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Modeling and Simulation of a Photosynthetic Solar Cell

Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org

Citation:  2018 ASABE Annual International Meeting  1801364.(doi:10.13031/aim.201801364)
Authors:   Sachin A Bhide, Jonathan Maisonneuve
Keywords:   Photosynthetic solar cell; Microbial fuel cell; Solar energy; Modeling; Cell voltage; Cell power.

Abstract. Solar energy‘s potential as a clean, abundant and economical energy source can be effectively exploited if it is converted to electricity. Photosynthetic solar cells (PSC) convert sunlight to electricity by using plant cells via photosynthesis and respiration. These processes are interfered to provide path of minimum resistance to the protons and electrons which are then supplied to Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell system. PSCs require no organic fuel and no active feeding system and produce carbon neutral power both day and night. In this paper, the mechanisms of photosynthesis that generate electrons and protons in the anode chamber are described and modeled. Also, the concentration of various species in the anode and cathode chambers, including plant cells, sugars, reducing agents, and catalyst are modeled as a function of time and used to simulate electric potential across the fuel cell. The resulting flow of electrons through the external circuit is described. The influence of non-ideal effects is described and modeled, such as, the resistance to motion of the protons, reactants and products through the electrolyte, which contributes to a voltage drop across the cell. In addition, the energy of activation required to carry out the chemical reactions contributes to voltage drop. These dynamics modeled using differential equations of each species.

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