Microbial fuel cell with sediment agitator

US9484589B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America, as represented by Secretary of the Navy · US

Inventors

• Lewis Hsu · Honolulu, US
• Wayne P. Liu · Honolulu, US
• David Bartholomew Chadwick · San Diego, US
• Jeffrey Asher Kagan · San Diego, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 17, 2014
• Grant date: Nov 1, 2016
• Expiry date: Feb 4, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E60/50
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A microbial fuel cell comprising: an anode; an anode chamber configured to house the anode and an oxygen-reduced, nutrient-rich solution from a sediment bottom of a natural water body, wherein the anode chamber shields the anode from surrounding oxygen-rich water; a cathode disposed outside the anode chamber in the oxygen-rich water and electrically coupled in series to the anode via an electrical load; and an agitator configured to periodically agitate the sediment bottom to increase the quantity of nutrients in the nutrient-rich solution.