Patent ID: 9040204
Filing Date: 2015-05-26
Classification: H01M,H02J,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A microbial fuel cell comprising: a first cathode; a load electrically connected to the first cathode; at least two anodes, wherein each anode is electrically connected, via processor-controlled switches, to the load and to the first cathode in a reconfigurable manner such that any of the anodes may be converted into cathodes; at least two oxygen barriers, one for each anode, wherein each oxygen barrier is an open container containing a portion of the sediment and a respective anode, and wherein each container is buried in the sediment such that the open container's opening faces away from the sea water; and a processor operatively coupled to the anodes and configured to monitor a voltage output by each anode as compared to a reference electrode to determine if any anode has been oxygen-contaminated, and further configured to open the processor-controlled switch that connects a given oxygen-contaminated anode to the load and to close the processor-controlled switch that connects the given oxygen-contaminated anode to the first cathode in order to convert the given oxygen-contaminated anode into a second cathode, wherein the fuel cell operates in an oceanic environment, and wherein the anodes are buried in sea-bed sediment, and the cathode is positioned in seawater.