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--- michka:research:microbial_fuel_cells [2014-07-11 10:30] – michka
+++ michka:research:microbial_fuel_cells [2014-09-25 13:44] – michka
@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 [[http://www.treehugger.com/slideshows/gadgets/make-microbial-fuel-cell/page/1/#slide-top|This design]] is made from one container, sludge at the bottom, smart gel proton exchanger on top of it, and clean water on the very top. No air pump, but lower performances. Something like charcoal is used as an electrode material.
+===High-School Project Presentation===
+[[http://prezi.com/aw1kjprkgphz/tpe-comment-augmenter-et-utiliser-la-production-denergie-a-partir-dexcrement-de-cheval/|This is]] a 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).
 ====Experiments====
@@ Line 21: / Line 25: @@
 ===One Container Design===
-Wiring as electrode.
+{{ :michka:research:img_5901.jpg?300 |}}
+   * Wiring as electrode.
 ==Results==
-Voltage changes with oxygenation.
+   * Peak voltage at 100mV, drops to 60, stable.
+   * Voltage changes with oxygenation - + 10 mV.
 ===One Container in Crate Design===
+   * Layed down the jar in a crate covered with a plastic bag and filled with water.
+   * Five times bigger cathode, made of wiring, and then replaced by a flattened aluminium can.
 ==Why ?==
-Augemented cathode surface area & reduced water layer width for oxygen access.
+   * Augemented cathode surface area & reduced water layer width for oxygen access.
+==Results==
+   * No improved voltage with bigger wiring cathode.
+   * Improved voltage (300 mV) with aluminium can cathode.
+   * When putting directly the multimeter cathode in water, we obtain 600 mV.
+==Conclusion==
+   * The geometry of the multimeter cathode may be better for voltage than the one made of wiring or aluminium can. However, surface area is necessary to obtain current.
 ===Crate Paper Design===
+{{ :michka:research:img_5905.jpg?300 |}}
+{{ :michka:research:img_5906.jpg?300 |}}
+{{ :michka:research:img_5946.jpg?300 |}}
    * Flattened aluminium can as electrode.
@@ Line 46: / Line 71: @@
    * Negative voltage when putting a rock on cathode to maintain it in water.
+   * No improved voltage by the new flat design.
+   * Still no current measurable, probably very low.
+   * The addition of coke drops (H+) at the cathode do not help current generation.
+==Conclusion==
+   * Is paper a good PEM ?
 ===Two Containers Design===
-Hard-drive metal box as electrode material.
+{{ :michka:research:img_5948.jpg?300 |}}
+   * Two bottles
+   * Saline bridge made of rope dipped in salt solution & wrapped in tape.
+   * Hard-drive metal box as electrode material.
+==Results==
+   * The addition of coke drops (H+) at the cathode do not help current generation.
 ===Other results===
@@ Line 57: / Line 97: @@
      * If water is not clean, voltage increases up to 100 mV.
    * Two multimeter electrodes in the mud: 10-80 mV depending on location.
+===Overall Conclusion===
+   * Maybe it needs a longer period to get started - eating up all the oxygen around the anode.
+   * Maybe our PEMs are not good.
 ====Design Improvements Ideas====