Numerical simulation of MFC performance: a Lattice Boltzmann study

In this work, a novel numerical approach is proposed for the simulation of electrochemical and power performance of Microbial Fuel Cells (MFC). Our model is based on the Lattice Boltzmann Method, a numerical approach based on an optimized formulation of Boltzmann's Kinetic Equation, which has been successfully applied to phenomena of technical and engineering interest in recent years. Employing a multi-component LBM solver, an accurate prediction of species transport and electrochemical reactions is achieved inside the reactor chamber. The direct conversion of organic substrate into e− and H+ as by-products of microbes metabolism has been modeled according to previous experimental activity. The physical and electrochemical characteristics of anode and cathode electrodes have been accounted for and their effects on internal species transport and charge transfer is accurately simulated. The good agreement between our results and the experiments in literature highlight the reliability and versatility of LBM to predict the performance of MFCs and to shed light on the complex phenomena occurring inside the reactors.