title: Maximizing power production in a stack of microbial fuel cells using multiunit optimization method.
abstract: This study demonstrates real-time maximization of power production in a stack of two continuous flow microbial fuel cells (MFCs). To maximize power output, external resistances of two air-cathode membraneless MFCs were controlled by a multiunit optimization algorithm. Multiunit optimization is a recently proposed method that uses multiple similar units to optimize process performance. The experiment demonstrated fast convergence toward optimal external resistance and algorithm stability during external perturbations (e.g., temperature variations). Rate of the algorithm convergence was much faster than in traditional maximum power point tracking algorithms (MPPT), which are based on temporal perturbations. A power output of 81-84 mW/L(A) (A = anode volume) was achieved in each MFC.
authors.affiliation: Dépt. de Génie Chimique, Ecole Polytechnique de Montréal, Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC, Canada H3C 3A7.
authors.forename: Lyne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Woodward
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perrier
authors.forename: Bala
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Srinivasan
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tartakovsky
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D003246:Conservation of Energy Resources / Q000379:methods*; D008839:Microelectrodes; D008954:Models, Biological; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage