First steps towards a constructal Microbial Fuel Cell

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2014-06, Vol.162, p.123-128
• Main Authors: Lepage, Guillaume, Perrier, Gérard, Ramousse, Julien, Merlin, Gérard
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biochemical fuel cells; Bioelectric Energy Sources; Bioelectrochemical system; Biofuel production; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Channels; Chemical and Process Engineering; Constructal design; Construction; Electrochemical Techniques; Electrodes; Energy; Engineering Sciences; Entropy; Entropy generation; Fluid dynamics; Fluid flow; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hydraulics; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Microbial Fuel Cell; Microorganisms; Pressure drop; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.03.139

[Display omitted] •A constructal-inspired approach is tested in a 2D double chamber MFC prototype.•Regular and singular pressure drops are considered for the entropy generation.•The determination of entropy generation allowed the fluid distribution optimization.•Stability and robustness of the bioelectrochemical system are shown up to 10weeks.•The potential of the constructal approach in MFC is shown. In order to reach real operating conditions with consequent organic charge flow, a multi-channel reactor for Microbial Fuel Cells is designed. The feed-through double chamber reactor is a two-dimensional system with four parallel channels and Reticulated Vitreous Carbon as electrodes. Based on thermodynamical calculations, the constructal-inspired distributor is optimized with the aim to reduce entropy generation along the distributing path. In the case of negligible singular pressure drops, the Hess–Murray law links the lengths and the hydraulic diameters of the successive reducing ducts leading to one given working channel. The determination of generated entropy in the channels of our constructal MFC is based on the global hydraulic resistance caused by both regular and singular pressure drops. Polarization, power and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy show the robustness and the efficiency of the cell, and therefore the potential of the constructal approach. Routes towards improvements are suggested in terms of design evolutions.