1. Final Year Project Initial Project Presentation
Title: Energy Conversion for low voltage values.
Supervisor: Dr.Maeve Duffy

2. Background
The aim of this project is to develop circuits to demonstrate the performance of bio fuel cells which are being developed by the Energy research centre in NUI Galway.

3. Overview
In times where global warming is becoming an increasing concern new “greener” energy sources are being investigated. This project in collaboration with the Energy Research Centre at NUIG aims at modelling circuits which can convert energy output from Bio Fuel Cells to a useable form so that the potential of these cells as an Energy source can be demonstrated.

4. What is a Fuel Cell?
“A fuel cell is an electrochemical conversion device. It produces electricity from fuel and an oxidant, which react in the presence of an electrolyte. NUI Galway.” – Wikipedia
“An electrochemical cell in which the energy of a reaction between a fuel, such as liquid hydrogen, and an oxidant, such as liquid oxygen, is converted directly and continuously into electrical energy.” -
“A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that derives its energy from combustible substances such as hydrogen, methane, propane, methanol, diesel fuel or even gasoline.” –

5. Bio Fuel Cell
Anode Reaction: CH3COOH -> CO2 + 4H+ -bacteria acts as catalyst.
Cathode Reaction: H + H -> H2

6. Milestones Pass: - Review of fuel cells and bio fuels. Average:
- Characterise the electrical performance of the demonstrator of bio fuels cells.
- Demonstrate the application of the cells in powering a small digital device.
Average:
Investigate the application of bio fuel cells in battery charging.

7. Milestones Good: Very Good: Excellent:
Build and test a DC/DC solution for connecting between the fuel cells and the battery charger circuit.
Very Good:
Redesign the battery charging circuitry to allow for the reduced current levels provided by one fuel cell.
Excellent:
Demonstration of battery charging for a mobile phone with bio fuel cell sources.

8. Completion Times Web Page to be completed by the 26th of October.
Pass Milestones should be completed by no later than the 31st of October.
Average Milestones should be completed no later than the 31st of November.
Good Milestones should be completed no later than the 31st of December.

9. Completion Times
Progress Report to be completed by the 11th of January.
Very Good Milestones should be completed no later than the 15 of January.
Excellent Milestones should be completed by the 15 of February.
Draft Report to be completed by the 16th of March.
Final Report to be completed by the 24th of March.

10. Work Done So Far Research of Fuel cell operation and applications.
Research of LED specifications
Research of Boost Converters needed to Boost the voltage output from the Fuel Cell

11. Work Done So Far
Using a case study obtained from the internet I was able to find that they used an Anode chamber with a surface area of 0.025m2. Assuming the ERC use a similar Area I was able to work out given the current density and the power density from the ERC the current and power output from the Anode. Power ~ milli-Watts Current ~ 7.75 milli-Amps

12. Work Done So Far
Lighting an LED: From using the voltage supply’s in lab and researching information on the internet I found that LED’s can operate from as little as 2 milli-Amps up to 30 milli-Amps.

13. Work Done So Far
Generic Circuit for boosting current output from fuel cell:

14. What to do next? Visit the Energy Research Centre.
Measure output voltage and load characteristic
Develop equivalent model of Fuel Cell circuit.
Design Circuitry to enable the fuel to power other low power devices.

15. Questions!!