In recent decades the demand of energy has increased significantly. Providing more and more energy is an essential task of today's energetic industry. In the last few years, addition to traditional methods of energy production, alternative energy sources have been developing fast. One of these sources is fuel cell, mainly due to their high efficiency. Generally fuel cells are powered by hydrogen. However, problems with the storage of hydrogen are the reason for the search of new fuels for fuel cells. Moreover, fuel cells can provide an additional/emergency electricity source in energy systems using combustion engines. So, it is important using the main fuel for powering the fuel cell. One of the fuels used for powering the fuel cells could be diesel fuel. Diesel engines drive cars, trucks, boats, tanks and also agricultural machinery e.g. tractors or harvesters. So, there are a lot the possibilities of using this solution. The paper presents results of measurements of electrooxidation of diesel fuel emulsion prepared on the basis of a nonionic surfactant on a smooth platinum electrode in an aqueous solution of KOH. The resulting current density reached the level of 25 mA/cm2. So, the possibility of using diesel as the fuel for ...
In the last few years alternative energy sources have been fast developing. One of these sources is fuel cell. Due to development of the renewable energy sources, the powering of fuel cells with bio-fuels is very important. The one of this fuel is methanol. The use of fuel cells on a large scale is mainly limited by the high cost of catalysts - mainly platinum. Elimination of Pt as catalyst would allow for wider commercial application of fuel cells. The paper presents a study of methanol electrooxidation on electrode with Cu-B alloy catalyst. Researches were done by the method of polarizing curves of electrooxidation of methanol in glass vessel. An aqueous solution of KOH was used as the electrolyte. Conducted measurements show that there is a possibility of electrooxidation of methanol on Cu-B catalyst. In any case, the process of electrooxidation of methanol occurs. A current density of about 10-20 mA/cm2 has been obtained for all concentrations of methanol and B in alloy. So, the work shows possibility to use Cu-B alloys as catalysts for fuel electrode of DMFC. ...
As fuel for fuel cells can be used various substances, but generally fuel cells are powered by hydrogen. However, problems with the storage of hydrogen are the reason for the search of new fuels for fuel cells. Moreover, annually are produced huge amount of waste oils. These oils must be directed to purification and processing. It would be important to use waste engine oil as fuel for fuel cell to direct electricity production without intermediate stage e.g. combustion. The paper presents the possibility of using waste engine oil as fuel for fuel cell. The oil does not have the feature of electrical conductivity, for this reason a detergent was used for dissolving oil in an electrolyte. So, the work shows possible electrooxidation of waste engine oil (Turdus 15W40 from agriculture machinery) emulsion on a platinum electrode in an aqueous solution of H2SO4. Researches were done by the method of polarizing curves of electrooxidation of waste engine oil emulsion in glass vessel, on a smooth platinum electrode with potentiostat. In any case, the process of electrooxidation of waste engine oil emulsion occurred. A current density of about 6-20 mA/cm2 was obtained for all concentrations of waste engine oil. The highest results ...
The increasing of standard living causes the increases energy consumption and waste or wastewater production. The possibility to combine wastewater treatment and electricity production can accomplish a microbial fuel cell. The possibility of wastewater treatment using the Cu-B catalyst with KMnO4 catholyte for microbial fuel cells is presented in this paper. The measurements covered comparison of changes in the concentration of COD, NH4+ and NO3- in the reactor without aeration, with aeration and with using a microbial fuel cell (with Cu-B cathode and KMnO4 catholyte). The reduction time for COD with the use of microbial fuel cell with the Cu-B catalyst (and KMnO4 catholyte) is similar to the reduction time with aeration. It has been shown that the Cu-B (with KMnO4 catholyte) can be used as cathode catalyst in microbial fuel cells. Unfortunately in this case is needed to constant delivery of catholyte. ...
As fuel for fuel cells can be used various substances, but mainly fuel cells are powered by clear hydrogen (or hydrogen obtained from organic substances by reforming process). However, problems with the storage of hydrogen are the reason for the search of new fuels for fuel cells. Due to development of the renewable energy sources, the powering of fuel cells with bio-fuels is very important. Vegetable oil is an alternative fuel for diesel engines and for heating oil burners. Powering high efficiency power sources like fuel cells with renewable fuels (like canola oil) will allow development of renewable energy sources and elimination or reduce of toxic substances emissions. The paper presents the possibility of using canola oil as fuel for direct electricity production. The work shows possible electrooxidation of canola oil emulsion on a smooth platinum electrode in an solution of H2SO4. The resulting current density of canola oil electrooxidation reached the maximum level of 8 mA/cm2. So, the possibility of using canola oil as fuel for direct electricity production has been proved. ...
The possibility to combine wastewater treatment and electricity production can accomplish a microbial fuel cell. Microbial fuel cells use glucose from wastewater as a fuel. In recent years, both production of municipal and industry wastewater increases very much. Municipal wastewater is directed to the wastewater treatment plant. While industry wastewater can be use as a fertilizer. But, both municipal and industry wastewater can be used in the microbial fuel cells. The comparison of powering the microbial fuel cell with municipal and process wastewater from yeast production is presented in this paper. The measurements covered comparison of changes in the concentration of COD in the reactor without aeration, with aeration and with using a microbial fuel cell (powered with municipal and industry wastewater). The results of measurements of COD showed no differences between the microbial fuel cell powered with municipal wastewater and the microbial fuel cell powered with process yeast wastewater. But, the power output is higher with using process yeast wastewater to powering the microbial fuel cell. ...
