KSBB Journal

The Korean Society for Biotechnology and Bioengineering (한국생물공학회)
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Improvement of Power Generation of Microbial Fuel Cells using Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) and Automatic Load Control Algorithm

최대전력점추적방법과 외부저항 제어 알고리즘을 이용한 미생물연료 전지의 전력생산 최대화

  • Song, Young Eun (School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Pusan National University) ;
  • Kim, Jung Rae (School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Pusan National University)
  • 송영은 (부산대학교 화공생명공학부) ;
  • 김중래 (부산대학교 화공생명공학부)
  • Received : 2014.07.18
  • Accepted : 2014.08.22
  • Published : 2014.08.31
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Abstract

A microbial fuel cell (MFC) and bioelectrochemical systems are novel bioprocesses which employ exoelectrogenic biofilm on electrode as a biocatalyst for electricity generation and various useful chemical production. Previous reports show that electrogenic biofilms of MFCs are time varying systems and dynamically interactive with the electrically conductive media (carbon paper as terminal electron acceptor). It has been reported that maximum power point tracking (MPPT) method can automatically control load by algorithm so that increase power generation and columbic efficiency. In this study, we developed logic based control strategy for external load resistance by using $LabVIEW^{TM}$ which increases the power production with using flat-plate MFCs and MPPT circuit board. The flat-plate MFCs inoculated with anaerobic digester sludge were stabilized with fixed external resistance from $1000{\Omega}$ to $100{\Omega}$. Automatic load control with MPPT started load from $52{\Omega}$ during 120 hours of operation. MPPT control strategy increased approximately 2.7 times of power production and power density (1.95 mW and $13.02mW/m^3$) compared to the initial values before application of MPPT (0.72 mW and $4.79mW/m^3$).

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References

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