Dynamic polarisation reveals differential steady-state stabilisation and capacitive-like behaviour in microbial fuel cells
Dynamic polarisation reveals differential steady-state stabilisation and capacitive-like behaviour in microbial fuel cells
In this paper we present several preliminary results produced with a purposely-designed external-resistor (Rext) sweeping tool for microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Fast sampling rates show that MFCs exhibit differential steady-state stabilisation behaviours depending on Rext, with consequences for time constant (tc) selection. At high Rext (35kΩ), it is demonstrated that a tc≥10 min avoids underestimation not overestimation, whilst at low Rext (100Ω) 5min are sufficient, suggesting that sweeps with variable tc are possible. However, within the maximum power transfer range (2.5kΩ), steady-states are only observed at 20min tc but with a smaller confidence interval, questioning whether the polarisation technique is suitable to estimate maximum power transfer. Finally, a strategy towards the exploitation of a capacitive-like behaviour in MFCs is proposed, tapping into ≥10min periods with up to 50% higher current and energy transfer that could prove important for MFC-powered applications.
External resistors, Microbial fuel cells, Polarisation curve, Steady-states, Time constant
1-6
Ledezma, Pablo
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Degrenne, Nicolas
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Bevilacqua, Pascal
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Buret, François
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Allard, Bruno
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Greenman, John
eb3d9b82-7cac-4442-9301-f34884ae4a16
Ieropoulos, Ioannis
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March 2014
Ledezma, Pablo
bae34594-33d7-4dfe-98b7-e13ba49b4aac
Degrenne, Nicolas
7bb4324a-e88d-4449-914f-e5ce858e14f0
Bevilacqua, Pascal
8fa51076-313a-48d7-91ea-e101e5ee1d3c
Buret, François
cd57081d-803e-4e39-b6b6-8ce6295f54db
Allard, Bruno
6a0307b4-b5ec-40b4-95d2-06be22b17796
Greenman, John
eb3d9b82-7cac-4442-9301-f34884ae4a16
Ieropoulos, Ioannis
6c580270-3e08-430a-9f49-7fbe869daf13
Ledezma, Pablo, Degrenne, Nicolas, Bevilacqua, Pascal, Buret, François, Allard, Bruno, Greenman, John and Ieropoulos, Ioannis
(2014)
Dynamic polarisation reveals differential steady-state stabilisation and capacitive-like behaviour in microbial fuel cells.
Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 5, .
(doi:10.1016/j.seta.2013.10.008).
Abstract
In this paper we present several preliminary results produced with a purposely-designed external-resistor (Rext) sweeping tool for microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Fast sampling rates show that MFCs exhibit differential steady-state stabilisation behaviours depending on Rext, with consequences for time constant (tc) selection. At high Rext (35kΩ), it is demonstrated that a tc≥10 min avoids underestimation not overestimation, whilst at low Rext (100Ω) 5min are sufficient, suggesting that sweeps with variable tc are possible. However, within the maximum power transfer range (2.5kΩ), steady-states are only observed at 20min tc but with a smaller confidence interval, questioning whether the polarisation technique is suitable to estimate maximum power transfer. Finally, a strategy towards the exploitation of a capacitive-like behaviour in MFCs is proposed, tapping into ≥10min periods with up to 50% higher current and energy transfer that could prove important for MFC-powered applications.
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More information
e-pub ahead of print date: 1 December 2013
Published date: March 2014
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank Sam Coupland of the Bristol Robotics Laboratory for his help in the design and fabrication of the MFC parts. Pablo Ledezma is supported by the National Science and Technology Council of Mexico (CONACYT) Ref. 206298. Ioannis Ieropoulos is supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council of the UK (EPSRC) CAF EP/I004653/1.
Copyright:
Copyright 2014 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
Keywords:
External resistors, Microbial fuel cells, Polarisation curve, Steady-states, Time constant
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 454608
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/454608
ISSN: 2213-1388
PURE UUID: eb836096-ec06-4068-8b1c-85294179e881
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Date deposited: 17 Feb 2022 17:36
Last modified: 18 Mar 2024 04:04
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Contributors
Author:
Pablo Ledezma
Author:
Nicolas Degrenne
Author:
Pascal Bevilacqua
Author:
François Buret
Author:
Bruno Allard
Author:
John Greenman
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