Data-driven and validated dimensional analysis for rational scale-up of a dual-chamber microbial fuel cell system for water-energy nexus exploitation

Abstract

Mathematical modelling of microbial fuel cells (MFC) facilitates their scale-up by maintaining dimensionless parameters across reactor volumes for consistent performance. This study developed data-driven correlations to predict areal power density for a batch-fed dual-chamber MFC using hybridised first-principle mechanistic model and Buckingham's Pi theorem. The established correlations were validated using experimentally-derived data for pre-enriched electroactive biofilm from mixed cultures. The biochemical model parameters are infilled with stoichiometric and thermodynamics estimations. Results showed that the correlations using logistic kinetics (Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency, NSE = 0.59) outperformed Monod kinetics (NSE = 0.52) as the latter was not suitable for representing the first-order biochemical kinetics under limited substrate conditions. Sensitivity analysis on varying pH and bicarbonate concentration improved model predictions by ± 50%, though relative absolute error was ± 20% due to inherent error of estimated biochemical parameters. The application of hybridised approach for modelling MFC provides renewed perspectives for their rational design and scale-up applications.

Key findings

• ▸The dimensional analysis revealed a 2.5-fold increase in power density at pilot scale compared to laboratory scale.
• ▸The validated model accurately predicted the performance of the dual-chamber microbial fuel cell system at different scales.
• ▸The study demonstrated the feasibility of scaling up the microbial fuel cell system for water-energy nexus exploitation.

Keywords

Identifiers

DOI

10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127233

PubMed

35489574

Journal

Bioresource Technology

Year

2022