Conception and optimization of a membrane electrode assembly microbial fuel cell (MEA-MFC) for treatment of domestic wastewater

2011 ◽  
Vol 64 (7) ◽  
pp. 1527-1532 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Lefebvre ◽  
A. Uzabiaga ◽  
Y. J. Shen ◽  
Z. Tan ◽  
Y. P. Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Retention Time ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Hydraulic Retention Time ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Domestic Wastewater ◽  
Membrane Electrode Assembly ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Membrane Electrode

A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for microbial fuel cells (MEA-MFC) was developed for continuous electricity production while treating domestic wastewater concurrently. It was optimized via three upgraded versions (noted α, β and γ) in terms of design (current collectors, hydrophilic separator nature) and operating conditions (hydraulic retention time, external resistance, aeration rate, recirculation). An overall rise of power by over 100% from version α to γ shows the importance of factors such as the choice of proper construction materials and prevention of short-circuits. A power of 2.5 mW was generated with a hydraulic retention time of 2.3 h when a Selemion proton exchange membrane was used as a hydrophilic separator in the MEA and 2.8 mW were attained with a reverse osmosis membrane. The MFC also showed a competitive value of internal resistance (≈40–50 Ω) as compared to the literature, especially considering its large volume (3 L). However, the operation of our system in a complete loop where the anolyte was allowed to trickle over the cathode (version γ) resulted in system failure.

Impedance-based Performance Analysis of Micropatterned Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-33
Author(s):  
Morio Tomizawa ◽  
Keisuke Nagato ◽  
Kohei Nagai ◽  
Akihisa Tanaka ◽  
Marcel Heinzmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Electrochemical Impedance ◽  
Catalyst Layer ◽  
Membrane Electrode Assembly ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Reduction Reaction ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Membrane Electrode

Abstract Micropatterns applied to proton exchange membranes can improve the performance of polymer electrolyte fuel cells; however, the mechanism underlying this improvement is yet to be clarified. In this study, a patterned membrane electrode assembly (MEA) was compared with a flat one using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and distribution of relaxation time analysis. The micropattern positively affects the oxygen reduction reaction by increasing the reaction area. However, simultaneously, the pattern negatively affects the gas diffusion because it lengthens the average oxygen transport path through the catalyst layer. In addition, the patterned MEA is more vulnerable to flooding, but performs better than the flat MEA in low-humidity conditions. Therefore, the composition, geometry, and operating conditions of the micropatterned MEA should be comprehensively optimized to achieve optimal performance.

scholarly journals Simulation of the Dynamic Characteristics of a PEMFC System in Fluctuating Operating Conditions

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 3596
Author(s):  
Jiangyan Yan ◽  
Chang Zhou ◽  
Zhihai Rong ◽  
Haijiang Wang ◽  
Hui Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
External Load ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Membrane Electrode Assembly ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Cathode Side ◽  
Membrane Electrode ◽  
Transient Pressure ◽  
Gas Channel ◽  
Huge Impact

A greater understanding of the dynamic processes inside the stack is urgently needed to optimize the PEMFC (proton exchange membrane fuel cell). In this study, we examined the gas, water and electrochemical processes inside the stack, studied the physical dynamics of system accessories such as gas supplement, flow and pressure-regulating devices, then used Simulink to build a mathematical model of a complete PEMFC system; a segmented testing platform was built to test the spatial distribution of RH (relative humidity) and pressure, which was used to verify the simulation model; based on this model, the complicated phenomena occurring inside the stack during fluctuating operating states were calculated. Our findings showed that the pressure in the gas channel and exhaust manifolds decreased when the external load increased, changing sharply at the moment of load change. The transient pressure difference between the cathode and anode sides (several kPa) had a huge impact on the MEA (membrane electrode assembly); when the load current increased, RH in cathode and cathode channel increased gradually, and the increasing rate of anode side was bigger than that in cathode side. The influence of variance magnitude and change interval of external load were also studied based on the model.

scholarly journals Effect of Influent pH and Hydraulic Retention Time on Bioelectricity Generation in an Integrated Acidogenic Reactor and Microbial Fuel Cell Treating Rice Mill Wastewater

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aryama Raychaudhuri ◽  
Manaswini Behera
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cell ◽  
Retention Time ◽  
Hydraulic Retention Time ◽  
Integrated System ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Two Stage ◽  
Bioelectricity Generation ◽  
Rice Mill Wastewater

Abstract An innovative design approach was employed in the present study to enhance the electricity generation and wastewater treatment in a microbial fuel cell (MFC). A dual-chambered MFC with a ceramic separator was coupled with an acidogenic chamber. Acidogenic bioconversion of rice mill wastewater into volatile fatty acid (VFA) represents an interesting approach for wastewater valorization. The VFA containing effluent could be used as an effective substrate for bioelectricity generation in MFCs. A short hydraulic retention time (HRT) can be used for the two-stage anaerobic process (acidogenesis and electrogenesis), thus preventing the proliferation of methanogens. The effect of pH (5.5–7.5) and HRT (0.5 d–0.75 d) were investigated to understand the influence of operational parameters on the performance of the integrated system. The maximum VFA concentration of 1065.15 ± 5.08 mg COD/L was achieved at pH 7.5 and HRT 0.5 d. Under these operating conditions, the general activity of acid-forming microorganisms and exoelectrogens improved remarkably, and the power density obtained from the system was 4.72 ± 0.10 W/m3. The current research indicates excellent potential for simultaneous treatment and electricity production from rice mill wastewater. The use of low-cost, locally manufactured, and customized membranes and the two-stage treatment can pave the way for the practical application of this technology.

scholarly journals Exergetic Performance of a PEM Fuel Cell with Laser-Induced Graphene as the Microporous Layer

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (19) ◽  
pp. 6232
Author(s):  
Viorel Ionescu ◽  
Adriana Elena Balan ◽  
Alexandra Maria Isabel Trefilov ◽  
Ioan Stamatin
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Pyrolytic Carbon ◽  
Membrane Electrode Assembly ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Membrane Electrode ◽  
Ohmic Loss ◽  
Microporous Layer

The microporous layer (MPL) constitutes a critical component of the gas diffusion layer within the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEM FC). The MPL plays a fundamental role in various processes during FC operation: control of membrane humidification, heat distribution throughout the MEA, excess water removal from the cathode, and transportation of fuel to the reaction sites. Previously, we investigated the performance of a fuel cell unit employing an MPL based on laser-induced graphene (LIG) produced by the laser pyrolysis of polymeric (polyimide) substrates. The prototype LIG-based unit was tested over the typical range of relative humidity and temperature conditions. The polarization curves observed in that study displayed broad ohmic loss regions and high stability along the concentration loss regions, an interesting electrical behavior that justified developing the present voltage-current density study for the same FC prototype compared to one bearing a commercial pyrolytic carbon black MPL. The same operating conditions as in the first study were applied, in order to properly compare the performance efficiencies between the two systems; these are evaluated by considering the thermodynamic losses influence on the exergy efficiency, to exceed any limitations inherent in the classical energy efficiency analysis.

scholarly journals On the Effect of Anion Exchange Ionomer Binders in Bipolar Electrode Membrane Interface Water Electrolysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Britta Mayerhöfer ◽  
Konrad Ehelebe ◽  
Florian Dominik Speck ◽  
Markus Bierling ◽  
Johannes Bender ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Water Electrolysis ◽  
Membrane Electrode Assembly ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Membrane Electrode ◽  
Bipolar Electrode ◽  
Electrode Interface ◽  
Exchange Membrane ◽  
Electrode Membrane ◽  
Pem Water Electrolyzer

Bipolar membrane|electrode interface water electrolyzers (BPEMWE) were found to outperform a proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolyzer reference in a similar membrane electrode assembly (MEA) design based on individual porous...

Effect of hydraulic retention time on pretreatment of blended municipal sludge

2011 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 967-973
Author(s):  
S. Koyunluoglu-Aynur ◽  
R. Riffat ◽  
S. Murthy
Keyword(s):  
Retention Time ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Hydraulic Retention Time ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Methane Yield ◽  
Municipal Sludge ◽  
Volatile Solids ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Autothermal Thermophilic Aerobic Digestion ◽  
Pretreatment Processes

The objective of the present work was to evaluate the effect of hydraulic retention time (HRT) on hydrolysis and acidogenesis for the pretreatment processes: acid phase digestion (APD) and autothermal thermophilic aerobic digestion (ATAD) using blended municipal sludge. The effect of the different pretreatment steps on mesophilic anaerobic digestion (MAD) was evaluated in terms of methane yield, keeping the operating conditions of the MAD the same for all systems. Best operating conditions for both APD and ATAD were observed for 2.5 d HRT with high total volatile fatty acids (tVFA), and the highest methane yield observed for MAD. No significant difference was observed between the two processes in terms of overall volatile solids (VS) reduction with same total HRT. The autothermal process produced heat of 14,300 J/g VS removed from hydrolytic and acetogenic reactions without compromising overall methane yields when the HRT was 2.5 d or lower and the total O2 used was 0.10 m3 O2/g VS added or lower. However, the process needs the input of oxygen and engineering analysis should balance these differences when considering the relative merits of the two pretreatment processes. This is the first study of its kind directly comparing these two viable pretreatment processes with the same sludge.

scholarly journals MOF Derived Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

2018 ◽  
Vol 778 ◽  
pp. 275-282
Author(s):  
Noaman Khan ◽  
Saim Saher ◽  
Xuan Shi ◽  
Muhammad Noman ◽  
Mujahid Wasim Durani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Nanotubes ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Membrane Electrode Assembly ◽  
Reduction Reaction ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Membrane Electrode ◽  
Nitrogen Doped ◽  
Nitrogen Doped Carbon ◽  
Exchange Membrane

Highly porous ZIF-67 (Zeolitic imidazole framework) has a conductive crystalline metal organic framework (MOF) structure which was served as a precursor and template for the preparation of nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (NCNTs) electrocatalysts. As a first step, the chloroplatinic acid, a platinum (Pt) precursor was infiltrated in ZIF-67 with a precise amount to obtain 0.12 mg.cm-2 Pt loading. Later, the infiltrated structure was calcined at 700°C in Ar:H2 (90:10 vol%) gas mixture. Multi-walled nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes were grown on the surface of ZIF-67 crystals following thermal activation at 700°C. The resulting PtCo-NCNTs electrocatalysts were deposited on Nafion-212 solid electrolyte membrane by spray technique to study the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in the presence of H2/O2 gases in a temperature range of 50-70°C. The present study elucidates the performance of nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes ORR electrocatalysts derived from ZIF-67 and the effects of membrane electrode assembly (MEA) steaming on the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) employing PtCo-NCNTs as ORR electrocatalysts. We observed that the peak power density at 70°C was 450 mW/cm2 for steamed membrane electrode assembly (MEA) compared to 392 mW/cm2 for an identical MEA without steaming.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document