title: Pulse-width modulated external resistance increases the microbial fuel cell power output.
abstract: This study describes MFC operation with a pulse-width modulated connection of the external resistor (R-PWM mode) at low and high frequencies. Analysis of the output voltage profiles acquired during R-PWM tests showed the presence of slow and fast dynamic components, which can be described by a simple equivalent circuit model suitable for process control applications. At operating frequencies above 100 Hz a noticeable improvement in MFC performance was observed with the power output increase of 22-43% as compared to MFC operation with a constant external resistance.
authors.affiliation: Departement de Génie Chimique, École Polytechnique Montréal, C.P.6079 Succ., Centre-Ville Montréal, QC H3C 3A7, Canada.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coronado
authors.affiliation: Departement de Génie Chimique, École Polytechnique Montréal, C.P.6079 Succ., Centre-Ville Montréal, QC H3C 3A7, Canada.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perrier
authors.affiliation: National Research Council of Canada, 6100 Royalmount Ave., Montréal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada. Electronic address: Boris.Tartakovsky@cnrc-nrc.gc.ca.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tartakovsky
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources
keywords: MFC; Periodic operation; Power output maximization; Pulse-width modulation