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http://dx.doi.org/10.4491/KSEE.2017.39.10.591

Prevention of Power Overshoot and Reduction of Cathodic Overpotential by Increasing Cathode Flow Rate in Microbial Fuel Cells used Stainless Steel Scrubber Electrode  

Kim, Taeyoung (Energy and Environmental Engineering Division National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration)
Kang, Sukwon (Energy and Environmental Engineering Division National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration)
Chang, In Seop (Earth Sciences and Environmental Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST))
Kim, Hyun Woo (Department of Environmental Engineering, Chonbuk National University)
Sung, Je Hoon (Energy and Environmental Engineering Division National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration)
Paek, Yee (Energy and Environmental Engineering Division National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration)
Kim, Young Hwa (Energy and Environmental Engineering Division National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration)
Jang, Jae Kyung (Energy and Environmental Engineering Division National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration)
Publication Information
Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers / v.39, no.10, 2017 , pp. 591-598 More about this Journal
Abstract
Power overshoot phenomenon was observed in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) used non-catalyzed graphite felt as cathode. Voltage loss in MFCs was mainly caused by cathode potential loss. Cheap stainless steel scrubber, which has high conductivity, and Pt/C coated graphite felt as cathode were used for overcoming power overshoot and reducing the cathode potential loss in MFCs. The MFCs used stainless steel scrubber showed no power overshoot even slow catholyte flow rate and produced 29% enhanced maximum current density ($23.9A/m^3$) than MFCs used non-catalyzed graphite felt while the power overshoot phenomenon was existed in Pt/C coated MFCs. Increasing catholyte flow rate resulted in disappearing power overshoot of MFCs used non-catalyzed graphite felt. In addition, maximum power density and current density of both MFCs used non-catalyzed graphite felt and stainless steel scrubber increased by 2-3.5 times. Cathode potential losses in all region of activation loss, ohmic loss, and mass transport loss were reduced according to increase of catholyte flow rate. Therefore, stainless steel scrubber has advantages that are economical materials as electrode and prevents power overshoot, leading to enhance electricity generation. In addition, increasing catholyte flux is one of great solution when power overshoot caused by cathodic overpotential is observed in MFCs.
Keywords
Microbial Fuel Cell; Stainless Steel Scrubber; Power Overshoot; Overpotential; Cathode Flow Rate;
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