FLOATING-TYPE MICROBIAL FUEL CELL

• US 20110033757A1
• Filed: 04/23/2009
• Published: 02/10/2011
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 8,790,833 B2
• Time in Patent Office: 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 cathode;

an anode electrically connected to the cathode; and

a floating unit connected to at least one of the cathode and 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.

8. The floating-type microbial fuel cell according to claim 1, further comprising

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

wherein the anode is installed in a lower region of the reactor, and the cathode is installed on the upper surface of the reactor.

9. The floating-type microbial fuel cell according to claim 1, further comprising an ion exchange membrane installed between the anode and the cathode.

10. The floating-type microbial fuel cell according to claim 8, further comprising

a gas blocking plate installed under the reactor, when the reactor comprises the lower substrate inlet/outlet port.

11. The floating-type microbial fuel cell according to claim 8, 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.

12. 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.

2. A floating-type microbial fuel cell comprising:

a floating unit floatable in a substrate solution;

a cathode connected to the floating unit to be positioned at a surface layer of the substrate solution; and

an anode electrically connected to the cathode and disposed to be submerged in the substrate solution.

3. The floating-type microbial fuel cell according to claim 2, further comprising

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

wherein the anode is installed in a lower region of the reactor, and the cathode is installed on the upper surface of the reactor.

4. The floating-type microbial fuel cell according to claim 2, further comprising

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

5. The floating-type microbial fuel cell according to claim 3, further comprising a gas blocking plate installed under the reactor, when the reactor comprises the lower substrate inlet/outlet port.

6. The floating-type microbial fuel cell according to claim 3, 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.

7. The floating-type microbial fuel cell according to claim 2, further comprising

a battery or a motor electrically connected between the anode and the cathode.