Microbial Fuel Cells use bacteria to convert waste into electrical energy. These bacteria break down almost any biodegradable organic waste including sewage and water waste and use it as fuel to generate power. Places like Penn State University and The Biodesign Institute in Arizona State University are already testing and improving this new alternative energy. According to Penn State University they have achieved in producing 1.5 watts per meter squared of amount of waste water taken in and believe
The microbial fuel cell (MFC) is an upsurging technology in the field of bio-energy generation along with wastewater treatment. The microbial fuel cell generates energy with the help of microbes that makes it green future source of energy. In MFC, anaerobic microbes degrade organic matter and produce hydrogen ions (H+) and electrons (e-) at the anode. H+ ion diffuses through the proton exchange membrane (PEM); and e- are transported through an electrode via an external circuit to the cathode. At
Potential of Microbial Fuel Cells A microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a device that converts chemical energy to electrical energy by the catalytic and metabolic reactions of microorganisms. The microorganisms function as a catalyst in the electron transfer between the electrodes. A MFC is just like any other fuel cell in its function which can undergo a half cell reaction. A typical microbial fuel cell consists of anode and cathode compartments separated by a cation (positively charged ion) permitting
there is emergent interest to find out sustainable and clean energy source.[3] One such method is This method uses microbial fuel cells (MFCs). A microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a bioreactor that converts chemical energy in the chemical bonds in organic compounds to electrical energy through catalytic reactions of microorganisms under anaerobic conditions, [6]meaning Microbial Fuel Cells function by the reduction of oxygen or nitrates. This process can only generate electrical energy if it is performed
The world is depended on oil and soon oil will become more valuable than gold and could lead to a worldwide war. Price for oil could soar to above two hundred fifty dollars per barrel. Oil and other fuel cell also cause green house gases which contribute to global warming. China is consuming two times more petroleum than 1996 and India is projected to consume three times the oil it currently does by 2050. Global house gas emission has increased by twenty percent from 2003 to 2006. Energy consumption
SOFC implemented systems (Staffell & Green 2012; Giannopoulos & Founti 2011a; Pehnt 2001; Pöschl et al. 2010; Patterson et al. 2011; Lunghi et al. 2004). The majority of them focus on the use phase of the SOFC unit, considering only natural gas as a fuel. Staffell et al (2012) carried out a carbon footprint assessment of a SOFC based on domestic CHP with the current embedded
natural gas, by exposure to heat and pressure over millions of years. These materials are known today as fossil fuels, and they produce 84% of all energy created in the United States (Suplee 2014). Although these sources are extensively used, they have a limited supply, eventually they will run out. Even with new extraction methods such as fracking and offshore drilling the deposits of fossil fuels in the world will diminish because of the extreme rate at which they are being used. There is much speculation
the gasoline will eventually be totally consumed in part by the gas guzzling vehicles common today. For this reason, scientists have spent decades researching and developing alternative sources of fuel in order to power daily life on Earth for many years to come. There is a wide array of renewable fuel sources in use presently. These alternatives vary in efficiency, affordability, and many other aspects. Hydrogen powered and electric powered vehicles are two comparable alternatives that have increased
of 12,000 km/year, annual hydrogen consumption will be 140 kg. Honda has developed a “Solar Hydrogen Station” which produces 0.5 kg of hydrogen per day.[12] This amounts to 180.5 kg of hydrogen per year, easily satisfying the need of a personal fuel cell vehicle. Figure 1: Solar Hydrogen Station [12] The United States consumes an average 128 billion gallons of gasoline per year. [13] According to a study by Levene et al. [14], 1110 billion kg of hydrogen can be produced using solar and wind
road by 2020. All-electric vehicles (EVs) have existed almost as long as gas-engine vehicles, offering advantages of "refueling" with relatively cheap electricity, quieter ride, and simpler mechanisms. They emit no pollutants, require no fossil fuels, and the electricity to power them can be generated from clean sources such as wind and solar in years to come. They can be recharged from 110 or 220 volt outlets at nominal cost and do not require oil changes, tune-ups or emissions inspections. The