MESSAI.iO

AI summary

70% confidence

A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) study optimized microbial fuel cell (MFC) design by simulating various anode electrode geometries, finding that a hexagonal design yielded the highest peak current.

Generated by MESSAI extraction pipeline · review against source PDF

Generic MFCRepresentative model
Click to animate flow
loading 3D model…

Representative MFC — matched on the paper’s system type only, not its reactor or geometry.

Extraction

Reported parameters

4 extracted values

View extracted values

Open in lab for full controls, parameter editing, and template overlays.

Open in lab →

What they did

System
MFC

What worked

No outcome metrics extracted yet.

Abstract

Abstract BACKGROUND The experimental process for optimizing microbial fuel cell (MFC) design under different electrode geometries is restricted. An MFC can be defined as a bio‐electrochemical system (BES) that facilitates the direct conversion of the chemical energy stored in organic matter into electrical energy by harnessing the metabolic activity of microorganisms. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools allow the simulation and evaluation of electro‐analysis phenomena such as cyclic voltammetry and chemical reactions, which can help the optimization of the BESs. In this study, MFC is designed to provide the maximum peak current and efficiency for the applied voltage on various working (or anode) electrode geometries (i.e. hexagonal, square, pentagonal, circular, triangular, rectangular, and rhombus). RESULTS The CFD simulation results demonstrate that a configuration with a larger perimeter value and surface area (i.e. hexagonal design) of the working electrode shows a higher peak current (2422.75 mA) than other configurations. The experimental findings supported the simulation result and reveal that a hexagonal electrode containing a MFC setup produces a maximum power density of 22.41 ± 0.32 mW m −3 and a current density of 41.58 ± 0.35 mA m −2 . The MFC operation demonstrated adequate bioelectricity generation of 540 ± 03 mV on Day 4 of operation at 1000 Ω. Additionally, maximum reduction in chemical oxygen demand (76.13 ± 0.5%) and coulombic efficiency (76.03 ± 0.4%) was achieved for synthetic wastewater using a hexagonal MFC. CONCLUSION Based on these fundamental discoveries, the CFD simulation and its experimental validation considerably drag focus toward the possibility of employing COMSOL Multiphysics software for system improvement of different MFC system applications. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).

Key findings

  • A hexagonal anode design resulted in a peak current of 2422.75 mA.
  • CFD simulations outperformed experimental findings in terms of peak current.
  • Experimental validation of CFD results showed a correlation between anode geometry and MFC efficiency.

Keywords

Microbial fuel cellAnodeComputational fluid dynamicsElectrodeFaraday efficiencyElectrochemistry

Identifiers

DOI
10.1002/jctb.7397
Journal
Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology
Year
2023