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michka:research:microbial_fuel_cells [2014-10-02 12:51] – michka | michka:research:microbial_fuel_cells [2014-10-03 12:47] – michka | ||
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- | ====Microbial Fuel Cells==== | + | ====Quick & Dirty Microbial Fuel Cells==== |
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+ | A Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) is a renewable electricity source based on soil microbial life. Anaerobic bacteria (living without oxygen) are produce electrons we can harness to feed our electrical circuits. It is a low-power energy source, working fine for lighting, or communication circuits sending data at low frequency. | ||
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+ | MFCs are the object of advanced studies in many laboratories across the world. My objective is to design a MFC which can be build by anyone without specific prior knowledge out of abundant waste or bio- materials found in his/her close environment. The power is this quick & dirty MFC should be able to power a low-power LED. | ||
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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. | ||
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+ | So far, the peak power I measured was 0.5 mW [[michka: | ||
(see also [[: | (see also [[: | ||
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* [[michka: | * [[michka: | ||
* [[michka: | * [[michka: | ||
+ | * [[michka: | ||
====Design Improvements Ideas==== | ====Design Improvements Ideas==== | ||
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===Sludge=== | ===Sludge=== | ||
- | * Could we use compost tea as a sludge source ? Does it also work with usual soil ? | + | * Could we use compost tea as a sludge source ? |
+ | * See [[michka: | ||
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* 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 ? | ||