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Controlling for peak power extraction from microbial fuel cells can increase stack voltage and avoid cell reversal

Controlling for peak power extraction from microbial fuel cells can increase stack voltage and avoid cell reversal
Controlling for peak power extraction from microbial fuel cells can increase stack voltage and avoid cell reversal
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are bioelectrochemical systems which can degrade organic materials and are increasingly seen as potential contributors to low carbon technologies, particularly in energy recovery from and treatment of wastewaters. The theoretical maximum open circuit voltage from MFCs lies in the region of 1.1 V, but is reduced substantially by overvoltage losses. Practical use of the power requires stacking or other means to increase voltage. Series stacking of MFCs with typically encountered variability in operating conditions and performance raises the risk of cell reversal, which diminishes overall power performance. A novel strategy of MFC subsystem series connectivity along with maximum power point tracking (MPPT) generates increased power from individual MFCs whilst eliminating cell reversal. MFCs fed with lower concentrations of substrate experienced voltage reversal when connected in normal series connection with one common load, but when MFCs and loads together were connected in series, the underperforming cell is effectively bypassed and maximum power is made available. It is concluded that stack voltage may be increased and cell reversal avoided using the hybrid connectivity along with MPPT. This approach may be suitable for stacked MFC operations in the event that large scale arrays/modules are deployed in treating real wastewaters.
Microbial fuel cells, Cell reversal, Maximum peak power point tracking, MFC stacks, Urine, Transferability
0378-7753
363-369
Boghani, Hitesh C.
b1f8f7d2-fcc2-4559-8210-372b17e651fc
Papaharalabos, George
39e5655a-6ce5-45f8-ac06-aaeb0a81d4f3
Michie, Iain
b39a88ab-32d9-4e16-aef0-7668fbd5b2e0
Fradler, Katrin R.
7a5fa624-ad5c-450a-a9a0-0be24573fadb
Dinsdale, Richard M.
da945f14-84bf-4e51-83be-6b8487ac87f0
Guwy, Alan J.
9a3c71f6-1162-4436-8bb1-6077802dd4f3
Ieropoulos, Ioannis
6c580270-3e08-430a-9f49-7fbe869daf13
Greenman, John
eb3d9b82-7cac-4442-9301-f34884ae4a16
Premier, Giuliano C.
318775e0-df2e-4ee1-bbab-7100c0da3804
Boghani, Hitesh C.
b1f8f7d2-fcc2-4559-8210-372b17e651fc
Papaharalabos, George
39e5655a-6ce5-45f8-ac06-aaeb0a81d4f3
Michie, Iain
b39a88ab-32d9-4e16-aef0-7668fbd5b2e0
Fradler, Katrin R.
7a5fa624-ad5c-450a-a9a0-0be24573fadb
Dinsdale, Richard M.
da945f14-84bf-4e51-83be-6b8487ac87f0
Guwy, Alan J.
9a3c71f6-1162-4436-8bb1-6077802dd4f3
Ieropoulos, Ioannis
6c580270-3e08-430a-9f49-7fbe869daf13
Greenman, John
eb3d9b82-7cac-4442-9301-f34884ae4a16
Premier, Giuliano C.
318775e0-df2e-4ee1-bbab-7100c0da3804

Boghani, Hitesh C., Papaharalabos, George, Michie, Iain, Fradler, Katrin R., Dinsdale, Richard M., Guwy, Alan J., Ieropoulos, Ioannis, Greenman, John and Premier, Giuliano C. (2014) Controlling for peak power extraction from microbial fuel cells can increase stack voltage and avoid cell reversal. Journal of Power Sources, 269, 363-369. (doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.06.059).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are bioelectrochemical systems which can degrade organic materials and are increasingly seen as potential contributors to low carbon technologies, particularly in energy recovery from and treatment of wastewaters. The theoretical maximum open circuit voltage from MFCs lies in the region of 1.1 V, but is reduced substantially by overvoltage losses. Practical use of the power requires stacking or other means to increase voltage. Series stacking of MFCs with typically encountered variability in operating conditions and performance raises the risk of cell reversal, which diminishes overall power performance. A novel strategy of MFC subsystem series connectivity along with maximum power point tracking (MPPT) generates increased power from individual MFCs whilst eliminating cell reversal. MFCs fed with lower concentrations of substrate experienced voltage reversal when connected in normal series connection with one common load, but when MFCs and loads together were connected in series, the underperforming cell is effectively bypassed and maximum power is made available. It is concluded that stack voltage may be increased and cell reversal avoided using the hybrid connectivity along with MPPT. This approach may be suitable for stacked MFC operations in the event that large scale arrays/modules are deployed in treating real wastewaters.

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Accepted/In Press date: 11 June 2014
e-pub ahead of print date: 7 July 2014
Published date: 10 December 2014
Keywords: Microbial fuel cells, Cell reversal, Maximum peak power point tracking, MFC stacks, Urine, Transferability

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 454597
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/454597
ISSN: 0378-7753
PURE UUID: 2b4001ec-c15a-449b-b103-0fe8a57c88bb
ORCID for Ioannis Ieropoulos: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-9641-5504

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Date deposited: 17 Feb 2022 17:31
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 04:10

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Contributors

Author: Hitesh C. Boghani
Author: George Papaharalabos
Author: Iain Michie
Author: Katrin R. Fradler
Author: Richard M. Dinsdale
Author: Alan J. Guwy
Author: John Greenman
Author: Giuliano C. Premier

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