Waste to Energy Conversion and Sustainable Recovery of Nutrients from Pee Power - Recent Advancements in Urine-Fed MFCs

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 768-779
Author(s):  
Natarajan Narayanan ◽  
Vasudevan Mangottiri ◽  
Kiruba Narayanan
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Material Selection ◽  
Waste Product ◽  
Resource Recovery ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Waste To Energy ◽  
Animal Origin ◽  
Human Beings

Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) offer a sustainable solution for alternative energy production by employing microorganisms as catalysts for direct conversion of chemical energy of feedstock into electricity. Electricity from urine (urine-tricity) using MFCs is a promising cost-effective technology capable of serving multipurpose benefits - generation of electricity, waste alleviation, resource recovery and disinfection. As an abundant waste product from human and animal origin with high nutritional values, urine is considered to be a potential source for extraction of alternative energy in the coming days. However, developments to improve power generation from urine-fed MFCs at reasonable scales still face many challenges such as non-availability of sustainable materials, cathodic limitations, and low power density. The aim of this paper was to critically evaluate the state-of-the-art research and developments in urine-fed MFCs over the past decade (2008-2018) in terms of their construction (material selection and configuration), modes of operation (batch, continuous, cascade, etc.) and performance (power generation, nutrient recovery and waste treatment). This review identifies the preference for sources of urine for MFC application from human beings, cows and elephants. Among these, human urine-fed MFCs offer a variety of applications to practice in the real-world scenario. One key observation is that, effective disinfection can be achieved by optimizing the operating conditions and MFC configurations without compromising on performance. In essence, this review demarcates the scope of enhancing the reuse potential of urine for renewable energy generation and simultaneously achieving resource recovery.

The eco/Tech Sludge Recycling System: Two Years of Experience

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward P. Champagne
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Waste Product ◽  
Resource Recovery ◽  
Waste To Energy ◽  
Air Emissions ◽  
Emissions Reductions ◽  
Recycling System ◽  
Sludge Recycling ◽  
Revenue Streams ◽  
Energy Plants

The eco/Technologies Sludge Recycling System (eco/Tech SRS) was introduced at NAWTEC 10 and has now been operating commercially for two years at the Pioneer Valley Resource Recovery Facility (PVRRF), located in Agawam, Massachusetts. A second system will be installed at the Pittsfield Resource Recovery Facility (PRRF), located in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in 2004 and EnergyAnswers is now marketing the system to other power plant owners. Presented in this paper is an overview of: • Operating and maintenance history at PVRRF; • Market conditions and challenges; • Air emissions results; • Design enhancements planned for PRRF. The data presented support the potential for waste-to-energy plants, and by extension all solid fuel power plants, to benefit from additional revenue streams while using a waste product to achieve air emissions reductions.

Enhanced benzene bioremediation and power generation by double chamber benthic microbial fuel cells fed with sugarcane waste as a substrate

2021 ◽  
pp. 127583
Author(s):  
Mohammad Faisal Umar ◽  
Mohd Rafatullah ◽  
Syed Zaghum Abbas ◽  
Mohamad Nasir Mohamad Ibrahim ◽  
Norli Ismail
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Double Chamber

scholarly journals A New MPPT Algorithm for Photovoltaic Power Generation under Uniform and Partial Shading Conditions

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 483
Author(s):  
Novie Ayub Windarko ◽  
Muhammad Nizar Habibi ◽  
Bambang Sumantri ◽  
Eka Prasetyono ◽  
Moh. Zaenal Efendi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Duty Cycle ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Maximum Power ◽  
Maximum Power Point ◽  
Partial Shading ◽  
Photovoltaic Panel ◽  
Maximum Power Point Tracker ◽  
Photovoltaic Power ◽  
Power Point

During its operation, a photovoltaic system may encounter many practical issues such as receiving uniform or non-uniform irradiance caused mainly by partial shading. Under uniform irradiance a photovoltaic panel has a single maximum power point. Conversely under non-uniform irradiance, a photovoltaic panel has several local maximum power points and a single global maximum power point. To maximize energy production, a maximum power point tracker algorithm is commonly implemented to achieve the maximum power operating point of the photovoltaic panel. However, the performance of the algorithm will depend on operating conditions such as variation in irradiance. Presently, most of existing maximum power point tracker algorithms work only in a single condition: either uniform or non-uniform irradiance. This paper proposes a new maximum power point tracker algorithm for photovoltaic power generation that is designed to work under uniform and partial shading irradiance conditions. Additionally, the proposed maximum power point tracker algorithm aims to provide: (1) a simple math algorithm to reduce computational load, (2) fast tracking by evaluating progress for every single executed duty cycle, (3) without random steps to prevent jumping duty cycle, and (4) smooth variable steps to increase accuracy. The performances of the proposed algorithm are evaluated by three conditions of uniform and partial shading irradiance where a targeted maximum power point is located: (1) far from, (2) near, and (3) laid between initial positions of particles. The simulation shows that the proposed algorithm successfully tracks the maximum power point by resulting in similar power values in those three conditions. The proposed algorithm could handle the partial shading condition by avoiding the local maxima power point and finding the global maxima power point. Comparisons of the proposed algorithm and other well-known algorithms such as differential evolution, firefly, particle swarm optimization, and grey wolf optimization are provided to show the superiority of the proposed algorithm. The results show the proposed algorithm has better performance by providing faster tracking, faster settling time, higher accuracy, minimum oscillation and jumping duty cycle, and higher energy harvesting.

scholarly journals Dual-Mode Power Operation for Grid-Connected PV Systems with Adaptive DC-link Controller

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mostafa Ahmed ◽  
Ibrahim Harbi ◽  
Ralph Kennel ◽  
Mohamed Abdelrahem
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Voltage Regulation ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Switching Frequency ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Voltage Profile ◽  
Dual Mode ◽  
Power Extraction ◽  
Pv Systems ◽  
Power Operation

AbstractPhotovoltaic (PV) power systems are integrated with high penetration levels into the grid. This in turn encourages several modifications for grid codes to sustain grid stability and resilience. Recently, constant power management and regulation is a very common approach, which is used to limit the PV power production. Thus, this article proposes dual-mode power generation algorithm for grid-connected PV systems. The developed system considers the two-stage PV configuration for implementation, where the dual-mode power generation technique is executed within the DC–DC conversion (boost) stage. Most of the techniques adopted for dual-mode power operation employ the conventional perturb and observe method, which is known with unsatisfactory performance at fast-changing atmospheric conditions. Considering this issue, this study suggests a modified maximum power point tracker for power extraction. Furthermore, a new adaptive DC-link controller is developed to improve the DC-link voltage profile at different operating conditions. The adaptive DC-link controller is compared with the traditional PI controller for voltage regulation. The inverter control is accomplished using finite-set model predictive control with two control objectives, namely reference current tracking and switching frequency minimization. The overall control methodology is evaluated at different atmospheric and operating conditions using MATLAB/Simulink software.

scholarly journals Carbon Nanotube/Pt Cathode Nanocomposite Electrode in Microbial Fuel Cells for Wastewater Treatment and Bioenergy Production

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 8057
Author(s):  
Mostafa Ghasemi ◽  
Mehdi Sedighi ◽  
Yie Hua Tan
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Power Generation ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Carbon Nanotube ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Energy Production ◽  
Catalytic Properties ◽  
Internal Resistance ◽  
Cod Removal ◽  
Cathode Catalyst

In this paper, we reported the fabrication, characterization, and application of carbon nanotube (CNT)-platinum nanocomposite as a novel generation of cathode catalyst in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) for sustainable energy production and wastewater treatment. The efficiency of the carbon nanocomposites was compared by platinum (Pt), which is the most effective and common cathode catalyst. This nanocomposite is utilized to benefit from the catalytic properties of CNTs and reduce the amount of required Pt, as it is an expensive catalyst. The CNT/Pt nanocomposites were synthesized via a chemical reduction technique and the electrodes were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, electronic dispersive X-Ray analysis, and transmission electron microscopy. The nanocomposites were applied as cathode catalysts in the MFC to obtain polarization curve and coulombic efficiency (CE) results. The catalytic properties of electrodes were tested by linear sweep voltammetry. The CNT/Pt at the concentration of 0.3 mg/cm2 had the highest performance in terms of CE (47.16%), internal resistance (551 Ω), COD removal (88.9%), and power generation (143 mW/m2). In contrast, for the electrode with 0.5 mg/L of Pt catalyst, CE, internal resistance, COD removal, and power generation were 19%, 810 Ω, 96%, and 84.1 mW/m2, respectively. So, it has been found that carbon nanocomposite cathode electrodes had better performance for sustainable clean energy production and COD removal by MFC.

Increasing power generation of microbial fuel cells with a nano-CeO2modified anode

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (9) ◽  
pp. 1212-1218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yao Yin ◽  
Guangtuan Huang ◽  
Ningbo Zhou ◽  
Yongdi Liu ◽  
Lehua Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells

Electrogenic and Antimethanogenic Properties of Bacillus cereus for Enhanced Power Generation in Anaerobic Sludge-Driven Microbial Fuel Cells

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 6132-6139 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Amirul Islam ◽  
Baranitharan Ethiraj ◽  
Chin Kui Cheng ◽  
Abu Yousuf ◽  
Md. Maksudur Rahman Khan
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Bacillus Cereus ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge

Optimization of a Sintering Waste Heat Power Unit

2014 ◽  
Vol 1008-1009 ◽  
pp. 897-900
Author(s):  
Xue Min Gong ◽  
Jiu Lin Yang ◽  
Chen Wang
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Power Unit ◽  
Waste Heat ◽  
Steam Pressure ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Parameters Optimization ◽  
Heat Power ◽  
Optimal Value ◽  
Generation Capacity ◽  
Main Steam

An optimization was performed for a sintering waste heat power unit with all data obtained in the site and under the unit normal operating conditions. The physical and mathematical model for the process of cooling and generation is established, which makes the net power generation as an objective function of the cooling machine imported ventilation, the thickness of sinter and the main steam pressure. Optimizing for single parameter, we found that each parameter had an optimal value for the system. In order to further optimize the system's operating parameters, genetic algorithm was used to make the combinatorial optimization of the three parameters. Optimization results show that power generation capacity per ton is increased by13.10%, and net power generation is increased by 16.17%. The optimization is instructive to the operation of sintering waste heat power unit.

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