Modelling Microbial Fuel Cells using lattice Boltzmann methods

TL;DR

This paper develops a lattice Boltzmann simulation model for microbial fuel cells, focusing on electrode geometry effects on bio-electrochemical processes, validated against experimental voltage and current data.

Contribution

It introduces a novel lattice Boltzmann based simulation approach that accurately models bio-electrochemical processes in MFCs considering electrode geometry.

Findings

Simulation results match laboratory voltage and current outputs.

Electrode geometry significantly influences biofilm formation and MFC efficiency.

The model provides insights into optimizing MFC design.

Abstract

An accurate modelling of bio-electrochemical processes that govern Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) and mapping their behaviour according to several parameters will enhance the development of MFC technology and enable their successful implementation in well defined applications. The geometry of the electrodes is among key parameters determining efficiency of MFCs due to the formation of a biofilm of anodophilic bacteria on the anode electrode, which is a decisive factor for the functionality of the device. We simulate the bio-electrochemical processes in an MFC while taking into account the geometry of the electrodes. Namely, lattice Boltzmann methods are used to simulate the fluid dynamics and the advection-diffusion phenomena in the anode compartment. The model is verified on voltage and current outputs of a single MFC derived from laboratory experiments under continuous flow.