Chamber type benthic microbial fuel cell array anode device

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of marine new energy, and particularly relates to a chamber type benthic microbial fuel cell array anode device, which mainly structurally comprises a main chamber, a grating and an array anode arranged in the main chamber, a top cover arranged at the top, and a pressure release valve and a lead outlet arranged on the top cover, granular active carbon or biomass derived carbon is used as an anode material to be applied to a chamber type benthic microbial fuel cell, the power supply capacity of the BMFC is improved, the granular active carbon or biomass derived carbon material comprises granular active carbon and a derived carbon material which are prepared from coconut shells, fruit shells and the like, and in addition, the power supply capacity of the BMFC is improved. The preparation method comprises the following steps: immersing granular active carbon or a biomass derived carbon material into a solution containing one or more of ferric salt, molybdenum salt, manganese salt, cobalt salt, nickel salt and tungsten salt, drying, and calcining in an inert atmosphere to prepare the metal compound modified carbon material, so that the electro-catalytic performance can be further improved.

Description

Technical field:

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of marine new energy technology, and specifically relates to a chamber-type benthic microbial fuel cell array anode device based on granular activated carbon or biomass-derived carbon materials, which can improve the power supply capacity of BMFC. Background technology:

[0002] An underwater biopower system is an in-situ underwater power supply device based on a benthic microbial fuel cell (BMFC) and a power management system (PMS). It is typically deployed on the bottom of various water bodies, such as the seabed, lakebed, and riverbed. The BMFC utilizes electrogenic microorganisms and organic substrates in the sediment to achieve long-term, continuous power generation. Its output voltage is typically less than 800mV, its output current ranges from 0-100mA, and its output power is typically less than 50mW. Due to the low output power of the BMFC, it cannot directly drive underwater electrical devices. Therefore, a power management module is needed to collect and store the weak electrical energy generated by the BMFC and release it to the electrical device at high power on demand. Therefore, the power generation performance of the BMFC and the energy collection efficiency of the PMS are the core factors that determine the overall effectiveness of the underwater biopower system.

[0003] The anode, as a carrier of electricity-producing microorganisms, is a key factor in determining the power generation performance of BMFC. Currently, BMFCs in existing technologies mainly use traditional carbon-based anode materials, including carbon cloth, carbon plates, and carbon brushes. Kevin L. Joiner deployed a BMFC device at a depth of 1000m in the Southern California Bay, USA. Its anode is a carbon cloth with a diameter of 76cm. Four BMFC devices can generate about 30W·h / m 2 The BMFC device deployed by Conrad Donovan in the Palouse River in Pullman, Washington, USA, features an anode composed of a 60.96cm×30.48cm×5.08cm carbon plate, with an output power of 3-10.4mW. The BMFC device deployed by Clare E. Reimers in 580m water depth on the continental slope of Oregon, USA, features an anode composed of a 6m-long carbon brush. During the first year of operation, the output power was 20-40mW, but after 1045 days of operation, the output power dropped significantly, eventually falling below 10mW.

[0004] Granular activated carbon (GAC) is a conductive carbon material with a porous interconnected structure. It possesses advantages such as good conductivity, large specific surface area, high specific capacitance, and strong adsorption capacity. As an anode material, GAC's rough surface and high specific surface area enable rapid colonization of electrogenic microorganisms, improving their adhesion and facilitating the formation of electroactive biofilms on the electrode surface, thereby enhancing the power generation performance of BMFCs. Furthermore, GAC's excellent adsorption capacity allows it to exhibit a stronger affinity for organic substrates as an anode material, facilitating mass transfer. Kalathil et al. found that the adsorption capacity of granular activated carbon improves the power generation performance and operational stability of MFCs. Mohamed et al. demonstrated that GAC has a certain influence on the microbial community structure, enriching electrogenic microorganisms and thus improving power generation performance. Furthermore, Feng et al. found that the high capacitance of GAC can increase output power.

[0005] At present, there are relatively few studies on the application of GAC in BMFC. Thomas et al. used granular activated carbon as the anode material in BMFC, and combined with the power management module, it can power wireless sensors. The carbon cloth-wrapped granular activated carbon anode developed by Liu et al. is filled in a semi-enclosed cavity, which significantly improves the output power of BMFC. There are two main problems in using GAC as an anode in benthic microbial fuel cells: (1) The diffusion rate of organic substrates in the sediment environment is extremely slow, resulting in low BMFC output power, especially the GAC particles in the inner layer cannot even be replenished with substrates and are in a failed state; (2) In the sediment environment, particles such as clay and sand are easily adsorbed on GAC, resulting in a sharp drop in the conductivity of the anode.

[0006] Based on the anode placement environment, BMFCs can be divided into two categories: benthic and chamber-type anodes. Benthic anodes are buried in sediments, while chamber-type anodes are placed in a sealed chamber filled with water. Chamber-type anodes, however, are filled with water, largely overcoming the problems of slow organic substrate diffusion and contaminant clogging in sediments.

[0007] Based on the problems of low output power and weak power generation performance of benthic microbial fuel cells, the structural characteristics of the chamber-type anode are combined with a series of advantages of granular activated carbon, such as good conductivity, large specific surface area, high specific capacitance and strong adsorption capacity. A chamber-type benthic microbial fuel cell array anode device based on granular activated carbon or biomass-derived carbon materials is developed and designed to improve the power supply capacity of BMFC. Summary of the invention:

[0008] The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the existing technology and develop a chamber-type benthic microbial fuel cell array anode device, which improves the power supply capacity of BMFC by using anode materials made of granular activated carbon or biomass-derived carbon.

[0009] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the main structure of the chamber-type benthic microbial fuel cell array anode device of the present invention includes a main chamber and a grid and array anode arranged therein, a top cover arranged on the top, and a pressure relief valve and a wire outlet arranged on the top cover;

[0010] Among them, the main structure of the arrayed anode includes a base and an anode unit formed by one or more anode monomers arranged on it, and several anode units are welded to form an arrayed anode; the shape of the anode monomer includes a cylinder, a cube, a cover is provided on the top, and the interior adopts a hollow structure, or a structure of n concentric perforated cylinders, or a structure of n rectangular perforated baffles.

[0011] The main chamber, grille and top cover of the present invention are made of polyvinyl chloride or nylon.

[0012] The base and the anode unit are made of corrosion-resistant metals such as titanium and titanium alloy, monel alloy, Hastelloy alloy or stainless steel.

[0013] When the benthic microbial fuel cell chamber array anode device involved in the present invention is used, granular activated carbon or biomass-derived carbon is filled into the interior of the anode unit. Alternatively, titanium wire or carbon fiber can be first wrapped around the anode unit for drainage, and then granular activated carbon or biomass-derived carbon is filled into the interior of the anode unit to improve the efficiency of bioelectricity collection.

[0014] Compared with the existing technology, the present invention uses granular activated carbon or biomass-derived carbon as anode material in a chamber-type benthic microbial fuel cell to improve the power supply capacity of BMFC. The granular activated carbon or biomass-derived carbon material includes granular activated carbon and derived carbon materials prepared from coconut shells, fruit shells, etc. In addition, the granular activated carbon or biomass-derived carbon material is immersed in one or more solutions containing iron salts, molybdenum salts, manganese salts, cobalt salts, nickel salts, and tungsten salts, dried, and calcined under an inert atmosphere to prepare a metal compound-modified carbon material, which can further improve the electrocatalytic performance. Description of the drawings:

[0015] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the main structural principle of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of the main structure of Example 1 of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 3This is a schematic diagram of the main structural principle of the anode unit involved in Example 1 of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the main structural principle of the arrayed anode involved in Example 1 of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the internal structure of the anode unit involved in Example 1 of the present invention, wherein a is a hollow structure, b is a porous cylindrical structure, and c is a porous baffle structure.

[0020] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the main structure layout of the present invention, wherein a indicates that the bottom of the main chamber is open, and b indicates that the bottom of the main chamber is closed.

[0021] Figure 7 This is an exploded view of the main structure of Example 2 of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the main structural principle of the anode unit involved in Example 2 of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the main structural principle of the arrayed anode involved in Example 2 of the present invention. Specific implementation method:

[0024] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0025] Example 1:

[0026] The main structure of the chamber-type array anode device of the benthic microbial fuel cell involved in this embodiment is as follows: Figure 1-2 As shown, it includes a main chamber 1, a grid 2, an arrayed anode 3, a top cover 4, a pressure relief valve 5 and a wire outlet 6;

[0027] The main chamber 1 is provided with a grid 2 and an arrayed anode 3, and a top cover 4 is provided on the top. The top cover 4 is provided with a pressure relief valve 5 and a wire outlet 6.

[0028] The vertical distance between the grid 2 and the bottom of the main chamber 1 is 100-300 mm, and the vertical distance between the grid 2 and the arrayed anode 3 is 100-300 mm; the horizontal distance between the pressure relief valve 5 and the wire outlet 6 is 100-300 mm.

[0029] The main structure of the arrayed anode 3 involved in this embodiment is as follows Figure 3-4As shown, it includes a base 11, an anode unit 22 and a cover 44; a cylindrical anode unit 22 is provided at the center of the disc-shaped base 11 to form an anode unit 33. The three anode units 33 are vertically and parallelly welded together by corrosion-resistant metal materials such as titanium and titanium alloys, monel alloy, Hastelloy or stainless steel to form a display anode 3;

[0030] Among them, the area where the anode monomer 22 is set on the base 11 is evenly distributed with n circular holes with a diameter of 30-100 mm;

[0031] A cover 44 is provided on the top of the anode monomer 22, and the interior adopts various forms, as shown in Figure 5, including a hollow structure; a structure of welding n concentric perforated cylinders, the height of the cylinders is 50-1000mm, the spacing between adjacent concentric cylinders is 10-50mm, and the aperture of the holes on the cylinders is 1-10mm; a structure of welding n rectangular perforated baffles, the height of the baffles is 50-1000mm, the length is 10-1000mm, the spacing between adjacent baffles is 10-50mm, and the aperture of the holes on the baffles is 1-10mm.

[0032] The main chamber 1 involved in this embodiment has a height of 300-3000 mm, a diameter of 600-3000 mm, and a thickness of 3-10 mm;

[0033] The diameter of the grid 2 is 600-3000 mm, the thickness is 3-10 mm, and there are n holes with a diameter of 5-30 mm evenly distributed;

[0034] The diameter of the top cover 4 is 600-3000 mm and the thickness is 3-10 mm;

[0035] The aperture of the pressure relief valve 5 is 10-100 mm;

[0036] The diameter of the wire outlet 6 is 10-50 mm and is located on the right side of the pressure relief valve 5;

[0037] The diameter of the base 11 is larger than the diameter of the anode monomer 22 and the thickness is 2-20 mm;

[0038] The height of the anode monomer 22 is 50-1000 mm, the diameter is 500-2000 mm, the wall thickness is 0.1-10 mm, and the entire body is perforated with a hole diameter of 1-10 mm.

[0039] When the benthic microbial fuel cell chamber array anode device of this embodiment is placed, Figure 6 As shown, the bottom of the main chamber 1 is opened and embedded in the sediment after the deployment is completed; the bottom of the main chamber 1 can also be closed and does not need to be embedded in the sediment after the deployment is completed.

[0040] Example 2:

[0041] The main structure of the chamber-type array anode device of the benthic microbial fuel cell involved in this embodiment is as follows: Figure 1 and 7 As shown, the main structure is the same as that of Example 1, including a main chamber 1, a grid 2, an arrayed anode 3, a top cover 4, a pressure relief valve 5 and a wire outlet 6;

[0042] The main chamber 1 is provided with a grid 2 and an arrayed anode 3, and a top cover 4 is provided on the top. The top cover 4 is provided with a pressure relief valve 5 and a wire outlet 6.

[0043] The difference is that the main structure of the arrayed anode 3 is as follows Figure 8-9 As shown, it includes a base 11, an anode monomer 22 and a cover 44; a plurality of cylindrical anode monomers 22 are arranged at the center of the disc-shaped base 11 to form an anode unit 33. The three anode units 33 are vertically welded together in parallel by corrosion-resistant metal materials such as titanium and titanium alloys, monel alloy, Hastelloy or stainless steel to form an exhibition anode 3, wherein the anode monomer 22 has a height of 50-1000 mm, a diameter of 30-500 mm, a wall thickness of 0.1-10 mm, and is perforated throughout with a hole diameter of 1-10 mm.

Claims

1. A chamber-type benthic microbial fuel cell array anode device, characterized in that: The main structure includes a main chamber and a grid and arrayed anodes arranged therein. The main structure of the arrayed anode includes a base and an anode unit formed by one or more anode monomers arranged thereon. Several anode units are welded to form the arrayed anode.

2. The chamber-type benthic microbial fuel cell array anode device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top of the anode unit is provided with a cover, and the interior adopts a hollow structure, or a structure of n concentric perforated cylinders, or a structure of n rectangular perforated baffles.

3. The chamber-type benthic microbial fuel cell array anode device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The main structure also includes a main chamber and a top cover arranged on the top thereof, as well as a pressure relief valve and a wire outlet arranged on the top cover.

4. The chamber-type benthic microbial fuel cell array anode device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The main chamber, grille, and top cover are made of polyvinyl chloride or nylon; The materials of the base and the anode monomer include titanium and titanium alloy, monel alloy, hastelloy alloy and corrosion-resistant metal.

5. The chamber-type benthic microbial fuel cell array anode device according to claim 3, characterized in that: When used, granular activated carbon or biomass-derived carbon is filled into the interior of the anode cell.

6. The chamber-type benthic microbial fuel cell array anode device according to claim 3, characterized in that: When in use, titanium wire or carbon fiber is first wound around the anode monomer for drainage, and then granular activated carbon or biomass-derived carbon is filled into the interior of the anode monomer.

7. A chamber-type benthic microbial fuel cell array anode device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that: Granular activated carbon or biomass-derived carbon materials include granular activated carbon and derived carbon materials prepared from coconut shells, fruit shells, etc.

8. The chamber-type benthic microbial fuel cell array anode device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The granular activated carbon or biomass-derived carbon material is immersed in one or more solutions containing iron salt, molybdenum salt, manganese salt, cobalt salt, nickel salt, and tungsten salt, dried, and then calcined under an inert atmosphere to prepare a metal compound-modified carbon material.

9. The chamber-type benthic microbial fuel cell array anode device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The vertical distance between the grid and the bottom of the main chamber is 100-300 mm, and the vertical distance between the grid and the arrayed anode is 100-300 mm; The horizontal distance between the pressure relief valve and the wire outlet is 100-300mm.

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