From the lab to the field: Self-stratifying microbial fuel cells stacks directly powering lights
From the lab to the field: Self-stratifying microbial fuel cells stacks directly powering lights
The microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology relies on energy storage and harvesting circuitry to deliver stable power outputs. This increases costs, and for wider deployment into society, these should be kept minimal. The present study reports how a MFC system was developed to continuously power public toilet lighting, with for the first time no energy storage nor harvesting circuitry. Two different stacks, one consisting of 15 and the other 18 membrane-less MFC modules, were operated for 6 days and fuelled by the urine of festival goers at the 2019 Glastonbury Music Festival. The 15-module stack was directly connected to 2 spotlights each comprising 6 LEDs. The 18-module stack was connected to 2 identical LED spotlights but going through 2 LED electronic controller/drivers. Twenty hours after inoculation the stacks were able to directly power the bespoke lighting system. The electrical energy produced by the 15-module stack evolved with usage from ≈280 mW (≈2.650 V at ≈105 mA) at the beginning to ≈860 mW (≈2.750 V at ≈300 mA) by the end of the festival. The electrical energy produced by the LED-driven 18-module stack increased from ≈490 mW at the beginning to ≈680 mW toward the end of the festival. During this period, illumination was above the legal standards for outdoor public areas, with the 15-module stack reaching a maximum of ≈89 Lx at 220 cm. These results demonstrate for the first time that the MFC technology can be deployed as a direct energy source in decentralised area (e.g. refugee camps).
Power source, Practical applications, Scaling-up, Self-stratifying microbial fuel cell, Urine treatment
Walter, Xavier Alexis
67c83b61-76af-4e37-aec8-79ebc723b807
You, Jiseon
1442df08-0ea4-4134-b6be-6b773b05f58d
Winfield, Jonathan
e81f4fad-1433-4c6a-9723-24a14f172896
Bajarunas, Ugnius
0aa95401-7dde-4cd5-ad09-d023f542254a
Greenman, John
eb3d9b82-7cac-4442-9301-f34884ae4a16
Ieropoulos, Ioannis A.
6c580270-3e08-430a-9f49-7fbe869daf13
1 November 2020
Walter, Xavier Alexis
67c83b61-76af-4e37-aec8-79ebc723b807
You, Jiseon
1442df08-0ea4-4134-b6be-6b773b05f58d
Winfield, Jonathan
e81f4fad-1433-4c6a-9723-24a14f172896
Bajarunas, Ugnius
0aa95401-7dde-4cd5-ad09-d023f542254a
Greenman, John
eb3d9b82-7cac-4442-9301-f34884ae4a16
Ieropoulos, Ioannis A.
6c580270-3e08-430a-9f49-7fbe869daf13
Walter, Xavier Alexis, You, Jiseon, Winfield, Jonathan, Bajarunas, Ugnius, Greenman, John and Ieropoulos, Ioannis A.
(2020)
From the lab to the field: Self-stratifying microbial fuel cells stacks directly powering lights.
Applied Energy, 277, [115514].
(doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115514).
Abstract
The microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology relies on energy storage and harvesting circuitry to deliver stable power outputs. This increases costs, and for wider deployment into society, these should be kept minimal. The present study reports how a MFC system was developed to continuously power public toilet lighting, with for the first time no energy storage nor harvesting circuitry. Two different stacks, one consisting of 15 and the other 18 membrane-less MFC modules, were operated for 6 days and fuelled by the urine of festival goers at the 2019 Glastonbury Music Festival. The 15-module stack was directly connected to 2 spotlights each comprising 6 LEDs. The 18-module stack was connected to 2 identical LED spotlights but going through 2 LED electronic controller/drivers. Twenty hours after inoculation the stacks were able to directly power the bespoke lighting system. The electrical energy produced by the 15-module stack evolved with usage from ≈280 mW (≈2.650 V at ≈105 mA) at the beginning to ≈860 mW (≈2.750 V at ≈300 mA) by the end of the festival. The electrical energy produced by the LED-driven 18-module stack increased from ≈490 mW at the beginning to ≈680 mW toward the end of the festival. During this period, illumination was above the legal standards for outdoor public areas, with the 15-module stack reaching a maximum of ≈89 Lx at 220 cm. These results demonstrate for the first time that the MFC technology can be deployed as a direct energy source in decentralised area (e.g. refugee camps).
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Published date: 1 November 2020
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
The Authors would like to acknowledge the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for funding the scientific work (grant no. OPP1149065 ), and the University of the West of England (Impact Award) for funding the festival attendance for monitoring & evaluation and the materials. The Authors thank the Glastonbury Music Festival Organisers, and Jane Healy in particular, for her onsite support and for accommodating the Pee Power® urinal in one of the most popular areas. The Authors also acknowledge our industrial partners, Dunster House Humanitarian and Whiffaway for providing the urinal structure and troughs, thus providing a welcoming research structure to the public. Special thanks also go to Ms Katy O’Hara Nash for her technical support in the commissioning of the system and its maintenance during the trial and to Mr Guy Pass, Mr Patrick Brinson and Mr Ian Horsfield for their support during the development of the system. Special acknowledgments go to Professor Richard McClatchey, Dr Maria Salar-Garcia and Dr Gill Davies, for joining the BBiC Team and engaging with the public for educational purposes during the festival.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 The Authors
Copyright:
Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
Keywords:
Power source, Practical applications, Scaling-up, Self-stratifying microbial fuel cell, Urine treatment
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 454004
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/454004
ISSN: 0306-2619
PURE UUID: fb38a0b1-149d-43b2-a65b-cc234af86071
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Date deposited: 27 Jan 2022 18:12
Last modified: 18 Mar 2024 04:04
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Author:
Xavier Alexis Walter
Author:
Jiseon You
Author:
Jonathan Winfield
Author:
Ugnius Bajarunas
Author:
John Greenman
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