Batteryless, Wireless Sensor Powered by a Sediment Microbial Fuel Cell

Abstract

Sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFCs) are considered to be an alternative renewable power source for remote monitoring. There are two main challenges to using SMFCs as power sources: 1) a SMFC produces a low potential at which most sensor electronics do not operate, and 2) a SMFC cannot provide continuous power, so energy from the SMFC must be stored and then used to repower sensor electronics intermittently. In this study, we developed a SMFC and a power management system (PMS) to power a batteryless, wireless sensor. A SMFC operating with a microbial anode and cathode, located in the Palouse River, Pullman, Washington, U.S.A., was used to demonstrate the utility of the developed system. The designed PMS stored microbial energy and then started powering the wireless sensor when the SMFC potential reached 320 mV. It continued powering until the SMFC potential dropped below 52 mV. The system was repowered when the SMFC potential increased to 320 mV, and this repowering continued as long as microbial reactions continued. We demonstrated that a microbial fuel cell with a microbial anode and cathode can be used as an effective renewable power source for remote monitoring using custom-designed electronics.

Microbial Fuel Cells, A Current Review

“…This also could lead to sediment MFCs being situated in areas of high organic flux, such as underneath fish farms or sites of agricultural run off, which could provide an increase in organics for oxidation of the MFCs. To power devices requiring higher power levels than the MFCs are currently capable of producing, MFCs have been linked to charge capacitors to provide brief bursts of increased power which is slowly recharged by the MFC [14,15]. These have the advantage that charge can be stored and supplied intermittently at a level higher than that of the MFC.…”

In situ Biofilm Quantification in Bioelectrochemical Systems by using Optical Coherence Tomography

“…In BESs, microorganisms catalyze the electrochemical formation or degradation of organic molecules by interfacing their biological metabolism with an electrode 1, 2, 3. The interaction between microorganisms and electrical conductive structures makes these systems unique and versatile, with potential applications in electrical energy storage,4, 5 energy‐ and nutrient‐recovering wastewater treatment systems,6, 7, 8 production of high‐value chemical commodities,9, 10 long‐term off‐grid low‐power electricity generation,11, 12 and the development of highly specific and innovative biosensors 13, 14. Additionally, microorganisms may provide temporal charge storage within the microbial cell 15, 16, 17.…”

Development of Bioelectrochemical Systems to Promote Sustainable Agriculture

“…Dissolved oxygen (DO) is crucial for the cathodic reaction, and therefore SMFC is typically installed in shallow waters [118]. Previous studies have demonstrated that SMFCs can produce electricity and supply power to wireless sensors in both marine and fresh-water environments [113,119,120]. Capacitors have been adopted to accumulate energy generated from MFCs [121][122][123][124].…”

“…They can be installed in wetlands, rivers or lakes near the farmland. To use the electricity, the output potentials must be boosted and operated by DC-DC converters and a PMS [119,120]. In the area where open water is not available, soil MFCs [130][131][132][133] or plant MFCs [134,135] may be applied.…”