Floating-type microbial fuel cell

• US 8,790,833 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2009
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology
• Original Assignee: Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology
• Inventors: Chang, In Seop, An, Junyeong
• Primary Examiner(s): EGGERDING, ALIX ECHELMEYER
• Application Number:
  US12/988,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20110033757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,923 Days
• US Class Current: 429/401
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1023 having only carbon, e.g. polyarylenes, polystyrenes or polybutadiene-styrenes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1039 halogenated, e.g. sulfonated polyvinylidene fluorides
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/16 Biochemical fuel cells, i.e. cells in which microorganisms function as catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

Provided is a floating-type microbial fuel cell capable of effectively generating energy from organic contaminants of contaminated waters. The floating-type microbial fuel cell includes a cathode, an anode electrically connected to the cathode, and a floating unit connected to the cathode and/or the anode and floatable in a substrate solution, wherein the cathode is positioned at a region in the substrate solution having a dissolved oxygen concentration higher than that of a region at which the anode is positioned, and the anode is positioned at a region in the substrate solution having an amount of electrons generated by microorganisms larger than that of a region at which the cathode is positioned.

Claims

1. A floating-type microbial fuel cell comprising:

a reactor having a lower substrate inlet/outlet port disposed in a lower surface thereof and a side substrate inlet/outlet port disposed in a lower side portion thereof, and an upper connection hole formed in an upper surface thereof;

a cathode installed on the upper surface of the reactor;

an anode electrically connected to the cathode, and installed in a lower region of the reactor;

an ion exchange membrane installed between the anode and the cathode;

a vent hole foci ted for discharging gases generated under the anode by microorganisms to the exterior and not accumulating the gases under the ion-exchange membrane; and

a floating unit installed at an outer periphery of the reactor and floatable in a substrate solution,

wherein the cathode is positioned at a region in the substrate solution having a dissolved oxygen concentration higher than that of a region at which the anode is positioned, and the anode is positioned at a region in the substrate solution having an amount of electrons generated by microorganisms larger than that of a region at which the cathode is positioned.

2. The floating-type microbial fuel cell according to claim 1, further comprising a gas blocking plate installed under the reactor, when the reactor comprises the lower substrate inlet/outlet port.

3. The floating-type microbial fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the side substrate inlet/outlet port comprises at least one pair of a side substrate inlet port and a side substrate outlet port, which face each other.

4. The floating-type microbial fuel cell according to claim 1, further comprising a battery or a motor electrically connected between the anode and the cathode.