Two-dimensional mathematical model of an air-cathode microbial fuel cell with graphite fiber brush anode

Gadkari, Siddharth, Gu, Sai and Sadhukhan, Jhuma (2019) Two-dimensional mathematical model of an air-cathode microbial fuel cell with graphite fiber brush anode Journal of Power Sources, 441, 227145.

Text Two-dimensional mathematical model of an air-cathode microbial fuel cell with graphite fiber brush anode.pdf - Accepted version Manuscript Restricted to Repository staff only until 20 September 2020. Download (6MB)

Abstract

A two-dimensional mathematical model has been developed for characterizing and predicting the dynamic performance of an air-cathode MFC with graphite fiber brush used as anode. The charge transfer kinetics are coupled to the mass balance at both electrodes considering the brush anode as a porous matrix. The model has been used to study the effect of design (electrode spacing and anode size) as well as operational (substrate concentration) parameters on the MFC performance. Two-dimensional dynamic simulation allows visual representation of the local overpotential, current density and reaction rates in the brush anode and helps in understanding how these factors impact the overall MFC performance. The numerical results show that while decreasing electrode spacing and increasing initial substrate concentration both have a positive influence on power density of the MFC, reducing anode size does not affect MFC performance till almost 60 brush material has been removed. The proposed mathematical model can help guide experimental/pilot/industrial scale protocols for optimal performance.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions :	Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences > Chemical and Process Engineering
Authors :	Name Email ORCID Gadkari, Siddharth s.gadkari@surrey.ac.uk Gu, Sai sai.gu@surrey.ac.uk Sadhukhan, Jhuma J.Sadhukhan@surrey.ac.uk
Date :	November 2019
Funders :	Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
DOI :	10.1016/j.jpowsour.2019.227145
Copyright Disclaimer :	© 2019. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Uncontrolled Keywords :	Microbial fuel cell; Brush anode; Mathematical analysis; Dynamic model; Graphite fibers; Bioelectrochemical system
Depositing User :	Clive Harris
Date Deposited :	26 Sep 2019 13:42
Last Modified :	16 Oct 2019 09:24
URI:	http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/id/eprint/852815

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