| 摘要 |
Inventive aspects of the present disclosure generally relates to fuel cells and, in particular, to fuel cells that can use microorganisms (microbes) to oxidize fuel. Certain aspects are directed to fuel cells that operate at relatively elevated temperatures. Such temperatures, for example, can increase the metabolisms of the microorganisms within the fuel cell. The elevated temperatures may be achieved, for instance, by using a thermal insulator, such as a vacuum jacket. Microorganism metabolism may also be improved, in some aspects of the invention, by exposing the microorganisms to growth promoters such as fertilizer, nitrogen sources, biomass, etc. The microorganisms, in some embodiments of the invention, may be anaerobic or microaerophilic and can be obtained, for example, from the soil, compost, peat, sewage, bogs, wastewater, or other organic-rich matrices. Another inventive aspect relates to novel electrodes for use in fuel cells, such as microbial fuel cells. The electrode, in some cases, may be flexible and/or porous. In certain embodiments, the electrode may be treated, e.g., with acid and/or biomass, to improve performance. Such treatments may facilitate microorganism metabolism. Yet another inventive aspect relates to a proton exchange interface between an anode and a cathode in a fuel cell, such as a microbial fuel cell. The proton exchange interface may be designed to allow protons and/or gases to pass through, but, in some cases, minimizes or eliminates mixing between the anode and the cathode. Still another inventive aspect generally relates to an energy management system for use with such fuel cells, including microbial fuel cells. Yet another aspect relates to switching systems that allow a plurality of fuel cells (which may be housed in one vessel or separate vessels) to sustain net power output that is greater than the sum of the individual microbial fuel cells under constant load. In some cases, the energy management system can store and manage energy from the fuel cell such that conventional operating voltages may be provided to a variety of loads having various instantaneous and average power requirements. Other inventive aspects relate to techniques for forming such fuel cells and fuel cell components, techniques for using such fuel cells, systems involving such fuel cells, and the like: |
