Journal
JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES
Volume 340, Issue -, Pages 80-88Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.11.037
Keywords
Plant microbial fuel cells; Biofuel cell; Energy harvesting; Environmental sensors; Remote sensing
Funding
- RSE
- Ministry of Economic Development - General Directorate for Nuclear Energy, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
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A new type of floating microbial fuel cell (fMFC) was developed for power supply of remote environmental sensors and data transmission. Ten operating fMFCs generated a cell potential in the range 100-800 mV depending on the external resistance applied. Power production peaked around 3-3.5 mW (power density of 22-28 mW m(-2) cathode) after about 20-30 days of start-up period. The average of daily electrical energy harvested ranged between 10 and 35 mWh/d. Long-term performances were ensured in the presence of dense rice plants (Oryza Sativa). A power management system, based on a step-up DC/DC converter and a low-power data transmission system via SIGFOX (TM) technology, have been set up for the fMFCs. The tested fMFCs systems allowed to: i) harvest produced energy, ii) supply electronic devices (intermittent LED-light and a buzzer); iii) transmit remote data at low speed (three message of 12 bites each, in 6 s). Several 'floating garden' MFCs were set in the context of demonstrative events at EXP02015 world exposition held in Milan between May-October 2015. Some of the 'floating garden' MFCs were operating for more than one year. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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