title: First steps towards a constructal Microbial Fuel Cell.
abstract: In order to reach real operating conditions with consequent organic charge flow, a multi-channel reactor for Microbial Fuel Cells is designed. The feed-through double chamber reactor is a two-dimensional system with four parallel channels and Reticulated Vitreous Carbon as electrodes. Based on thermodynamical calculations, the constructal-inspired distributor is optimized with the aim to reduce entropy generation along the distributing path. In the case of negligible singular pressure drops, the Hess-Murray law links the lengths and the hydraulic diameters of the successive reducing ducts leading to one given working channel. The determination of generated entropy in the channels of our constructal MFC is based on the global hydraulic resistance caused by both regular and singular pressure drops. Polarization, power and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy show the robustness and the efficiency of the cell, and therefore the potential of the constructal approach. Routes towards improvements are suggested in terms of design evolutions.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Optimisation de la Conception et Ingénierie de l'Environnement, CNRS UMR 5271, Université de Savoie, Polytech Annecy-Chambéry, 73376 Le Bourget du Lac, France.
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lepage
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Optimisation de la Conception et Ingénierie de l'Environnement, CNRS UMR 5271, Université de Savoie, Polytech Annecy-Chambéry, 73376 Le Bourget du Lac, France. Electronic address: gerard.perrier@univ-savoie.fr.
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Perrier
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Optimisation de la Conception et Ingénierie de l'Environnement, CNRS UMR 5271, Université de Savoie, Polytech Annecy-Chambéry, 73376 Le Bourget du Lac, France.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramousse
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Optimisation de la Conception et Ingénierie de l'Environnement, CNRS UMR 5271, Université de Savoie, Polytech Annecy-Chambéry, 73376 Le Bourget du Lac, France.
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Merlin
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D004566:Electrodes; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Bioelectrochemical system; Constructal design; Entropy generation; Microbial Fuel Cell