Microbial Fuel Cell with Plant Anode for Sustainable Energy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microbial fuel cells relying on non-sustainable and non-renewable effluent streams for energy production, leading to high energy investment and CO2 emissions, necessitate a sustainable and renewable energy generation method.
Innovation Solution
A device and method utilizing a living plant or its parts within a reactor's anode compartment, combined with anodophilic microorganisms, to convert light energy into electrical energy and/or hydrogen, employing a cation-selective membrane to separate compartments and leveraging the plant's photosynthetic capabilities to produce electron donor compounds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If effluent streams are used as electron donor compounds in microbial fuel cells, then energy production is achieved, but sustainability and renewability are compromised due to high energy investment and CO2 emissions
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the fundamental parameter of electron donor source from non-renewable effluent streams to renewable plant materials. Plants perform photosynthesis to convert CO2 and water into organic compounds, fundamentally altering the sustainability parameter while maintaining energy production capability
Solution Approach 2:
Plants serve themselves by performing photosynthesis to generate their own electron donor compounds (organic matter) from abundant resources (CO2, water, sunlight). This self-service capability eliminates the need for external effluent streams and associated transport energy, achieving both sustainability and renewability
2Productivity
If effluent streams are transported to microbial fuel cells, then energy production is enabled, but energy investment and CO2 emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
Plant materials grow in situ or nearby, performing photosynthesis to generate their own electron donor compounds. This eliminates the need for energy-intensive transport of effluent streams to the fuel cell, significantly reducing energy investment while maintaining continuous electron donor supply
Solution Approach 2:
Plants act as an intermediary that converts abundant, low-energy resources (CO2, water, sunlight) into electron donor compounds right at or near the fuel cell location, eliminating the need for energy-intensive effluent collection and transport infrastructure
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables the sustainable conversion of light energy into electrical energy and hydrogen, reducing environmental impact by utilizing renewable plant materials and minimizing energy investment, while maintaining efficient energy production.
Implementation Method 1
a living plant or part thereof... capable of converting light energy into an electron donor compound by means of photosynthesis
Implementation Method 2
an anodophilic micro-organism capable of oxidizing an electron donor compound, the electrons being supplied to the anode
Implementation Method 3
the anode compartment and the cathode compartment are separated from each other by a membrane
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device comprising a reactor, where the reactor comprises an anode compartment and a cathode compartment, and where the anode compartment comprises a) an anodophilic micro-organism capable of oxidizing an electron donor compound, and b) a living plant or part thereof. The invention also relates to a method for converting light energy into electrical energy and/or hydrogen, where a feedstock comprising an electron donor compound is introduced into the device.