•A 90L baffled MFC stacked with 5 easily-stackable modules was developed.•The system was easy to build, extend, and maintain.•Long-term performance of the system was investigated.•The system was ...operated in an energy self-sufficient manner.
A 90-liter stackable pilot microbial fuel cell was designed and proved to be capable for brewery wastewater treatment and simultaneous electricity harvested. The system was stacked by 5 easily-stackable modules, and operated in an energy self-sufficient manner for more than 6months. Tests were conducted under two different influent strengths (diluted wastewater, stage 1; raw wastewater, stage 2). The COD, SS removal efficiencies were 84.7% and 81.7% at stage 1, 87.6% and 86.3% at stage 2. The system produced enough energy (0.056kWh/m3 at stage 1, 0.097kWh/m3 at stage 2) to power the pumping system (0.027kWh/m3 at both stages), net electrical energy of 0.021kWh/m3 and 0.034kWh/m3 were harvested. These results show that this pilot-scale system could be used to effectively treat real wastewater with zero energy input.
This article presents a concept of establishing a network of energy self-sufficient nodes in Slovenia and the EU, within the Defence RESilience Hub Network in Europe project initiated by the Ministry ...of Defence of Slovenia (MORS). The goal is to reduce the energy dependence of military facilities on external suppliers. A mathematical model of a military site’s micro-grid incorporates multiple energy vectors and their conversion and storage, with a focus on hydrogen technologies. A case study of a military site in Belgium shows that an energy system with solar and wind power can provide sufficient hydrogen for transportation needs and operate the site autonomously for up to 30 days. Additionally, the carbon footprint of the military base as an energy system was calculated, indicating potential reductions in environmental impacts.
► H2 production from methane decomposition (MD) for SOFC system is proposed. ► MD-SOFC is less complicated than MSR-SOFC as the CCS is not necessary. ► MD-SOFC offers high purity of H2 giving high ...power density and cell efficiency. ► MD is more economical than MSR even with the low-valued carbon are considered.
This work proposes the application of methane decomposition (MD) as a fuel processor to replace methane steam reforming (MSR) for hydrogen production for a methane-fuelled solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system. In this work, comparison between the MD–SOFC and the MSR–SOFC was performed in terms of SOFC performances and economic analysis to demonstrate a benefit of using MD as a fuel processor. Energy analysis of SOFC system was evaluated based on thermally self-sufficient condition where no external energy is required for the system. Although the MD–SOFC system offers lower electrical efficiency than that of the MSR–SOFC as solid carbon is generated without being further combusted to generate energy; however, the MD–SOFC stack can be operated at higher power density due to high purity of hydrogen supplied to the fuel cell, resulting in smaller size of the system when compared to the MSR–SOFC. Moreover, the MD–SOFC system is less complicated than that of the MSR–SOFC as the CCS facility is not necessary to be included to reduce CO2 emission. Economic analysis demonstrated that the SOFC system with MD is more competitive than the conventional system with MSR when considering the valuable by-products of solid carbon even with the low-valued carbon black. It is suggested that the success of this proposed SOFC system with MD relies on the technology development on cogeneration of hydrogen and valuable carbon products.
