scholarly journals Microbial fuel cells constructed from the integration of anaerobic and aerobic sanitary landfill site systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 880 (1) ◽  
pp. 012034
Author(s):  
N Abdul Harris ◽  
A Abdul Halim

Abstract The world’s main source of energy now is fossil fuels but the demand for power is increasing. In addition, the burning of fossil fuels produces harmful greenhouse gases and has a significant impact on the environment. The fuel cell system in this study is based on the aerobic and anaerobic integration system are used in most waste disposal methods in Malaysia. It is a system of electrochemistry results from the oxidation of organic matter that transfers electrons to carbon graphite This research is to study the effectiveness of the method generating electricity from micro-fuel cells produced from leachate wastewater and it is also conducted to identify microbial activity using a double chamber system. The food waste obtain is divided into double chambers which is aerobic and anaerobic. Digital readings using a multimeter are performed for ten to thirteen days continuously to obtain the highest reading results for voltage and electric current. The measurement of the highest reading result on the 11th day recorded a reading as high as 146.8 mV at 2000 mV while the current reached 28 μA at 2000 μA. This study has proven that there is the production of electrical sources from the activity of organisms present in food waste using microbial fuel cell systems. The result show that food waste and cattle manure produce the highest voltage and current. This has provided an opportunity to explore alternative ways of generating electricity according to the environment and conditions of each region.

Reactions ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-128
Author(s):  
Yutaro Akimoto ◽  
Yuta Minei ◽  
Keiichi Okajima

For a low-carbon society, it is necessary to extract hydrogen for fuel cells from biogas rather than from fossil fuels. However, impurities contained in the biogas affect the fuel cell; hence, there is a need for system and operation methods to remove these impurities. In this study, to develop a fuel cell system for the effective utilization of biogas-derived hydrogen, the compositional change and concentration of impurities in the hydrogen recirculation system under actual operation were evaluated using process simulation. Then, the mitigation operation for performance degradation using simple purification methods was evaluated on the proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) stack. In the process simulation of the hydrogen recirculation system, including the PEMFC stack, the concentration of impurities remained at a level that did not pose a problem to the performance. In the constant voltage test for a simulated gas supply of biogas-derived hydrogen, the conditions for applying the methanation reforming and air bleeding methods were analyzed. As a result, methanation reforming is more suitable for supplying biogas-containing CO to the PEMFC stack for continuous operation.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 688
Author(s):  
Khlid Ben Hamad ◽  
Doudou N. Luta ◽  
Atanda K. Raji

As a result of global energy demand increase, concerns over global warming, and rapid exhaustion of fossil fuels, there is a growing interest in energy system dependence on clean and sustainable energy resources. Attractive power technologies include photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, and biomass power. Fuel cells are also clean energy units that substitute power generators based on fossil fuels. They are employed in various applications, including transportation, stationary power, and small portable power. Fuel cell connections to utility grids require that the power conditioning units, interfacing the fuel cells and the grids, operate accordingly (by complying with the grid requirements). This study aims to model a centralised, single-stage grid-tied three-level diode clamped inverter interfacing a multi-stack fuel cell system. The inverter is expected to produce harmonic distortions of less than 0.5% and achieve an efficiency of 85%. Besides the grid, the system consists of a 1.54 MW/1400 V DC proton exchange membrane fuel cell, a 1.3 MW three-level diode clamped inverter with a nominal voltage of 600 V, and an inductance-capacitance-inductance (LCL) filter. Two case studies based on the load conditions are considered to assess the developed system’s performance further. In case 1, the fuel cell system generates enough power to fully meet this load and exports the excess to the grid. In the other case, a load of 2.5 MW was connected at the grid-tied fuel cell inverter’s output terminals. The system imports the grid’s power to meet the 2.5 MW load since the fuel cell can only produce 1.54 MW. It is demonstrated that the system can supply and also receive power from the grid. The results show the developed system’s good performance with a low total harmonic distortion of about 0.12% for the voltage and 0.07% for the current. The results also reveal that the fuel cell inverter voltage and the frequency at the point of common coupling comply with the grid requirements.


2006 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 492-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sari Tasa ◽  
Teppo Aapro

Mobile device manufacturers would like to provide totally wireless solutions—including charging. Future multimedia devices need to have longer operation times as simultaneously they require more power. Device miniaturization leaves less volumetric space available also for the energy source. The energy density of the Li-ion batteries is high, and continuously developed, but not at the same speed as the demand from devices. Fuel cells can be one possible solution to power mobile devices without connection to the mains grid, but they will not fit to all use cases. The fuel cell system includes a core unit, fuel system, controls, and battery to level out peaks. The total energy efficiency is the sum of the performance of the whole system. The environmental performance of the fuel cell system cannot be determined yet. Regulatory and standardization work is on-going and driving the fuel cell technology development. The main target is in safety, which is very important aspect for energy technologies. The outcomes will also have an effect on efficiency, cost, design, and environmental performance. Proper water, thermal, airflow, and fuel management of the fuel cell system combined with mechanical durability and reliability are the crucial enablers for stable operation required from the integrated power source of a mobile device. Reliability must be on the same level as the reliability of the device the energy source is powering; this means years of continuous operation time. Typically, the end-users are not interested of the enabling technologies nor understand the usage limits. They are looking for easy to use devices to enhance their daily life. Fuel cell technology looks promising but there are many practical issues to be solved.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 76-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reece Cohen Woodley ◽  
Kane Yang ◽  
Geoffrey Bruce Tanner ◽  
Dennis Tran

This meta-study focuses on the research regarding the use of nanotechnology in traditional fuel cells in order to increase thermodynamic efficiency through the exploitation of various thermodynamic systems and theories. The use of nanofilters and nano-structured catalysts improve the fuel cell system through the means of filtering molecules from protons and electrons significantly increases the possible output of the fuel cell and the use of nano-platinum catalysts to lower the activation energy of the fuel cell chemical reaction a notable amount resulting in a more efficient system and smaller entropy in comparison to the use of macro sized catalysts.


Author(s):  
M. O. Branda˜o ◽  
S. C. A. Almeida

This paper describes the study made by COPPE/UFRJ which goal is the development of fuel cells systems for automotive applications. The study is divided in two parts. The first is the development of a PEM direct fuel cell. In addition a method for experimentally determine the possibility of using a fuel in a fuel cell is developed. The components of catalysts are also tested such as Tin and Ruthenium in a Platinum coated electrode. The second part is the control system for a fuel cell powered vehicle. The vehicle power is modeled from its actions and losses. A power of 80kW seems to be a great choice if made of 50kW from the fuel cell system and 30kW from an accumulator such as a pack of batteries or a super capacitor.


2001 ◽  
Vol 123 (02) ◽  
pp. 46-51
Author(s):  
Michael Valenti

Manufacturers of fuel cells are working to improve the economics of electrochemical devices to make them more competitive with conventional fossil fuel power systems for industrial plants and vehicles. FuelCell Energy of Danbury, Connecticut, is designing a system to convert polluting coal mine methane into electricity. General Electric MicroGen of Latham, New York, plans to introduce a residential fuel cell system by the end of the year to provide remote homes with backup current and heat. Another residential system is being developed by International Fuel Cells of South Windsor, Connecticut. The Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory in Morgantown, West Virginia, is sponsoring a program to determine the feasibility of feeding coal mine methane to fuel cells. The program involves building a 250-kilowatt fuel cell system at the Nelms mining complex operated by Harrison Mining Corp. in Cadiz, Ohio. A fuel cell system planned for the Nelms complex will assist these automotive engines in consuming methane emissions while generating electricity.


Author(s):  
Ahmad Pourmovahed ◽  
Hamid Nejad

Fuel cells are often credited for being quieter, cleaner, more reliable and more efficient than traditional power plants. They may be used as the primary source of power or as a back-up system with significant benefits. They have potential for producing financial savings when used to produce electricity. The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of using a 250-kW stationary fuel cell system as the primary provider of electrical power at an industrial facility. Additionally, the cost and payback period for such a system including hook up and maintenance were estimated. The biggest drawback to stationary fuel cells is the high initial cost. However, coupled with incentives such as rebates and cogeneration opportunities, select locations in the country may be suitable candidates for implementation. In addition, the type of application and power load cycle are key factors in selecting an appropriate fuel cell type. Most fuel cells favor operating continuously as they are not designed to withstand intermittently changing loads and their efficiencies and life time drop if they are cycled on and off. The only currently viable option is to select a facility located in a “fuel cell friendly” state with a minimum (base) electric demand of 250 kW, 24 hours a day, 5 days a week. The fuel cell would operate based on a “base load strategy”, providing electrical/thermal energy at a constant rate. A detailed economic analysis was carried out. It indicates that the payback period for a currently available large stationary fuel cell system installed in California is over 20 years in Los Angeles and about 15 years outside Los Angeles. This is primarily due to lower electric rates in Los Angeles. Despite multi-year programs providing various funding to assist this new technology, without significant cost reduction by fuel cell developers, no large-scale economic deployment of stationary fuel cells will be viable.


Author(s):  
J. A. R. Parise ◽  
J. V. C. Vargas ◽  
R. Pitanga Marques

Although historically grown as independent energy technologies, fuel cell and cogeneration may adequately work to each other’s benefit. Some fuel cells deliver heat at sufficiently high temperatures, which can be certainly used as heat sources for cogeneration or trigeneration schemes. The paper presents an overview of the innumerable fuel cell system configurations for simultaneous production of (i) heat and power, (ii) cooling and electricity, and (iii) cooling, heat, and electricity. The survey includes combined power cycles (also called hybrid systems) where the fuel cell works together with other thermodynamic cycles to produce, with a high fuel-to-electricity efficiency, electricity alone. A large number of cogeneration arrangements are mentioned. Some are described in detail. A brief analysis of benefits and drawbacks of such systems was undertaken. The review was limited to articles published in archival periodicals, proceedings, and a few technical reports, theses, and books.


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