt bridge (membrane-less) MFC anode chamber [(with mediator; plain graphite electrode; acidified by ortho-posphoric acid (pH≈6)]; cathode chamber (50mM potassium ferricyanide [K3Fe(CN)6] in phosphate buffer; pH ≈7.5; plain graphite electrode) in the presence of mediators. The effect of Methylene Blue (MB) and Neutral Red (NR) as electron mediators and microelements inoculated to anolyte chamber on the power generation in MFCs are reported. The best performance was obtained in the case of Acetic Acid. Using methylene blue (MB) (0.2mM) as the electron mediator, the maximum power density and current density of 61.718 mW/m2 and 92.530 mA/m2 were obtained respectively with CE of 3.94%, which are found to be very promising. The maximum power density and current density of 58.820 mW/m2 and 89.940 mA/m2 were obtained respectively with CE of 8.05%. In the most cases, results show that MB has more effective role than NR. Efforts are being made to improve the performance and reduce the construction and operating costs of MFCs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 2989
Author(s):  
Haiman Wang ◽  
Zhuang Miao ◽  
Lei Chao ◽  
Yafeng Li ◽  
Guiqiang Wang

Biocathode microbial electrochemical systems (MESs) that remove nitrogen compounds out of wastewater are of special interest for practice. High energy-input for aeration is one of the barriers that hinder their application on a wider scope. A trickling-bed biocathode MES (TB-MES) was developed by integrating biotrickling filters with a biocathode MES. By recirculating the catholyte and sprinkling it through a spray nozzle, the system was able to achieve a reoxygenation process, which could facilitate the creation of an aerobic and anoxic environment. At an optimal recirculation rate of 200 mL min−1, the TB-MES removed 87.2 ± 2.7% of ammonium nitrogen and 79.7 ± 2.5% of total nitrogen (TN), and simultaneously achieved a maximum power density of 3.8 ± 0.3 Wm−3. Comparable performances were achieved when treating domestic wastewater, which were 84.6 ± 2.4%, 70.1 ± 4.2%, and 3.2 ± 0.2 W m−3 for ammonium nitrogen removal, TN removal, and maximum power density. Pyrosequencing analysis revealed Nitrosomonas was more abundant in the upper portion of the carbon fiber brush biocathode (CFBup, 20.4%) and Azoarcus was more abundant in the lower portion (CFBbottom, 12.6%), which was probably caused by the difference in dissolved oxygen concentration in different parts of the biocathode. The TB-MES shows great promise for domestic wastewater treatment by employing biotrickling filters for oxygen supply in biocathode MES.


Author(s):  
C.C. Ambreesh ◽  
V.C. Aravindan

To cope with the increasing needs of the energy market in current scenario and protect the environment from getting depleted, there is a necessity for a power production technology to be more efficient, cost-effective and eco-friendly. Hybrid systems may provide the solution to these limitations, by maximizing the energy potential of resources, increasing the process efficiency, providing greater security of supply and reducing overall costs. This paper is a proposal to hybridize Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) stirling power plant with biomass.


Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 758 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia ◽  
Sitzenfrei ◽  
Rauch ◽  
Liang ◽  
Liu

The development of urban drainage systems is challenged by rapid urbanization; however, little attention is paid to the urban form and its effects on these systems. This study develops an integrated city-drainage model that configures typical urban forms and their associated drainage infrastructures, specifically domestic wastewater and rainwater systems, to analyze the relationship between them. Three typical types of urban forms were investigated: the square, the star, and the strip. Virtual cities were designed first, with the corresponding drainage systems generated automatically and then linked to a model herein called the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM). Evaluation was based on 200 random configurations of wastewater/rainwater systems with different structures or attributes. The results show that urban forms play more important roles on three dimensions of performance, namely economic efficiency, effectiveness, and adaptability, of the rainwater systems than of the wastewater systems. Cost is positively correlated to the effectiveness of rainwater systems among the different urban forms, while adaptability is negatively correlated to the other two performance dimensions. Regardless of the form, it is difficult for a city to make its drainage systems simultaneously cost-effective, efficient, and adaptable based on the virtual cities we investigated. This study could inspire the urban planning of both built-up and to-be-built areas to become more sustainable with their drainage infrastructure by recognizing the pros and cons of different macroscale urban forms.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 483
Author(s):  
Novie Ayub Windarko ◽  
Muhammad Nizar Habibi ◽  
Bambang Sumantri ◽  
Eka Prasetyono ◽  
Moh. Zaenal Efendi ◽  
...  

During its operation, a photovoltaic system may encounter many practical issues such as receiving uniform or non-uniform irradiance caused mainly by partial shading. Under uniform irradiance a photovoltaic panel has a single maximum power point. Conversely under non-uniform irradiance, a photovoltaic panel has several local maximum power points and a single global maximum power point. To maximize energy production, a maximum power point tracker algorithm is commonly implemented to achieve the maximum power operating point of the photovoltaic panel. However, the performance of the algorithm will depend on operating conditions such as variation in irradiance. Presently, most of existing maximum power point tracker algorithms work only in a single condition: either uniform or non-uniform irradiance. This paper proposes a new maximum power point tracker algorithm for photovoltaic power generation that is designed to work under uniform and partial shading irradiance conditions. Additionally, the proposed maximum power point tracker algorithm aims to provide: (1) a simple math algorithm to reduce computational load, (2) fast tracking by evaluating progress for every single executed duty cycle, (3) without random steps to prevent jumping duty cycle, and (4) smooth variable steps to increase accuracy. The performances of the proposed algorithm are evaluated by three conditions of uniform and partial shading irradiance where a targeted maximum power point is located: (1) far from, (2) near, and (3) laid between initial positions of particles. The simulation shows that the proposed algorithm successfully tracks the maximum power point by resulting in similar power values in those three conditions. The proposed algorithm could handle the partial shading condition by avoiding the local maxima power point and finding the global maxima power point. Comparisons of the proposed algorithm and other well-known algorithms such as differential evolution, firefly, particle swarm optimization, and grey wolf optimization are provided to show the superiority of the proposed algorithm. The results show the proposed algorithm has better performance by providing faster tracking, faster settling time, higher accuracy, minimum oscillation and jumping duty cycle, and higher energy harvesting.


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