M. Golzarian, M. Ghiasvand, S. Shokri et al.

International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology • 2024

Abstract Plant microbial fuel cells (PMFC) have attracted great scholarly attention as a renewable energy source. These cells have three main components: anode, cathode chambers, and a proton exchange membrane. In this study, a dual-chamber plant microbial fuel cell system was designed using Cyperus papyrus and Shewanella oneidensis . The effects of various factors, including the size of the electrodes, the distance between the electrodes, and the inoculation volume of Shewanella oneidensis , on the ability of electricity generation, were scrutinized. The results indicated that increasing the size area of the electrodes from 2 × 2 to 4 × 4 and 6 × 6 cm 2 caused an increase in the output voltage by 43% and 58%, respectively. The PMFC produced a maximum power of 240 mW, with a Coulombic efficiency ranging from 0.66 to 0.75%. The plant microbial fuel cell designed in this study seemed to have a high potential to remove wastewater contaminants. Based on the results, during five days of setting up the system, COD and BOD decreased by 61.75% and 93.16%, respectively, which shows that in addition to generating power, the designed PMFC had a high potential to remove wastewater contaminants.

Chang Su, Wenyi Wang, Bolong Jiang et al.

Electroanalysis • 2022

Abstract The development of a non‐noble metal cathode ORR catalyst with low cost, high activity and high stability has become an inevitable trend in MFC. The purpose of this study is to develop an efficient and stable Cu, N‐codoped porous carbons catalysts with multi‐pore structure for MFC. Herein, Cu, N‐codoped porous carbons materials (Cu−NC−T) with high N content and multi‐pore structure were successfully developed by co‐pyrolysis with MOF‐199 and melamine. By contrast, Cu‐doped porous carbon (Cu−C−T) without melamine was synthesized using MOF‐199 as template. The results showed that Cu−NC−T possessed a rough octahedral crystal with a unique multi‐mesopore structure with pore centers of 3.4 nm and 11.2 nm, respectively. Owing to high N content, abundantly exposed Cu−N x active sites and the multi‐pore structure, Cu−NC−800 had a pronounced electrochemical ORR activity in neutral solution (onset potential and limiting current density were 0.161 V and −6.256 mA ⋅ cm −2 ), which were slightly lower than 20 wt % Pt/C (0.189 V and −6.479 mA ⋅ cm −2 ). Moreover, the MFC with Cu−NC−800 showed a power density of 662.8±3.6 mW ⋅ m −2 , which was higher than that of Cu−C−800 (425.7±3.9 mW ⋅ m −2 ) and was slightly lower than that 20 wt % Pt/C (815.0±6.2 mW ⋅ m −2 ). The output voltage of MFC with Cu−NC−T had no obvious decreasing trend in 30 days, demonstrating that the Cu−NC−T had great stability.

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Biointerface Research in Applied Chemistry • 2022

Rhodamine B (RB) is a basic color for natural plant textile dyeing. This study aims to use the laccase and manganese peroxidase-producing consortium to degrade the RB and generate electrical energy in a novel model microbial fuel cell (MFC). The results revealed that the MFC with consortium KJW40 had current densities and power densities of 4,816.6728.87 mA/m3, and 2,320.0827.86 mW/m3, respectively. The RB removal rate was 80.560.13 % was reached. This work gained new knowledge about using a bacterial consortium producing laccase and manganese peroxidase to treat contaminated RB and generate electrical power.

Panisa Michu, Junjira Thipraksa, Pimprapa Chaijak

Trends in Sciences • 2023

Biodegradation is a commonly used method to treat seawater polluted by petroleum. In addition to its ability to selectively degrade pollutants, it is also important to investigate the effectiveness of degradation and the benefits of restoration. This study focused on selecting a group of bacteria that can degrade diesel from marine sediment. The bacterial consortium called MB11 was found to be the most effective in removing diesel, with a removal rate of 53.77 ± 0.59 %. The consortium MB11 consists mainly of 6 types of bacteria: Enterococcus faecalis, Proteus mirabillis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Raoutella planticola, Enterobacter soli and Oceanotoga teriensis. The effective bacterial consortium MB11 was integrated with the floating MFC for electricity generation. The maximal open circuit voltage (OCV) and power density (PD) of 676.88 ± 5.94 mV and 0.16 ± 0.02 W/m3, respectively. HIGHLIGHTS The diesel degrading bacterial consortium was enriched and selected from the marine sediment sample. The consortium can degrade the contaminated diesel in artificial seawater and generated the electrical energy. The maximal power density of 0.16 ±02 W/m3 was gained when diesel was remove. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Marcelinus Christwardana, J. Joelianingsih, Linda Aliffia Yoshi

Bulletin of Chemical Reaction Engineering & Catalysis • 2021

The purpose of this analysis is to evaluate the efficiency of the Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) system incorporated with the fermentation process, with the aim of reducing COD and generating electricity, using sugarcane bagasse extract as a substrate, in the presence and absence of sugarcane fibers. There is a possibility of turning bagasse extract into renewable bioenergy to promote the sustainability of the environment and energy. As a result, the integration of liquid fermentation (LF) with MFC has improved efficiency compared to semi-solid state fermentation (S-SSF). The maximum power generated was 14.88 mW/m2, with an average COD removal of 39.68% per cycle. The variation margin of the liquid fermentation pH readings remained slightly decrease, with a slight deflection of +0.14 occurring from 4.33. With the absence of bagasse fibers, biofilm can grow freely on the anode surface so that the transfer of electrons is fast and produces a relatively high current. Experimental data showed a positive potential after an effective integration of the LF and MFC systems in the handling of waste. The product is then simultaneously converted into electrical energy. Copyright © 2021 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

Munaf S. Majeed, Raghad Majeed Rasheed, Muhsin Jaber Jweeg et al.

Polish Journal of Chemical Technology • 2025

Abstract Pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL) is one of the main techniques for synthesizing nanoparticle materials. The carbon target was dissolved in ultrapure water (UPW) and exposed to a Q-switched Nd: YAG laser (1064 nm) with a 6 ns pulse duration to produce carbon nanoparticles. In this sequence, the Nd: YAG laser beam was focused on the carbon surface. In the investigation of nanoparticles prepared by laser irradiation, the effect of different incident laser pulse energies (500, 1000 mJ) on particle sizes (52.09, 26.49 nm) was observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM), pH test, and lightning energy conductivity (EC) test of nanosolution was used to characterize the nanoparticles. Particle size was generated using (1000 mJ) laser pulse energy. The performance of the H-shaped microbial fuel cell (MFC) was also tested, using nanocolloids in a salt bridge. This work shows that (Co) NPs synthesized with an energy of (1000 mJ) pulsed laser can act as salt bridge catalysts to improve MFC power output.

, Pimprapa Chaijak

Acta Scientiarum Polonorum-Formatio Circumiectus • 2020

Aim of the study: This study aims to develop the novel model of multi-electrode MFC with the termite-associated yeast G. reessii for MG decelorization and electricity generation. Material and methods: The termite-associated yeast G. reessii was inoculated into modified midia with 150 mg/L MG. The laccase activity and MG removal was studied. Then, the G. reessii was immobilized on anode surface. The electrical properties and color removal were tested. Results and conclusions: The results showed it successfully removed the MG with 98.15±0.92% within 1 day of operation. Moreover, the OCV, CD and PD of 550.00±10.00%, 3.90±0.10 A/m3 and 1.52±0.08 W/m3 were achieved. Therefore, the system could have the potential for treatment of high concentration MG contaminated wastewater and produce a bio-electric energy.

Wenjuan Zhao, YiZhao Gao, Yongli Zhao et al.

• 2021

Generally, high bioelectroactivity of anodophilic biofilm favors high power generation of microbial fuel cell (MFC), however, it is not clear whether it can promote denitrification of MFC synchronously. In this study, the impact of anodophilic biofilms bioelectroactivity on denitrification behavior of single-chamber air-cathode MFC (SAMFC) in steady state was studied for the first time. Anodophilic biofilms of various bioelectroactivity were acclimated at conditions of open circuit (OC), Rext of 1000Ω and 20Ω (denoted as SAMFC-OC, SAMFC-1000Ω and SAMFC-20Ω, respectively) and run for 100 days in the presence of nitrate. Electrochemical tests and microbial analysis results showed that the anode of the SAMFC-20Ω delivered higher oxidation and denitrification current response and had a higher abundance of electroactive bacteria, like Geobacter, Pseudomonas and Comamonas, which possessed bidirectional electron transfer function, demonstrating a higher bioelectroactivity of the anodophilic biofilm. Moreover, these electroactive bacteria favored the accumulation of denitrifers, like Thauera and Alicycliphilus, probably by consuming trace oxygen through catalyzing oxygen reduction. The SAMFC-20Ω not only delivered a 61.7% higher power than the SAMFC-1000Ω, but also achieved a stable and high denitrification rate constant (kDN) of 1.9, which was 50% and 40% higher than that of the SAMFC-OC and SAMFC-1000Ω, respectively. It could be concluded that the high bioelectroactivity of the anodophilic biofilms not only favored high power generation of the SAMFC, but also promote the growth of denitrifers at the anodes and strengthened denitrification. This study provided an effective method and important theoretical basis for enhancing power generation and denitrification performance of the SAMFC synchronously.

Dipankar Nath, Prakash Rewatkar, Sanket Goel

ECS Meeting Abstracts • 2020

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are bio-electrochemical devices that produce electrical current from the electrochemically active bacteria (EABs). These bacteria generate the electrons from the degraded organic matter and harness renewable and pollution-free energy in a self-sustaining manner. Due to its user-friendly architecture, neutral pH, simple operating conditions and amenability to integrate with the on-chip technology, MFCs are the economical and convenient alternative to conventional power sources. Since the first development of MFC, an ample amount of studies have been reported especially to harness new bacteria types, inoculation protocols, and cell and bioelectrode fabrication methodologies. As a result, several MFCs have been successfully developed as a biosensor and power hub by utilizing various fluid resources, such as domestic and industrial wastewater, urine, and soiled water from sewage. However, in order to be commercially viable, the device architecture and size of the MFCs become the essential parameter for power generation, which decides the potential application. In this context, several micro-scale MFC architectures have been proposed. Among these, the paper-based microfluidic fuel cell technology has drawn remarkable attention due to its inexpensive and inherent fluid flow capillary action properties. In addition, wide array (series/parallel) configurations have been incorporated to further enhance the power output. With these MFCs, a extensive range of applications, such as powering LEDs, digital thermometer, wireless, sensors, radio nodes etc., have been successfully demonstrated. With this flexibility and unique features, paper-based MFCs have the ability to monitor the on-field parameter (temperature, humidity, hazardous gas etc.) using the Internet of Things (IoT) cloud network. Currently, The Internet of Things (IoT) technology is the most popular technology in the field of wireless data transmission with IoT cloud. It connects various devices and their protocols over internet infrastructure which can be monitored, analyzed, and controlled remotely over the internet. It has an immense application in the field of healthcare, agriculture, automotive, and remote sensing sectors. In this study, as a proof of concept, the Shewanella putrefaciens powered stacked origami MFCs have been demonstrated to drive an ultra-low-power (ULP) IoT node to measure the on-field ambient temperature and transmit corresponding data to a mobile phone. The IoT node requires 2.5–3.3 volt for proper operation, therefore a DC-DC booster was used just after the fuel cell to step-up the low voltage. This step-up voltage was further stored in the supercapacitor to supply power to the IoT node in case of a high current requirement. Finally, after powering the IoT node, it sends the temperature data over low-power Bluetooth low energy (BLE) that can be observed by any smartphone supporting Bluetooth 4.0 and nRF connect android app. The detailed stepwise integrated block diagram from MFC to a mobile phone has been displayed in Figure 1. The proposed approach offers autonomous environmental monitoring using paper-based MFC as a viable substitute for conventional power sources. Figure 1: Block diagram of complete setup MFCs powering IoT node which communicates to smartphone and IoT cloud servers Figure 1

Ethan Allen, Daria Popugaeva, Carlos Munoz-Cupa et al.

Research Square • 2024

Abstract In the current study, a water treatment approach integrating freezing technology, so-called cryopurification, and microbial fuel cell (MFC) process is proposed and tested towards zinc removal. Contaminated water samples used for laboratory experiments were received from the Faro Mine site, Yukon, Canada. Through cryopurification, the effect of freezing temperature, mixing and the direction of ice front propagation on zinc removal from the Faro mine water was investigated and quantitively analyzed. The MFC was used to treat a post-cryopurification brine, both at a laboratory scale. When the coolant temperature ranged from − 5 to − 1 ̊ C and 180 rpm solution mixing was used, up to 80–95% of zinc was removed after a single freezing cycle. The results of laboratory experiments demonstrated that zinc concentrations in mine water can be reduced by cryopurification to 0.5 mg/L (effluent quality standard) under optimal experimental conditions. The MFC process was run for 120 h to test the capacity of the microorganism ( Shewanella oneidensis ) towards zinc removal from the brine concentrated by freezing. Based on the results of laboratory experiments, MFC showed a reliable and high zinc removal up to 90–93 % with Shewanella oneidensis incubated in the anode. The MFC generated a power density and open-circuit voltage with a maximum result of 8.8 mW/m 2 and 168.5 mV , respectively.

Ling-ling Zhao, Tian-shun Song

Water Science and Technology • 2013

A 10 L upflow microbial fuel cell (UMFC) was constructed for simultaneous carbon and nitrogen removal. During the 6-month operation, the UMFC constantly removed carbon and nitrogen, and then generated electricity with synthetic wastewater as substrate. At 5.0 mg L−1 dissolved oxygen, 100 Ω external resistance, and pH 6.5, the maximum power density (Pmax) and nitrification rate for the UMFC was 19.5 mW m−2 and 17.9 mg·(L d)−1, respectively. In addition, Pmax in the UMFC with chicken manure wastewater as substrate was 16 mW m−2, and a high chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency of 94.1% in the UMFC was achieved at 50 mM phosphate-buffered saline. Almost all ammonia in the cathode effluent was effectively degraded after biological denitrification in the UMFC cathode. The results can help to further develop pilot-scale microbial fuel cells for simultaneous carbon and nitrogen removal.

Asriani Asriani, S.R.A. Rani, J. Agus et al.

Gravitasi • 2022

Microbial Fuel Cell technology using dangke, whole milk, and whey cheese as substrates have been done. Dangke, whole milk, and whey cheese were placed in the anode chamber. As for the cathode chamber, KMnO4 electrolyte solution was used. The two chambers were then connected by a membrane made of a salt bridge. The highest voltage measurement results for dangke, whey cheese, and whole milk substrate were respectifley obtained at 659 mV, 998 mV, and 670 mV. As for the current measurement on each substrate, it was 0.29 mA, 0.37 mA, and 0.23 mA. In general, the measurement results show that the MFC made using whey cheese substrate has the best quality with a power density of 9.23 x 10-3 W/m2 . Thus, whey cheese which is an industrial waste can be used as an alternative source of electricity by converting organic compounds using microorganisms.

Parisa Nouri, Ghasem Najafpour Darzi

Engineering in Life Sciences • 2016

Energy harvest from optimized annular single chamber microbial fuel cell (ASCMFC) with novel configuration, which treats chocolate industry wastewater, was investigated. In this study, optimization of operational parameters of the ASCMFC in terms of efficiency water‐soluble organic matter reduction and capability of electricity generation was evaluated. During the experiment, effluent from the anode compartment was examined through current and power density curves for variation in temperature and pH, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and turbidity removal, and substrate concentration. The performance analyzed at different temperature ranges such as 25, 30, 35, and 40°C, which showed 88% increase by uprising temperature from 25 to 35°C. The ASCMFC was used to produce electricity by adjusting pH between 5 and 9 at resistance of 100 Ω. Under the condition of pH 7 power density (16.75 W/m 3 ) was highest, which means natural pH is preferred to maximize microbial activities. Wastewater concentration with COD of 700 and 1400 mg/L were investigated to determine its affection on current production. Reduction of current density was observed due to decrease in wastewater concentration. Significant reduction in COD and turbidity of effluent were 91 and 78%, respectively. The coulombic efficiency of 45.1% was achieved.

Sharaddha Sharma, D. C. Tiwari

Contemporary Advances in Science and Technology • 2023

Nanocomposite of polypyrrole/polyaniline multiwalled carbon nanotubes (PANI/PPY-multiwalled carbon nanotubes [MWCNT]) was electrochemically deposited on surface of porous carbon cloth (CC). The Modified nanocomposite was used as anode in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) for sewage waste water treatment while generating electrical power. The modified electrodes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and FTIR. The electrochemical properties and conductivity of the electrode have been evaluated by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The composite electrode shows good conductivity and power Density 1,145.4 + 5.5 mWm-2 obtained at seventh day, 15th and 27th day of incubation Composite also shows stability and biocompatibility for sewage waste water treatment while generating electricity.

Rodrigo Moreno‐Cervera, Manuel Aguilar‐Vega, Jorge Domínguez‐Maldonado et al.

Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology • 2019

Abstract BACKGROUND Greywater and blackwater treatment is necessary to make sanitation and water reuse possible, and microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have emerged as a promising technology for achieving this objective. Ion exchange membranes play a key role in double chamber microbial fuel cell performance, but there are differences of opinion as to which membrane type is better. RESULTS This project was set up to study the effect of three ion exchange membranes (Nafion® 117, Ultrex™ CMI‐7000 and Ultrex™ AMI‐7001) in MFCs using greywater as catholyte in stacks of three microbial fuel cells each. The results demonstrate that the stacks with cationic membranes (Nafion® 117 and Ultrex™ CMI‐7000) generated higher power (201.50 ± 21.62 and 178.74 ± 56.89 mW m −3 , respectively) than those with the anionic membrane stack Ultrex™ AMI‐7001 (71.57 ± 3.46 mW m −3 ). For the greywater catholyte, a 31% of chemical oxygen demand removal was achieved and proved to be an option as a catholyte in microbial fuel cells for countries that carry out wastewater separation. CONCLUSIONS The results obtained in this study demonstrated that an anion exchange membrane is not a better option for double chamber MFCs. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry

Mohammad Amin Mousavian, Sepideh Hosseini, Bita Ayati

Water • 2022

In this study, the simultaneous enzymatic decolorization of reactive blue 221 (RB221) and the performance of different electrode carbon nanotube (CNT)-modified/unmodified carbon graphite cathodes were investigated in a dual-chamber Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) at a permanent temperature of 25 °C. The maximum power density and maximum voltage increased by approximately 13.6% and 50%, respectively, when using the CNT-modified carbon graphite electrode as the cathode. A suspended laccase enzyme was utilized in the cathode compartment for dye decolorization. In the absence of the dye, laccase caused an increase in power density to about 28%. In addition, this research revealed that an initial dye concentration of 80 mg/L simultaneously resulted in an enzymatic decolorization efficiency of 73.4% in the cathode chamber and 82.3% chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal of sucrose in the anode chamber. Finally, this study substantiates the fact that an MFC equipped with a CNT-modified carbon graphite electrode can be used for bioelectricity generation and effective dye removal.

Juliana John, Karnapa Ajit, Haribabu Krishnan et al.

Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology • 2024

Abstract BACKGROUND Bio‐electro‐Fenton (BEF) systems, specifically microbial fuel cell (MFC) driven electro‐Fenton (EF) systems, have gained significant attention in wastewater treatment in recent years. The role of the cathode catalyst in BEF is crucial, as it undergoes O 2 reduction via a 2e − oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) to produce H 2 O 2 . In this study, we have harnessed the abundant lignocellulosic composition of cocoa pod husk (CPH) to prepare a novel iron‐doped heterogeneous Fenton catalyst for the BEF system. Cocoa is typically grown for its wet beans, which constitute only one third of cocoa fruit by weight, while CPH makes up about two‐thirds of the weight and is often discarded as by‐product or waste. As a result, approximately 10 million tons of CPH are produced globally each year, highlighting the potential for transforming it into a value‐added product. To date, CPH has been utilised as a natural fertiliser, soil amendment, biomass fuel, poultry and livestock feed ingredient, and more. RESULTS The presence of mesoporous structure, iron content, oxygen containing functional groups, and prominent reduction peaks in cyclic voltammetry validated the Fe‐doped cocoa husk biochar's (Fe‐CHB) potential to act as an ORR catalyst. The BEF system achieved an open circuit voltage, current, and power densities of 0.697 V, 0.15 A/m 2 , and 0.040 W/m 2 , respectively, at an optimum resistance of 350 Ω. Optimisation of the process parameters using RSM and ANN predicted maximum dye removal efficiencies of 93.34% and 92.45%, respectively, at dye and substrate concentrations of 10 mg/L and 1 g/L. These predictions closely aligned with the experimental findings of 92.5%. CONCLUSION The synthesised catalyst provided large surface area, electrical conductivity, superior ORR catalytic efficiencies, and ample sites for H 2 O 2 activation. Hence, Fe‐CHB can serve as a highly effective electrocatalyst in BEF systems. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).

Asimina Tremouli, Pavlos K. Pandis, Theofilos Kamperidis et al.

E3S Web of Conferences • 2018

A stack of two identical single chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs) was assessed during using fermentable house hold extract as substrate. The design of the MFC units was based on the single chamber membrane-less technology using four cathode electrodes. The total power output was 492 mW either in series or parallel connection considering a total anolyte volume of 240 cm 3 . During continuous operation, the COD removal was 80% for each cell and for both operation modes (series and parallel). The electrochemical profiles provided significant information on the behaviour of the stack. During continuous operation, parallel connection is preferred over series connection, as it results to the same power output values, and COD removal but it provides lower internal resistances leading to more stable electrochemical performance behaviour.

B. Neethu, M. M. Ghangrekar

Water Science and Technology • 2017

Abstract Sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFCs) are bio-electrochemical devices generating electricity from redox gradients occurring across the sediment–water interface. Sediment microbial carbon-capture cell (SMCC), a modified SMFC, uses algae grown in the overlying water of sediment and is considered as a promising system for power generation along with algal cultivation. In this study, the performance of SMCC and SMFC was evaluated in terms of power generation, dissolved oxygen variations, sediment organic matter removal and algal growth. SMCC gave a maximum power density of 22.19 mW/m2, which was 3.65 times higher than the SMFC operated under similar conditions. Sediment organic matter removal efficiencies of 77.6 ± 2.1% and 61.0 ± 1.3% were obtained in SMCC and SMFC, respectively. With presence of algae at the cathode, a maximum chemical oxygen demand and total nitrogen removal efficiencies of 63.3 ± 2.3% (8th day) and 81.6 ± 1.2% (10th day), respectively, were observed. The system appears to be favorable from a resources utilization perspective as it does not depend on external aeration or membranes and utilizes algae and organic matter present in sediment for power generation. Thus, SMCC has proven its applicability for installation in an existing oxidation pond for sediment remediation, algae growth, carbon conversion and power generation, simultaneously.

Ibrahim M. Abu-Reesh

Processes • 2020

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a promising technology for bioenergy generation and wastewater treatment. Various parameters affect the performance of dual-chamber MFCs, such as substrate flow rate and concentration. Performance can be assessed by power density ( PD ), current density ( CD ) production, or substrate removal efficiency ( SRE ). In this study, a mathematical model-based optimization was used to optimize the performance of an MFC using single- and multi-objective optimization (MOO) methods. Matlab’s fmincon and fminimax functions were used to solve the nonlinear constrained equations for the single- and multi-objective optimization, respectively. The fminimax method minimizes the worst-case of the two conflicting objective functions. The single-objective optimization revealed that the maximum PD , CD , and SRE were 2.04 W/m2, 11.08 A/m2, and 73.6%, respectively. The substrate concentration and flow rate significantly impacted the performance of the MFC. Pareto-optimal solutions were generated using the weighted sum method for maximizing the two conflicting objectives of PD and CD in addition to PD and SRE simultaneously. The fminimax method for maximizing PD and CD showed that the compromise solution was to operate the MFC at maximum PD conditions. The model-based optimization proved to be a fast and low-cost optimization method for MFCs and it provided a better understanding of the factors affecting an MFC’s performance. The MOO provided Pareto-optimal solutions with multiple choices for practical applications depending on the purpose of using the MFCs.

Marcelinus Christwardana, Linda Aliffia Yoshi, J. Joelianingsih

Reaktor • 2021

This study demonstrates the feasibility of producing bioelectricity utilizing yeast microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology with sugarcane bagasse juice as a substrate. Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was employed as a bio-catalyst in the production of electrical energy. Sugarcane bagasse juice can be used as a substrate in MFC yeast because of its relatively high sugar content. When yeast was used as a biocatalyst, and Yeast Extract, Peptone, D-Glucose (YPD) Medium was used as a substrate in the MFC in the acclimatization process, current density increased over time to reach 171.43 mA/m2 in closed circuit voltage (CCV), maximum power density (MPD) reached 13.38 mW/m2 after 21 days of the acclimatization process. When using sugarcane bagasse juice as a substrate, MPD reached 6.44 mW/m2 with a sugar concentration of about 5230 ppm. Whereas the sensitivity, maximum current density (Jmax), and apparent Michaelis-Menten constant (𝐾𝑚𝑎𝑝𝑝) from the Michaelis-Menten plot were 0.01474 mA/(m2.ppm), 263.76 mA/m2, and 13594 ppm, respectively. These results indicate that bioelectricity can be produced from sugarcane bagasse juice by Saccharomyces cerevisiae.Keywords: biomass valorization, biofuel cell, acclimatization, maximum power density, Michaelis-Menten constant

Ahmed Yasir Radeef, Zainab Ziad Ismail

Journal of Engineering • 2018

This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of treatment actual potato chips processing wastewater in a continuously operated dual chambers microbial fuel cell (MFC) inoculated with anaerobic sludge. The results demonstrated significant removal of COD and suspended solids of more than 99% associated with relatively high generation of current and power densities of 612.5 mW/m3 and 1750 mA/m3, respectively at 100 Ω external resistance.

Yuyang Wang, Yu Song, Zhijie Wang et al.

Coatings • 2025

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a bioelectrochemical device for biomass power generation, and the anode material determines the performance of the MFC. In this study, a novel anode material, which is a combination of graphite oxide/polythiophene (GO/Pth), was prepared on a carbon felt (CF) substrate and exhibited excellent capacitive performance. The MFC equipped with the CF/GO/Pth anode achieved a significant increase in power density, reaching a maximum value of 2.9 W/m3, which is a 3.32-fold increase in power density compared to that of the CF anode. Meanwhile, the CF/GO/Pth anode stored charge Qt value was as high as 11,258.68 C/m2, which was 4.13 times higher than that of the CF anode (2727.66 C/m2). High-throughput analysis showed that the percentage of charge-producing bacteria on the surface of the CF/GO/Pth anode was more than 90%, which was significantly higher than that of the charge-producing bacteria attached to the CF anode. This further confirms the significant enhancement of MFC performance by materials such as GO and Pth coated on the CF surface. In this study, CF/GO/Pth anode materials were prepared to successfully enhance the power output and charge storage capacity of MFC, and they also showed broad application prospects in the degradation of polluted waste liquids.

Jawad Ahmed, Imdad Ali, Sudheer Hussain et al.

Sukkur IBA Journal of Emerging Technologies • 2025

Abstract This study investigates the thermal behavior of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells using hydrogen and hydrogen methanol fuels. An extensive 3D model was constructed for the simulation of the temperature, current density, and thermal efficiency distribution, with Nafion EW1100 membranes under high-temperature conditions using COMSOL Multiphysics. Moreover, this study highlights the essential connection between temperature profiles and the performance of the entire fuel cell. However, at a given voltage of 0.4 V and 0.8 V, hydrogen consistently operated at lower temperatures between the Gas Diffusion Layer (GDL), Gas Diffusion Electrode (GDE), and the PEM compared to the hydrogen methanol fuel. For instance, at 0.4 V hydrogen temperatures 4-5 K lower than that of hydrogen, and methanol at 0.8 V, this difference increased to 4-6 K. The temperature differential is indicative of hydrogen's ability to manipulate its heat-generating and dissipating processes more efficiently than PET. This demonstrates hydrogen’s advantages over other fuel cells because the current density correlates with temperature. For all temperatures, hydrogen provides higher current densities than hydrogen-methanol, supporting its usefulness in improving fuel cell efficiency. This increased thermal management not only improves the thermal efficiency of the fuel cell but also prolongs PEM, GDL, and GDE life by decreasing the thermal stress. Hence, from this analysis, it is shown that hydrogen fuel contributed to better thermal management causing superior performance and greater lifetime for PEMFC. This could be more efficient fuel cell systems for the application of advanced membrane technology such as Nafion EW1100.

Mohamed Derbeli, Oscar Barambones, Lassaad Sbita

Applied Sciences • 2018

Taking into account the limited capability of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) to produce energy, it is mandatory to provide solutions, in which an efficient power produced by PEMFCs can be attained. The maximum power point tracker (MPPT) plays a considerable role in the performance improvement of the PEMFCs. Conventional MPPT algorithms showed good performances due to their simplicity and easy implementation. However, oscillations around the maximum power point and inefficiency in the case of rapid change in operating conditions are their main drawbacks. To this end, a new MPPT scheme based on a current reference estimator is presented. The main goal of this work is to keep the PEMFCs functioning at an efficient power point. This goal is achieved using the backstepping technique, which drives the DC–DC boost converter inserted between the PEMFC and the load. The stability of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated by means of Lyapunov analysis. To verify the ability of the proposed method, an extensive simulation test is executed in a Matlab–Simulink TM environment. Compared with the well-known proportional–integral (PI) controller, results indicate that the proposed backstepping technique offers rapid and adequate converging to the operating power point.

David Tucker, Larry Lawson, Randall Gemmen

ASME 2005 Power Conference • 2004

Air flow management and control in a fuel cell gas turbine hybrid power system is evaluated using the Hybrid Performance (Hyper) hardware simulation facility at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), U.S. Department of Energy. The Hyper facility at NETL is a hardware simulation of a fuel cell gas turbine hybrid power system capable of emulating systems in the range of 300kW to 900kW. The hardware portion is comprised of a modified single-shaft gas turbine, a high performance exhaust gas recuperator, several pressure vessels that represent the volumes and flow impedances of the fuel cell and combustors, and the associated integration piping. The simulation portion consists of a real time fuel cell model that is used to control a natural gas burner which replicates the thermal output of a solid oxide fuel cell. Thermal management in the fuel cell component of the hybrid system, especially during an imposed load transient, is improved through the control of cathode air flow. This can be accomplished in a fuel cell turbine hybrid by diverting air around the fuel cell system. Two methods for air flow control are presented in the paper. In this paper, the use of bleed air by-pass and cold air by-pass are characterized quantitatively in terms of compressor inlet flow, process limits, system efficiency and system performance.

Takemi Chikahisa, Yutaka Tabe, Kazushige Kikuta et al.

ASME 2006 Fourth International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology, Parts A and B • 2005

This paper observes phenomena related to water production behavior inside a fuel cell and analyzes the effect on the current and temperature distribution across the reaction area. A fuel cell permitting direct observation of the phenomena in the cell, 2-D temperature measurements in the cathode channels, and local current density measurements on the anode side was manufactured. The experimental results showed the production and flow of liquid water in the cell, and there were good correlations among the distributions of current density, temperature, and water amounts in the channels. The behavior of current, voltage, water distribution, and pressure differences in the cathode channels were used to hypothesize about the possibility of gas paths deep in the gas diffusion layer in the flooded condition and a positive feedback mechanism in the drying-out condition.

Sebastian Roa Prada, Oscar Eduardo Rueda Sanchez

Volume 6: Energy • 2017

Wastewater treatment plants help removing organic matter from wastewater, and at the same time, generate digester gas as a useful byproduct. Digester gas is rich in methane, which can be used to generate electricity. Fuel cell systems are the cleanest technology for power recovery from digester gas, since all other technologies generate electricity by burning all the digester gas. The most commonly used type of fuel cell for power generation from digester gas in wastewater treatment plants is the molten carbonate fuel cell. This type of fuel cell can tolerate the impurities usually found in digester gas, such as CO2 and H2S; however, this kind of fuel cell systems is more suitable for large wastewater treatment plants. This prevents the use of fuel cells for power generation from digester gas in wastewater treatment plants serving medium and small size cities, or even farms. This research attempts to explore solutions to make fuel cell technologies technically and economically feasible for medium and small size wastewater treatment plants. The most suitable type of fuel cells for small applications is the Proton Exchange Membrane, PEM, fuel cell. The main challenge in using PEM fuel cells for power recovery from digester gas is that they are highly sensitive to impurities in its hydrogen gas supply. Therefore, in order to use PEM fuel cells in this application, energy must be spent in cleaning the digester gas before it enters the PEM fuel cell and reformer system. Energy is also required in the form of heat by the reformer system to produce the hydrogen needed by the fuel cell. Both the energy used in the cleaning of the digester gas and the hydrogen generation process comes from burning part of the digester gas. This reduces the amount of digester gas available for hydrogen production and electricity generation, respectively. The approach followed in this investigation seeks to develop a Simulink® model of the reformer and fuel cell so that the modeling tools of Matlab® can be used to simulate the performance of the system under different operating conditions. A sensitivity analysis is carried out to identify critical operating parameters affecting the performance of the overall system. The results obtained in this work provide guidelines for future studies of performance optimization and optimal control using the tools available in Matlab®, in order to get maximum electricity generation from digester gas using PEM fuel cell systems.

Shuang Yu, Peng Dou, Yue Yin et al.

Research Square • 2021

Abstract A constructed wetland (CW) coupled microbial fuel cell (MFC) system that treats wastewater and generates electricity was constructed. The total phosphorus in the simulated domestic sewage was used as the treatment target, and the optimal phosphorus removal effect and electricity generation were determined by comparing the changes in substrates, hydraulic retention times, and microorganisms. The mechanism underlying phosphorus removal was also analyzed. The experimental results showed that the best removal efficiencies of the two CW-MFC systems that used magnesia and garnet as substrates were 80.3% and 92.4%, respectively. Phosphorus removal by the garnet matrix mainly depends on a complex adsorption process whereas the magnesia system relies on ion exchange reactions. The CW-MFC system can also generate electricity. The highest output voltage and stable voltage of the garnet system were both higher than those of the magnesia system. The maximum stable voltage of the garnet device was 500 mV, while that of the magnesia device was 290 mV. The microorganisms in the soil and in the electrode within the wetland sediments also substantially changed, indicating that microorganisms positively respond to the removal of organic matter and power generation. Combining the advantages of constructed wetlands and microbial fuel cells also improves phosphorus removal in the coupled system. Therefore, when studying a CW-MFC system, the selection of electrode materials, matrix, and system structure should be taken into account in order to find a method that will improve the power generation capacity of the system and remove phosphorus.

Munawar Ali, Aerani Arifani Widodo

JURNAL ENVIROTEK • 2019

Limbah cair Rumah Pemotongan Hewan (RPH) mengandung bahan organik dengan konsentrasi tinggi, padatan tersuspensi, serta bahan koloid seperti lemak, protein, dan selulosa. Bahan organik ini dapat menimbulkan berbagai permasalahan lingkungan jika dibuang langsung ke badan air. Oleh karena itu, pengolahan limbah cair RPH perlu dilakukan untuk meminimasi potensi pencemaran lingkungan. Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) adalah salah satu alternatif pengolahan air limbah dan penghasil bioenergi listrik yang dapat terbarukan. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah mengetahui kuat arus listrik dan power density yang dihasilkan oleh MFC dan menurunkan kadar COD pada limbah cair RPH. Pada penelitian ini digunakan reaktor dual-chamber MFC dengan variasi jenis elektroda dan lama waktu inkubasi substrat selama 120 jam penelitian. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa MFC menghasilkan kuat arus listrik maksimum sebesar 2,14 mA dan power density maksimum sebesar 4738,55 mW/m2 oleh reaktor C. Reaktor MFC mampu menurunkan kadar COD limbah cair RPH hingga 71% dengan lama waktu inkubasi substrat 10 hari.

Iori Kazama, Yuji Aso, Tomonari Tanaka et al.

Energies • 2023

In this paper, we presented a novel microbial fuel cell (bMFC) structure, with a bipolar membrane separating the anode and cathode chambers. A bipolar membrane divides the bMFC into anode and cathode chambers. The bipolar membrane comprises anion and cation exchange layers. The anode chamber side has the cation exchange layer, while the cathode chamber side has the anion exchange layer. The anode chamber of the bMFC was loaded with Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 and lactic acid, while the cathode chamber was loaded with pure water and iron (III) hydroxide. The bMFC generated electrons for 20 days at a maximum current density of 30 mA/m2 and the ohmic resistance value was estimated to be 500 Ω. During the operation of the bMFC, both the anode and cathode chambers kept anaerobic conditions. There was no platinum catalyst in the cathode chamber, which is required for the reaction of protons with oxygen. Therefore, oxygen could not serve as an electron acceptor in the bMFC. We considered a bMFC mechanism in which protons produced by S. oneidensis react with hydroxide ions, the counter anions of Fe3+, inside the bipolar membrane to produce water. In other words, the electron acceptor in bMFC would be Fe3+.

Praveena Gangadharan, Indumathi M. Nambi

Water Science and Technology • 2014

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology is utilized to treat hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) from wastewater and to generate electricity simultaneously. The Cr(VI) is bioelectrochemically reduced to non-toxic Cr(III) form in the presence of an organic electron donor in a dual-chambered MFC. The Cr(VI) as catholyte and artificial wastewater inoculated with anaerobic sludge as anolyte, Cr(VI) at 100 mg/L was completely removed within 48 h (initial pH value 2.0). The total amount of Cr recovered was 99.87% by the precipitation of Cr(III) on the surface of the cathode. In addition to that 78.4% of total organic carbon reduction was achieved at the anode chamber within 13 days of operation. Furthermore, the maximum power density of 767.01 mW/m2 (2.08 mA/m2) was achieved by MFCs at ambient conditions. The present work has successfully demonstrated the feasibility of using MFCs for simultaneous energy production from wastewater and reduction of toxic Cr(VI) to non-toxic Cr(III).

Hani Moubasher, Abdelrahman Tammam, Mahmoud Saleh

Journal of microbiology, biotechnology and food sciences • 2024

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are very important source to obtain green electricity and also for decontamination of waste water. Bioelectricity yield from biofuel cells is still needed for maximizing. Microbial laccases, especially those produced by fungi, are currently considered to be one of the most promising biocatalyst for bioelectricity production and also purification of water from the different pollutant, especially phenolic compounds. In the present work, different electrolyte solutions used in anode and cathode chambers to evaluate efficiency of each to produce voltage & current and also to prove that using economical electrolytes, which were agro-industrial waste called el-ghasheem at anode and only tap water at cathode, achieve good results in comparison with other commonly used electrolytes which were glucose, sodium nitrate, mono-potassium phosphate, di-potassium phosphate, ammonium chloride and magnesium sulfate. The use of El-ghasheem in the economic MFC showed power improvement results when fungal laccase, produced from Monodictys castaneae fungus, had been used as cathodic reaction catalyst to increase voltage production from 0.466±0.003 V to 0.807±0.002 V and current from 0.025±0.003 A to 0.09±0.003 A at 37 °C, anolyte pH 6 and catholyte pH 5 for 10 days incubation period. It was noticed that this laccase enzyme had the 98.38±0.264 % phenol removal activity from anode chamber through indirect effect and 99.69±0.276 % phenol removal activity from cathode chamber through direct effect when El-ghasheem was used as the organic fuel at the anode side. In this study using unstudied agro-industrial waste, Electricity was produced by the new fungal laccase which showed the high performance in electricity production enhancement and also phenol compounds removal through low cost MFC.

Ioannis Ieropoulos, Olivia Reddy, Jonathan Winfield et al.

ECS Meeting Abstracts • 2018

The cleaning and treatment of wastewater is a necessary, yet energy intensive practice. One of the greatest challenges society faces is therefore how to reduce the energy consumed in this process. A promising pathway to tackle this problem is by using innovative, low or zero energy consuming, technologies such as microbial fuel cells (MFCs), which harness the natural metabolism of bacteria and generate power. These microorganisms breakdown the organic content in wastewater i.e. treat/clean the liquid, and release electrons as part of their anaerobic respiration. Previous studies using MFC technology have been able to reduce the COD of the influent by up to 95% (1). Although MFCs do not generate large amounts of power, by incorporating them into existing treatment systems, the amount of energy needed to further clean wastewater is reduced. In addition, they continuously produce electricity, which can be fed back into the system and used to run low power devices (e.g. pumps for wastewater circulation). The configuration of MFCs greatly affects their performance, with the structure and materials that they are made out of being the governing factors for energy production, catholyte synthesis and wastewater treatment. In response to the need for optimum configuration, this study explores whether the positioning of the anode and cathode (either internally or externally on a cylindrical MFC) has a significant effect on the overall performance of an MFC. Two identical MFCs were tested, with the only variable being the anode and cathode configuration (internal anode with external cathode, and vice versa). The dimensions of the outer electrode were 40mm x 90mm, and 50mm x 70mm for the inner electrode, giving similar surface areas of 36cm 2 and 35cm 2 , respectively. Results have so far shown that MFCs with the anode inside the cylinder and the cathode outside produce power outputs which are three times greater than those with internal cathodes and external anodes, with peak power outputs of 655µW and 219µW respectively. Practically, the benefits of having an internal anode include the advantage of using the MFC directly as part of the hydraulic (pipe) network, with the substrate fed through directly. This kind of design reduces the amount of external plumbing that is needed throughout the structure, and therefore reduces the risk of leakage. In addition, the external cathode can be partially covered or contained, which allows the half-cell to remain hydrated, and for any excess liquid (catholyte) to be easily collected. This is highly desirable due to the disinfectant properties of this liquid (2), which once again can be fed back into a wastewater treatment system and reduce overall energy demand. The acquisition of this knowledge is essential as MFCs need to be designed to suit target environments and applications, for both industrial and societal means. It is anticipated that the findings of this study will provide the MFC community with a decisive answer to how best design a cylindrical cell, which can be used as benchmark for future research. References: (1) Ieropoulos, I.A., Stinchcombe, A., Gajda, I., Forbes, S., Merino-Jimenez, I., Pasternak, G., Sanchez-Herranz, D. and Greenman, J., 2016. Pee power urinal–microbial fuel cell technology field trials in the context of sanitation. Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology , 2 (2), pp.336-343. (2) Gajda, I., Greenman, J., Melhuish, C. and Ieropoulos, I.A., 2016. Electricity and disinfectant production from wastewater: Microbial Fuel Cell as a self-powered electrolyser. Scientific reports , 6 , p.25571.

Marcus V Gomez, Gavin Mai, Tammy Greenwood et al.

Journal of Emerging Investigators • 2013

This study analyzes the potential viability of the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum for producing electricity via microbial fuel cell (MFC), as prior research has not investigated this capacity. A prototype for a photoMFC was developed using clear PVC along with carbon cloth and steel electrodes. Initial testing revealed that R. rubrum could produce power utilizing the photoMFC (peak power of approximately 1.25 W/m²). Having established R. rubrum ’s capacity for photoMFC performance, the wavelength of exposed light and resistance were modified to determine the ideal conditions. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that the differences in power outputs under varied wavelengths were statistically significant (p < 0.0001). Power curves were calculated to determine the optimal resistance via regression analysis (r² = 0.93, p < 0.0001, optimized resistance: 231 Ω). The fuel cell was lastly monitored under sunlight (in a greenhouse) over a 10-day trial, with results showing that the photoMFC could perform effectively under practical outdoor conditions. Under optimal conditions, the R. rubrum photoMFC was predicted to produce maximum instantaneous power of 1.25 W/m². In comparison to other high-power output photoMFCs, the R. rubrum photoMFC performed about 44% as effectively. Although the R. rubrum photoMFC did not perform as efficiently as other reported photoMFCs, its abundance in facilities that invite practical MFC implementation such as wastewater treatment coupled with the fact that R. rubrum is both a heterotrophic and photosynthetic bacteria support its usefulness in realistic, large-scale industrial MFC models.

Sandeep S. Lele, Michael A. Sizemore, Sutyen S. Zalawadia et al.

ASME 2013 11th International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology • 2013

Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells rely on effective internal water transport to provide stable performance. Many water management schemes require high heat, high pressure, or high flow rates — effectively introducing parasitic losses and reducing round-trip efficiency. In this work, a radial, non-recirculating, unitized regenerative fuel cell prototype with passive water transport is designed and tested. The cell features a 5 cm2 active area with 1.2 mm wide by 0.6 mm high gas flow channels. Porous polymer wicks are fabricated in the cathode side flow channels and coupled with a bulk water storage structure. The resulting wicks are 0.3 mm wide and 0.6 mm high. Discharge operating voltage measured during current control testing resulted in 1 V at open circuit, 0.8 V at 0.3 A·cm−2, and 0.2 V at 1 A·cm−2. Charge operating current density measured during voltage control testing resulted in 0.1 A·cm−2 at 1.5 V, 0.3 A·cm−2 at 1.6 V, and 0.8 A·cm−2 at 2 V. During the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) conditioning procedure, degradation in operating current density is seen over a 30–100 minute time span.

I. Sharma, M. M. Ghangrekar

Water Science and Technology • 2017

Abstract An appropriate current collector (CC) is crucial for harvesting substantial power in a microbial fuel cell (MFC). In the present study, stainless steel (SS) and titanium wires were used as the CCs for both the anode and cathode of MFC-1 and MFC-2, respectively. Tungsten wire (TW) was used as the anode CC in MFC-3, with SS wire as the cathode CC. In MFC-4, TW was used as the cathode CC with SS wire as the anode CC, and in MFC-5 both electrode CCs were TW. The power density, current density, oxidation current and bio-capacitance were compared to select the best and most cost effective CC material to enhance the power output of MFCs. Maximum power densities (mW/m2) of 32.28, 93.10, 225.38, 210.74, and 234.88 were obtained in MFC-1, MFC-2, MFC-3, MFC-4, and MFC-5, respectively. The highest current density (639.86 mA/m2) and coulombic efficiency (23.12 ± 1.5%) achieved in MFC-5 showed TW to be the best CC for both electrodes. The maximum oxidation current of 7.4 mA and 7 mA and bio-capacitance of 10.3 mF/cm2 and 9.7 mF/cm2 were achieved in MFC-3 and MFC-5, respectively, suggesting TW is the best as the anode CC and SS wire as the cathode CC to reduce MFC fabrication costs.

Renata Toczyłowska-Mamińska, Mariusz Ł. Mamiński, Wojciech Kwasowski

Energies • 2025

Although soil is mainly perceived as the basic component of agricultural production, it also plays a pivotal role in environmental protection and climate change mitigation. Soil ecosystems are the largest terrestrial carbon source and greenhouse gas emitters, and their degradation as a result of aggressive human activity exacerbates the problem of climate change. Application of microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology to soil-based ecosystems such as sediments, wetlands, farmland, or meadows allows for sustainable management of these environments with energy and environmental benefits. Soil ecosystem-based MFCs enable zero-energy, environmentally friendly soil bioremediation (with efficiencies reaching even 99%), direct clean energy production from various soil-based ecosystems (with power production reaching 334 W/m2), and monitoring of soil quality or wastewater treatment in wetlands (with efficiencies of up to 99%). They are also a new strategy for greenhouse gas, soil salinity, and metal accumulation mitigation. This article reviews the current state of the art in the field of application of MFC technology to various soil-based ecosystems, including soil MFCs, sediment MFCs, plant MFCs, and CW-MFCs (constructed wetlands coupled with MFCs).

B. Ibrahimoglu, M. Z. Yilmazoglu, S. Celenk

Fuel Cells • 2017

Abstract Polymer exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are promising energy converters due to their unique features with an application potential for many sectors. The performance of PEM fuel cells depends on a number of factors, one of which is suitable flow‐field design. In this study, the effect of spiral flow‐field design is investigated with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method. The model consists of the transport phenomena in a fuel cell. Electrochemical reactions, mass, heat, energy, species transport, and potential fields equations are solved by ANSYS‐FLUENT. The polarization and power density curve, temperature, pressure, and distributions of the gases inside the flow‐fields were obtained. The results were compared with the reference geometry. Although the spiral flow‐field has considerable ohmic losses, the velocity and pressure distributions of the gases are found to be uniform. Furthermore, it is shown that the spiral flow‐field reduces the pressure drop per unit length of the flow‐field. When compared to other flow‐field designs, the spiral flow‐field is found to be quite efficient by means of auxiliary power consumption.

H. R. Shiu, C. T. Chang, Y. Y. Yan et al.

ASME 2006 Fourth International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology, Parts A and B • 2005

A large-scale polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) with novel interdigitated (or discontinuous) flow channel has been investigated experimentally. Interdigitated channel geometry has the advantages of effective water removal and higher reaction efficiency through forcing gas transport in the diffusion layer. In this study, multiple-Z type flow pattern has been adopted on the interdigitated channels. The active area of flow channel plate is 256 cm2 (16 cm × 16 cm). The channel width and depth are 1 mm and 0.8 mm respectively. The rib width is 1 mm. The performance of single PEM fuel cell with an interdigitated flow field is studied with appropriated operating conditions. The results demonstrated that the multiple-Z interdigitated flow channel has better performance compared with the conventional Z type by presented in the form of Current-Voltage (I-V) polarization curves. The pressure drop loss of multiple-Z interdigitated flow field increases about one time with the conventional one. The experimental results under the effects of gas humidification temperature and reactant gas flow rate, etc. have been comprehensively discussed in this work.