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michka:research:microbial_fuel_cells [2014-10-03 13:02] – michkamichka:research:microbial_fuel_cells [2018-04-26 12:44] (current) – [Experiments] michka
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 I am currently playing with parameters: sample source, design geometry, electrode materials, nature of the proton exchange membrane (PEM), water source... To understand better the drivers of electrical power delivered by these Quick & Dirty MFCs. I am currently playing with parameters: sample source, design geometry, electrode materials, nature of the proton exchange membrane (PEM), water source... To understand better the drivers of electrical power delivered by these Quick & Dirty MFCs.
  
-So far, the peak power I measured was 0.5 mW [[michka:research:microbial_fuel_cells:Bruxelles2|during my experiments in Brussels]], which is still not sufficient.+So far, the peak power I measured was 0.5 mW [[michka:research:microbial_fuel_cells:Bruxelles2|during my experiments in Brussels]], which is still not sufficient to power a LED.
  
 (see also [[:fuel_cell]] for futher info...) (see also [[:fuel_cell]] for futher info...)
 +
 +These preliminary experiments layed the ground for the "Power of the mud" project created with robotic artist [[http://www.zprod.org/zwp/|Paul Granjon]].
  
 ====Litterature==== ====Litterature====
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-I also found a [[http://prezi.com/aw1kjprkgphz/tpe-comment-augmenter-et-utiliser-la-production-denergie-a-partir-dexcrement-de-cheval/|presentation]] made by a group of students on low-tech horse-crap-based MFCs, with actual power figures in it (about 100mW for 120g of horsecrap).+I also found a [[http://prezi.com/aw1kjprkgphz/tpe-comment-augmenter-et-utiliser-la-production-denergie-a-partir-dexcrement-de-cheval/|presentation]] made by a group of students on low-tech horse-crap-based MFCs, with actual power figures in it (about 100mW for 120g of horsecrap). Interesting aspect of their designs: they use a small sponge covered with rocks as a proton exchange membrane.
  
 ====Experiments==== ====Experiments====
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    * [[michka:research:microbial_fuel_cells:Bruxelles2|Bruxelles2]]    * [[michka:research:microbial_fuel_cells:Bruxelles2|Bruxelles2]]
    * [[michka:research:microbial_fuel_cells:Marseille3|Marseille3]]    * [[michka:research:microbial_fuel_cells:Marseille3|Marseille3]]
 +   * [[http://fablabo.net/wiki/Pile_microbienne|Nantes4 (in French)]]
 +   * [[michka:research:microbial_fuel_cells:Cardiff5|Cardiff5]]
 +   * [[michka:research:microbial_fuel_cells:Cardiff5|Cardiff6]]
 +   * [[michka:research:microbial_fuel_cells:Cardiff5|Brussels7]]
 +   * [[michka:research:microbial_fuel_cells:Cardiff5|Cardiff8]]
  
 ====Design Improvements Ideas==== ====Design Improvements Ideas====
 +
 +===Electrical integration===
 +
 +* Try to integrate the MFC with a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t4DumnpFLA|Joule Thief]] and supercapacitors to see if we can obtain a functional system for intermittent power generation.
  
 ===Sludge=== ===Sludge===
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      * See [[michka:research:microbial_fuel_cells:Bruxelles2|here]] for the quite good performances obtained with compost tea.      * See [[michka:research:microbial_fuel_cells:Bruxelles2|here]] for the quite good performances obtained with compost tea.
    * Does it also work with usual soil ?    * Does it also work with usual soil ?
-     * A brief experiment in [[michka:research:microbial_fuel_cells:Marseille3|Marseille]] gave bad signs. The battery was flat after two hours on measurements.+     * A brief experiment in [[michka:research:microbial_fuel_cells:Marseille3|Marseille]] gave bad signs. The battery was flat after two hours on measurements. However, longer-term experiments should be performed to let time to the anaerobic bacterial consortium to develop.
    * How can we keep feeding the sludge, to make the fuel cell operation continuous ?    * How can we keep feeding the sludge, to make the fuel cell operation continuous ?
 +     * Reverse the design, to allow waste to be piled up on top of a nutrients pile for the MFC, and be slowly degraded.
  
 ===Electrodes=== ===Electrodes===
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 ====Related==== ====Related====
  
-Joule Thief +   * Other battery designs: 
- +     * Molten salt batteries 
-Other battery designs: +       * [[http://www.ted.com/talks/donald_sadoway_the_missing_link_to_renewable_energy?language=fr|Donald Sadaway, TED]] 
-   * Molten salt batteries +       * Zebra battery
-     * Donald Sadaway, TED +
-     * Zebra battery+
    * Rhubarb battery    * Rhubarb battery

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